About WestEd

As a community of over 1,300 researchers, practitioners, consultants, and administrative professionals from all backgrounds and life experiences, we are committed to making a qualitative difference in the lives of youth, children, and adults. We conduct and apply research, develop evidence-based solutions, and provide consulting services across the country in both rural and urban communities to improve equitable outcomes for individuals from infancy through adulthood. Serving as trusted partners in the areas of education, health, and justice, our teams enhance capacity within communities and school districts to prioritize impact - asking the right questions, customizing methodologies, developing relevant tools, and implementing best practices specific to a diverse range of stakeholder needs.

Furthering diversity, equity, and inclusion is core to who we are and how we work. We are committed to working with our clients to illuminate and address disparities, value and elevate diverse voices, and ensure equitable access to our resources and services. Read more about.Come and join us!

SPECIAL NOTICE REGARDING THE WORK LOCATION OF THIS POSITION-Although WestEd provides the option of working at one of its facilities for employees, many roles allow employees to choose to work remotely for their own convenience. The decision to allow remote work at the employee's convenience is based on the requirements of the position or project in question.

Core Focus Areas

This position will focus on implementation, professional development, and technical assistance related to adult education and workforce development programs. This includes working with national, state and regional adult education and workforce development practitioners and systems and implementation of regional/local planning, technical assistance, and professional development that increases outcomes for adult learners and jobseekers.

The ideal candidate has a strong understanding of WIOA legislation and guidance and AEFLA funded programs, noncredit education, and the intersection of adult education and career pathway programs. They should understand the breadth of programs in adult education, postsecondary, and workforce development serving low wage and vulnerable communities and have direct experience with adult learners, practitioners, and/or administrators, and problems of practice in these systems. Strong experience with program development and implementation and professional development are highly desirable as is a track record leading technical assistance to the field. This should be matched by strong communication skills, experience participating in strong collaborative teams, and experience working in a high demand, virtual, and fluid work environment. The postsecondary and workforce group in is a high performance and fast-moving team working continuously across public systems and in the field. Applicants should enjoy working in a rapid paced, challenging environment that pushes the boundaries of policy and practice. Curiosity, an open mind, strong problem-solving skills, and a passion for equity and social inclusion are strong requirements for this position.

Position Overview

The Senior Program Associate for Adult Education and Workforce Development will work as a part of the Postsecondary Pathways and Career Mobility (PPCM) Content Area at WestEd. The PPCM Content Area focuses on strengthening adult basic and postsecondary education, workforce, and economic development systems to improve student access and outcomes in higher education and increase economic mobility for low-income families and communities. A central pillar of the group is changing the conversation about the relationship between education and access to living wage employment and careers through exceptionally innovative use of data, student and practitioner experience, and a strong understanding of secondary, postsecondary, adult learner, and workforce education systems and structures. WestEd recently launched a new national Center for Economic Mobility which will position the work of the group and the larger postsecondary content area at the forefront of national strategies increasing access for low wage communities to living wage jobs and economic self-sufficiency. For more information go to economic-mobility.wested.org.

Responsibilities

Professional Development and Technical Assistance

• Support and lead local, statewide, and national technical assistance and professional development for adult education and workforce development system stakeholders from different educational segments and public systems.
• Develop technical assistance modules and curriculum designed to improve practice and adult learner outcomes for participants in adult education and workforce development programs.
• Develop and present webinars, conference presentations and longer form multi-event professional development series.

Project Management:

• Independently lead important elements of projects under the supervision of the Senior Program Manager for Adult Education and Workforce Development and other Senior Program Managers.
• Support projects with multiple partners, in a context of rapidly evolving priorities, and ensuring deliverables are on time and on budget.
• Participate in planning for development or revision of projects and support the expanding portfolio of work with the postsecondary and workforce team.

Practitioner and Partnership Engagement

• Develop and manage communication plans for large and small projects involving multiple stakeholders and systems.
• Lead and support communication with practitioners, clients, and partners to ensure transparency in project management and project implementation in multiple channels including in-person, remote technologies, and social media.

Research

• Implement qualitative and/or quantitative research strategies including development of protocols for and implementation of structured interviews, focus groups, and surveys.
• Support qualitative and/or quantitative data collection and analysis and development of infographics or other products that convey results to a variety of audiences.

Business Development

• Proposal and grant development.
• Support marketing efforts to build business for the Postsecondary and Workforce Group and Center for Economic Mobility.
• Support the cultivation of innovative new lines of work to support the forward-thinking emphasis of the group and support our focus on leading rather than following the field.

Qualifications

• A minimum of a bachelor's degree (Masters Preferred) in education, planning, social and behavioral sciences, public policy or related field.
• 5 years related experience in adult education, workforce development, postsecondary, or career education.
• Experience and understanding of WIOA and AEFLA legislation and programs including the National Reporting System for adult education.
• Familiarity with state systems for the implementation of adult education and workforce development programs.

Communication Skills & Accuracy:

• Demonstrated ability to communicate in a collaborative manner with colleagues and partners at all levels, from frontline employees to executives and external representatives.
• Ability to communicate complex information to diverse audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to ensure that one's own and others' work and information are complete and accurate, especially under tight timelines.

Alignment: An abiding commitment to excellence and equity, and helping people attain living wages.

Travel: Ability to travel - requires 25% travel time. For staff working remotely or from a home office travel time may be as much as 50% depending on the demands of the project.

*Note: Visa sponsorship is not available for this position. Successful candidates must be authorized to work in the United States.

WestEd conducts a criminal background check and education verification for all new hires. Any offers of employment will be contingent on receiving a clear background check in accordance with applicable law.

SALARY AND BENEFITS

The full salary range for this position, WestEd level 11, is $103,600 to $155,400 but WestEd does not typically hire at or near the top of the salary range. The typical hiring range for this role is $103,600 to $129,500. The actual offer takes into account multiple factors including but not limited to education; experience; internal equity, and other organizational needs.

In addition to the base salary, benefits include:

• 15% contribution toward retirement effective day 1 of employment
• Pre-tax Flexible Spending Accounts
• All health/welfare benefits are effective first of the month following hire date
• PTO: 3 weeks' vacation (increases to 4 weeks beginning the 4th year of employment), paid holidays, and 12 days paid sick leave per year
• Life Insurance: value of 3x gross salary
• Opportunities for annual merit-based performance increases annual incentives
• Professional development opportunities & mentorship program

For more detail about our benefits, go to:

Committed to the diversity of race, ethnicities, perspectives, and opportunities, WestEd offers a variety of social and professional learning communities, such as Employee Resource groups, the Data Intelligence, Insights, and Innovation PLC, and the WestEd Parent Community, just to name a few. We hope you'll consider joining us to build better schools, communities, learning pathways, and more! #LI-Remote #LI-Hybrid