[Hiring] State Systems Specialist @WestEd

Role Description

As a State Special Education Systems Improvement Specialist (Program Manager) within WestEd’s Center for Education Systems, you will lead projects that support state education agencies (SEAs) to effectively implement the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and improve the educational experiences of students with disabilities. You will serve as a trusted advisor to SEA leaders in their improvement efforts.

• Guide SEAs to improve and document their state special education systems.
• Lead states through reviewing and refining policies, procedures, and practices related to monitoring and accountability, data systems, professional development and technical assistance systems, fiscal oversight, and systems improvement.
• Manage state projects focused on leveraging data to inform strategic planning, resource allocation, and investment decisions.
• Build trusting relationships with state leaders to identify trends, evaluate program effectiveness, assess return on investment (ROI), and prioritize resources towards initiatives that produce measurable improvement.
• Lead WestEd colleagues in a process to review state special education policies, procedures, and practices for alignment with federal expectations under IDEA.
• Craft recommendations for improvement and guide states to create and document special education policies and procedures.
• Design and lead professional development and/or coaching sessions for state department staff around IDEA requirements and systems improvement.
• Independently lead proposals and cultivate client relationships to develop new business that expands this important work across the country.

Qualifications

• 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 local level.
• Knowledge of IDEA and state general supervision policies, procedures, and practices at the federal or state level.
• Knowledge of/experience with one or more of the following:
  • IDEA implementation at the federal, state, or local level.
  • OSEP guidance and requirements.
  • State general supervision systems.
  • State monitoring systems.
  • State Performance Plan/Annual Performance Report (SPP/APR) data collection and reporting processes.
  • 618 data collection and reporting processes.
  • State dispute resolution systems.
  • State fiscal systems.
  • State technical assistance and professional development systems.
• Advanced skills in data analysis, interpretation, and visualization.
• Understanding of resource allocation methodologies and use of performance data to assess program impact.
• Experience designing and facilitating professional development experiences for adult learners, both virtual and in-person.
• Project leadership/management experience.
• Powerful presentation and facilitation skills.
• Ability to demonstrate evidence of a deep commitment to supporting the development of policies, procedures, and practices across all levels of the education system that ensure the success of students with disabilities.

Requirements

• Project leadership including budget and financial management responsibilities.
• Leadership of project staff, including mentoring and quality assurance reviews.
• Agency-wide collaboration and effective development of professional relationships in and outside of the organization.
• Commitment to building eminence and demonstrating thought leadership through presentations, publications, and participation in national initiatives.
• Experience leading resource development efforts, proposal writing, and report generation.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to facilitate and guide groups to reach consensus.
• 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 Workspace products, and data visualization tools.

Benefits

• 15% contribution toward retirement effective day 1 of employment and immediately 100% vested.
• Pre-tax Flexible Spending Accounts and Health Savings Account option.
• All health/welfare benefits are effective the first of the month following the hire date.
• PTO: 19 days (increases to 21 days beginning the third year of employment), 12 paid holidays.
• Life Insurance: value of 3x gross salary, max of 500k.
• Opportunities for annual merit-based performance increases + annual incentives.
• Professional development opportunities & mentorship program.