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. Please review our Commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion.

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.

About the Special Education Policy and Practice (SEPP) Team

WestEd's Special Education Policy and Practice Team (SEPP) builds capacity for systems change at the district, regional, state, and national levels to improve outcomes for children and youth with disabilities and close long-standing equity gaps. We support our clients to create equitable educational systems that advance opportunities for each and every student to thrive and succeed. Our unique focus emphasizes building impactful, inclusive systems and communities nationwide that produce improved outcomes for a vast number of students with disabilities.

The Opportunity

As a Special Education Systems Improvement Specialist with the Special Education Policy and Practice (SEPP) team, you will help advance WestEd's commitment to equity by supporting states and districts to effectively implement the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and improve the educational experiences and outcomes of students with disabilities.

The work of this position will focus on supporting state and district clients to critically assess and improve special education policies, procedures, and practices to ensure compliance with IDEA and improve outcomes for students with disabilities. Your work will also support the National Center for Systemic Improvement (NCSI), a federally funded technical assistance project serving 60 state education agencies with a focus on helping states transform their systems to improve outcomes for children and youth with disabilities. Within the context of the Center, this position will include supporting implementation of evidence-based and high-leverage instructional practices. You will also use your content expertise in special education to develop proposals to expand this important work across the country.

Core Focus Areas

Guide and support state systemic improvement efforts

• Support state and local implementation of IDEA
• Deepen state and district staff capacity to implement evidence-based and high-leverage instructional practices designed to improve outcomes for students with disabilities
• Provide professional development and coaching for state special education leadership and staff

What We're Looking For

To help us make a positive impact on state systems that support learners from numerous racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds, we'll need someone who has the following:

• Master's or graduate degree in education, preferably special education
• At least five years of experience in special education, preferably at the federal, state, or district level
• Knowledge of IDEA
• Knowledge of/experience with one or more of the following:
  1. IDEA implementation at the federal, state, or local level
  2. OSEP guidance and requirements
  3. State technical assistance and professional development systems
  4. Evidence-based and high-leverage instructional practices
• Experience designing and facilitating professional development experiences (workshops, institutes, coaching programs) for adult learners, both virtual and in-person
• Powerful presentation and facilitation skills (virtual and in-person) and comfort working with large and small groups and with diverse audiences
• Ability to demonstrate evidence of a deep commitment to equity and supporting the development of policies, procedures, and practices across all levels of the education system that ensure the success of students with disabilities

Other Degrees, Skills, Abilities, and Experiences of Interest

• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Ability to facilitate and bring to consensus diverse groups of stakeholders
• Effective building and nurturing of professional relationships in and outside of the organization
• Experience in resource development, proposal development, and report writing
• Commitment to inclusion of diverse populations in education reform and improvement
• Commitment to ensuring high quality products and customer service
• Ability to handle multiple priorities under time-restricted conditions
• Necessary application skills: Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Google products

Note: This position is anticipated to travel and work throughout the U.S.

*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! WestEd is a Drug Free Employer and maintains a drug-free workplace. #LI-Remote

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor's legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)