Co-Director, The Western Educational Equity Assistance Center (WEEAC) at WestEd

About the Western Educational Equity Assistance Center (WEEAC) at WestEd

The Western Educational Equity Assistance Center (WEEAC) at WestEd is one of four Equity Assistance Centers (EACs) funded by the U.S. Department of Education to provide technical assistance and training—upon request from school districts, tribal, and state education agencies—to promote equitable education opportunities and resources.

Authorized under Title IV of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the WEEAC plays a vital role in ensuring that all students have equitable access to high-quality education, regardless of their race, sex, national origin, or religion. By law the Center serves Alaska, American Samoa, Arizona, California, Colorado, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, Hawai’i, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.

About WestEd

As a community of approximately 1,000 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 education systems to prioritize impact — asking the right questions, customizing methodologies, developing relevant tools, and implementing best practices specific to a diverse range of 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. 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.

The Career Opportunity:

WestEd operates The Western Educational Equity Assistance Center (WEEAC), one of four Equity Assistance Centers (EACs) funded by the U.S. Department of Education to provide technical assistance and training to promote equitable education opportunities and resources. We seek a full-time co-director with content expertise in the areas of school desegregation, chronic absence, disproportionality, discipline equity, and/or harassment based on race, gender, sexual identity, national origin, and religion, as well as deep contextual knowledge of the 16 states and insular areas in the region we serve. The position will report to a Senior Managing Director and will require regular partnering with leaders across the organization.

This opportunity offers the chance to:

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide strategic and conceptual leadership for the WEEAC.
• Establish and maintain ongoing communication with Office for Civil Rights (OCR), Department of Justice (DOJ), LEA, SEA, and tribal leadership to identify needs for equity-centered capacity building and technical assistance that serves LEAs, and monitor and report progress on meeting intended outcomes.
• Establish and maintain ongoing communication with U.S. Department of
  Education program officers, adhere to the conditions of the cooperative agreement, and meet all federal reporting requirements.
• Participate in budget oversight and planning activities.
• Ensure the quality, relevance, and usefulness of universal, targeted, and intensive technical assistance and deliverables.
• Ensure that technical assistance is appropriate and accessible to a diverse range of clients, partners, and impacted parties, adapted to local context and need.
• Work with external evaluator and oversee evaluation activities.
• Facilitate technical assistance services in one of the WEEAC subregions and lead aspects of select technical assistance projects.
• Support and facilitate WEEAC Advisory Council activities.
• Lead the development of communication/dissemination strategies for WEEAC work as appropriate.
• Provide ongoing support and development to WEEAC staff.
• Coordinate with other EACs and other federal TA Centers for collective impact.
• Participate in and contribute to leading WestEd cross-federally funded activities and regional convenings.
• Facilitate the ongoing continuous improvement efforts and related yearly strategic planning for the WEEAC.
• Represent the WEEAC at national, regional, and state events.

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE

The ideal candidate will possess the following professional profile:

• Highly developed understanding of best practices, research, and innovations – and experience in their application to advance racial equity and foster inclusive learning and professional environments is required.
• Experience in leading and managing high-leverage, high priority change management efforts that reduce discrimination on the basis of race, sex, religion, or national origin is required.
• Extensive experience providing technical assistance, professional learning, leading communities of practice, and/or facilitating focus groups to inform policy implementation that advances equity for student groups that have experienced disproportionate outcomes is required.
• Mastery in diplomatically navigating political contexts is required.
• Skill in strategic planning, problem solving, collaboration and facilitation is required.
• Systems thinker with deep knowledge of education policy and/or law as it relates to civil rights.
• Ability to work productively with diverse staff, colleagues, and clients from across the organization and across the nation in a collaborative, team-oriented fashion.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills.
• Senior leadership experience in a state education agency (SEA), local education agency (LEA)or organization supporting SEAs and LEAs is strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated success managing a multi-year federal grant is strongly preferred.
• At least one terminal degree is strongly preferred.

Travel estimated at 25-35% (delivering technical assistance, attending internal project meetings, and possibly attending national meetings in Washington, DC).

SALARY AND BENEFITS:

The full salary range for this position, WestEd level I, is $133,360 to $200,000 but WestEd does not typically hire at or near the top of the salary range. The typical hiring range for this role is $133,360 to $166,700. The actual offer takes into account multiple factors including but not limited to education; experience; internal equity, and other organizational needs.

BENEFITS HIGHLIGHTS

• All health benefits effective first of the month following date of hire
• 15% contribution toward retirement effective day one of employment
• 15 vacation days, which will increase to 20 days per year beginning the 4th year of employment
• 12 holidays
• 12 days sick leave per year

WestEd is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veterans’ status or other status protected by applicable law.

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

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)