Job Description

About WestEd

As a community of over 1000 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. Read more about WestEd's Commitment to Diversity, Equity, 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.

About the Team:

The Strategic Resource Allocation & Systems Planning content area brings together a team of 30 colleagues who are committed to helping drive sustainable, transformational change by addressing systemic policy and fiscal barriers in early education, pre-K-12, tribal, and higher education at the state and local levels. Our goal is to actively promote and enable equitable ways to serve the whole child, family, and community through systems design and evaluation work focused on the strategic use of resources.

Our team is deeply knowledgeable in allocation, applied research, partner engagement, and interagency collaboration related to fiscal and other resources. Working within these domains, we apply strategies to illuminate opportunities to improve systems—including organizational, fiscal, and value systems—within states, regions, and local education agencies. Through a collaborative process, we determine how organizational structures, policies, resources, and processes can more effectively meet system goals.

We are a highly motivated team, with high expectations for ourselves and for each other and our relationships. We believe that long-term impact matters most. We are passionate, optimistic and hard-working. We leverage our fiscal and system knowledge, skills, and expertise, through collaborative partnerships throughout the agency and with clients. We value professional growth and a positive culture and community.

The Opportunity:

The research assistant will work on various project-based teams in the areas of school finance, governance and accountability, and strategic planning. These projects primarily focus on providing collaborative and research-based capacity building to state education agencies, tribal governments and organizations, community colleges, county offices of education, school districts, and schools to increase educational equity and improve outcomes for all students.

To support this work, the successful candidate needs experience with the collection, analysis, and presentation of qualitative data, report generation, and writing for diverse audiences. The successful candidate will also exhibit strong communication skills (written and verbal) and be comfortable juggling multiple tasks, with supporting guidance on prioritization. The candidate will have the opportunity to grow as a researcher within WestEd and build expertise in education policy and data analysis. Candidates should also have emerging knowledge and a strong interest in education finance, strategic planning, and education policy (K-12, and/or higher education).

Responsibilities:

Provides direct qualitative research assistance within WestEd teams serving state, tribal, and local education agencies by:

• Helping to design qualitative data collection protocols, conducting individual and group interviews, coding and analyzing data.
• Conducting research reviews.
• Analyzing program and federal and state education code.
• Writing and formatting summary reports.
• Assisting with the development and growth of WestEd services by participating in proposal preparation and coordination.
• Preparing high-quality written materials in a variety of formats (research reports, memos, policy briefs) that document, analyze, and explain critical information including, but not limited to, descriptions of collaborative planning processes, complex data, analytical results, and recommendations and reflections based on clients' needs and data.
• Developing and facilitating communication among and between project staff, clients, and partner organizations as needed, including scheduling meetings, documentation, and agenda planning.

What We're Looking For:

• Minimum Bachelor's degree; Master's degree preferred (in progress acceptable).
• Professional experience in education research and/or consulting.
• Knowledge and skills collecting, analyzing, and summarizing qualitative data.
• Strong writing and analytical skills with the ability to communicate complex information to a range of audiences with support from project leads.
• Knowledge and understanding of education finance research and research on improving schools and school systems.
• Knowledge and experience working with tribal governments and education systems and/or higher education is a plus.
• Familiarity and interest in education policy analysis and development related to fiscal and other resource allocation.
• Able to work independently and seek assistance and guidance as additional input and support is needed
• Strong attention to detail to ensure that one's own and others' work and information are complete and accurate; carefully prepare for meetings and presentations; follow up with others to ensure that agreements and commitments have been fulfilled.
• A commitment to excellence and equity and having an impact on the lives of children.
• Travel: Willingness to travel ~25%.

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

SALARY AND BENEFITS:

The full salary range for this position, WestEd level E, is $67,600 to $101,400 but WestEd does not typically hire at or near the top of the salary range. The typical hiring range for this role is $67,600 to $84,500. 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! #LI-Remote #LI-Hybrid #LI- Sacramento

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)

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