Fast Facts

The State General Supervision Systems Specialist role at WestEd involves supporting state education agencies in implementing the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) to enhance educational experiences for students with disabilities.

Responsibilities: Key responsibilities include evaluating and refining state general supervision policies, assisting in documentation practices, generating improvement recommendations, and facilitating professional development for state leadership.

Skills: Required skills include knowledge of IDEA, experience in special education, effective communication skills, and proficiency in designing adult training programs.

Qualifications: Preferred qualifications include a Master's degree in education, at least five years of relevant experience, and expertise in IDEA compliance and data systems related to special education.

Location: This position is based in San Francisco, California, with remote work options available.

Compensation: $92000 - $143000 / Annually

About WestEd

As a community of over 1,400 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.

WestEd supports individual initiative, excellence, and hard work of all individuals in our hiring and work practices. WestEd complies with all applicable federal and state anti-discrimination laws, as well as OFCCP requirements. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to disability, or status as a protected veteran.

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.

Position Overview

As a State General Supervision Systems Specialist (Program Associate II) within WestEd’s Center for Education Systems, you will help support state education agencies (SEAs) to effectively implement the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and improve the educational experiences of students with disabilities. States play a critical role in supporting and enforcing local implementation of IDEA, ensuring access to a free appropriate public education (FAPE) for children with disabilities, and improving student outcomes. States turn to WestEd to help them improve their general supervision systems to reach these goals.

The work of this position will focus on supporting SEAs to improve and document their general supervision system. Specifically, the position will assist states to critically review and refine policies, procedures, and practices related to their monitoring and data systems and ensure alignment with IDEA and related guidance and requirements from the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP).

You will be responsible for collaborating with WestEd colleagues to review state special education policies, procedures, and practices for alignment with federal expectations under IDEA, craft recommendations for improvement, assist states to create and document special education policies and procedures including those related to monitoring and data, and design and lead professional development and/or coaching sessions for state department staff around IDEA requirements and systems improvement. You will also use your content expertise in special education to develop proposals to expand this important work across the country.

Core Focus Areas

• Evaluate state general supervision policies, procedures, and practices to ensure compliance with IDEA and OSEP requirements and expectations.
• Assist states to create and document general supervision policies, procedures, and practices
• Generate recommendations for state systemic improvement. 
• Design and facilitate professional development and coaching experiences for state special education leadership and staff. 
• Contribute to business development opportunities by developing client relationships and supporting the identification and pursuit of potential partners.

What We’re Looking For:

To help us make a positive impact on state systems, we’ll need someone who has the following:

• Master’s or graduate degree in education, preferably special education.
• At least five years of experience in special education, preferably at the federal or state level.
• Knowledge of IDEA and state general supervision policies, procedures, and practices at the federal or state level (with an emphasis on state monitoring systems).
• 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
• Experience designing and facilitating professional development experiences (workshops, institutes, coaching programs) for adult learners, both virtual and in-person.
• Powerful presentation and facilitation skills (virtual and in-person) and comfort working with large and small groups.
• 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.

Qualifications and Other Skills:

• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to facilitate and help groups reach consensus.
• Effective building and nurturing of professional relationships in and outside of the organization.
• Experience in resource development, proposal development, and report writing.
• 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 products.

This position requires some travel (about once a month) for work in the U.S.

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

WestEd conducts a criminal background check and education verification for all new hires. Any offers of employment will be contingent on receiving a clear background check in accordance with applicable law.

SALARY AND BENEFITS:

The full salary range for this position, WestEd level (10), is $92,000 to $143,000, but WestEd does not typically hire at or near the top of the salary range. The typical hiring range for this role is $92,000 to $115,000. The actual offer considers 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 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 

For more details about our benefits, go to: https://www.wested.org/work-at-wested/#benefits WestEd is a Drug Free Employer and maintains a drug-free workplace. #LI-Remote  #Circa-Remote

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)