Senior Network Specialist (Education)
Description
WestEd is a nonpartisan, nonprofit agency that conducts and applies research, develops evidence-based solutions, and provides services and resources in the realms of education, human development, and related fields, with the end goal of improving outcomes and ensuring equity for individuals from infancy through adulthood. WestEd has more than a dozen offices nationwide, from Massachusetts, Georgia, and Washington, DC, to Arizona and California, with headquarters in San Francisco.
WestEd is seeking to fill the position of Senior Network Specialist to lead the design, launch, and management of improvement networks addressing a range of educational problems. The Senior Network Specialist will be responsible for developing hub capacities that improve outcomes for large, distributed organizational networks addressing a range of educational problems. The ideal candidate will have at least 10 years of experience in the field of education and at least 7 years of experience leading improvement networks.
Candidates should have content expertise in one or more areas where WestEd is working to develop improvement networks. Current higher education networks are focused on educator preparation, dual enrollment, and student success centers and collaboratives. Current K-12 improvement networks are focused on state and local special education policy and technical assistance, district leadership, college and career pathways, early grade literacy, middle school mathematics, and chronic absenteeism.
Candidates should be familiar with the strengths and limitations of different network-based models for scaling and spreading improvement work. Strong interpersonal skills, experience leading diverse, multi-functional teams, and comfort managing complex, intersegmental collaboration are essential to this work, as are strong oral and written communication skills.
Responsibilities include:
- Leading the design, development, and launch of new, problem-focused networks
- Building capacity of internal and external partners to lead improvement networks
- Experience with improvement analytics including the identification of outcome, process, and PDSA level measures associated with theories of practice improvement.
- Designing and delivering high-quality improvement science-based trainings
- Managing efficient and effective communication with network leaders and membership
- Project management, including developing and managing budgets, milestones, and timelines
- Effective collaboration with multi-functional internal and external teams
Qualifications:
- A doctoral degree and 7 years of experience or a master’s degree and 10 years of experience in education, psychology, measurement, statistics, or a related field.
- Knowledge and experience with one or more networked improvement strategies including Carnegie’s Networked Improvement Communities (NICs), FSG’s Collective Impact structure, and/or IHI’s Breakthrough Series
- Experience using quality improvement methodologies (e.g., the Model for Improvement, Lean Six Sigma, Total Quality Management) to address educational problems
- Experience designing and delivering high-quality trainings for improvement network members
- Experience coaching improvement teams to outcomes
- Experience designing and managing large, complex projects
- Experience working in a complex, collaborative environment
- Ability to manage multiple tasks and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
- Ability to write and communicate clearly.
- Ability to work collaboratively in a team and treat diverse groups of staff and clients respectfully.
- Ability to learn on-the-job, give and receive constructive feedback, and grow into new roles and responsibilities as the work demands.
- Ability to work on a flexible schedule and travel up to 25%.
- A demonstrated commitment to educational equity
This is a WestEd Level I position. Must be authorized to work in USA (visa sponsorship not available).
Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities