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SalaryABOUT THE ORGANIZATION AND THE OPPORTUNITY
EdTrust-West seeks a Senior Associate, Educator Engagement. The Senior Associate, Educator Engagement will join a staff committed to fulfilling our mission of closing opportunity gaps that disproportionately affect students of color, multilingual learners, and those from low-income backgrounds.
The Senior Associate, Educator Engagement helps drive EdTrust-West’s work to change practice by building relationships with educators and education administrators through contract work with school districts, county offices of education, and higher education institutions. The Senior Associate may be responsible for leading a Systemic Equity Review (SER), which is a two-phased engagement with a school district designed to uncover and address systemic barriers that hinder students’ progress, leading to actionable change plans. The Senior Associate contributes to Ed Trust's policy, research, and advocacy work and ensures that it is responsive to the needs of educators, and particularly educators of color. The Senior Associate collaborates with other roles across the organization and external partners to support the organization’s statewide, regional, and local policy and Educator Engagement advocacy.
EdTrust-West is the California-based office of EdTrust headquartered in Washington D.C. EdTrust-West is committed to advancing policies and practices to dismantle the racial and economic barriers embedded in the U.S. education system. Through our research and advocacy, EdTrust-West improves equity in education from transitional kindergarten through college, engages diverse communities dedicated to equity and justice, and increases political and public will to build an education system where all students will thrive.
Available immediately, this role is based in our Oakland, California office and is eligible for telework for up to 3 days per week. The Senior Associate, Educator Engagement reports to the Director, Educator Engagement and may supervise interns, fellows, or consultants.
ABOUT THE SENIOR ASSOCIATE ROLE
The responsibilities and objectives for the role include but are not limited to the following:
- Facilitate contract engagements with leaders of educational systems from transitional kindergarten (TK) through higher education, including:
- Working with the Director of Education Engagement and EdTrust’s Finance department to prepare proposal, contract and invoice documents to initiate work and ensure payment for services
- Planning and implementing the collection and analysis of qualitative data, including interviews, surveys, focus groups, and/or listening sessions with educators and community members
- Collaborating with the Research department to gather quantitative data for contract engagements
- Communicating research findings to educators, leaders and educational partners through data presentations and written reports
- Planning and facilitating adult learning experiences and meetings with district educational partners
- Facilitating collaboration to complete deliverables on time
- Contribute to EdTrust-West’s portfolio of work, in alignment with our most current policy agenda and strategic plan priorities (e.g., transitional kindergarten, culturally responsive education, and multilingual learners), with an eye toward responsiveness to the needs of the field and “usability” for educators.
- Staying abreast of current research, trends in the field, and educator perspectives
- Coordinating and appropriately prioritizing work related to a policy priority
- Building partnerships with other advocates and leaders in the field
- Plan and facilitate focus groups and listening sessions with educators and educational partners
- Draft or assist in drafting press statements, one-pagers, policy briefs, blogs, regulatory comments, talking points, outreach emails, external presentations, and other useful collateral
- Collaborate internally to support organizational priorities such as fundraising, grant management, new partner development, recruitment and onboarding, and Ed Trust employee committees.
IDEAL SKILLS AND CHARACTERISTICS
- Shared belief in EdTrust’s mission and a commitment to improving educational equity
- Dedication in contributing to and maintaining an equitable working environment
- Commitment to “Walking the Talk,” which means operating with – and being willing to continuously develop – the cultural competence and humility necessary to make sure the values in our external-facing work are also present in our internal systems and processes
- An understanding that systemic and institutionalized racism and the historical impact of privilege and power on American systems significantly impacts all people, but specifically and profoundly affects the educational experiences and outcomes of communities of color and those experiencing poverty
- Previous experience with the public education system, preferably as a teacher and/or instructional coach
- Excellent project management skills, including managing multiple projects simultaneously
- Strong and proactive communication skills, both verbal and written
- Strong relationship-building and collaboration skills
- Creative problem solving and analytical skills
- Ability to adapt and exercise sound judgment
- Intellectual strength and curiosity
- Spanish-speaking skills are preferred, but not required
QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
The ideal candidate will possess the following qualifications and experience:
- A bachelor’s degree in education, public policy/administration, or a related field OR equivalent experience
- At least four (4) years of experience doing similar work
- Experience working in a school, public school district, or institution of higher education as a teacher, counselor, or administrator
- Experience facilitating adult learning and collaborative group planning processes in university coursework, professional development programs and/or training sessions
- Familiarity with or interest in education policy and/or advocacy
COMPENSATION
This position falls in Level C of our salary structure for our California office. New hire offers typically fall between $73,560 – $91,950, commensurate with skills, experience, and internal equity.
EdTrust prioritizes the health and well-being of its employees and, to that end, offers a highly competitive benefits package. Medical, dental, and vision insurance are covered at 100% for the employee, with significant coverage also offered for spouses, domestic partners, and dependents. We provide sick leave, vacation leave, and personal leave, and we follow the federal government for most holiday closures. To ensure staff have synchronous opportunities for rest and renewal, the office is closed for a week-long summer break and a week-long winter break. Among other offerings, EdTrust provides an Employee Assistance Program at no cost to the employee, and a generous 7% contribution opportunity on a 403(b)-retirement plan.
VACCINATION FOR COVID-19
At EdTrust, the health and safety of our employees is of the utmost importance. As such, all EdTrust employees are required to be fully vaccinated and remain up to date on their vaccinations for COVID-19. New hires should be fully vaccinated and up to date on their COVID-19 vaccinations prior to their first day of work. Requests for accommodations due to medical or religious reasons will be reviewed by Human Resources.
QUALIFIED CANDIDATES, PLEASE APPLY
EdTrust is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes candidates from diverse backgrounds.
Please provide a cover letter and resume, combined into one document. In the file name, please write the name of the position you are applying for and your last name: e.g., “Senior Associate, Educator Engagement _Robinson.”
We invite you to consider your cover letter as an opportunity to:
- Tell a story that illuminates your interest in education equity and EdTrust-West’s mission
- Share how your background and experience make you the right fit for this position
Please submit your application materials at Recruitment (adp.com) by the priority deadline of March 17, 2024. Applications will be accepted/reviewed until the position is filled. Incomplete applications will not be accepted.
