Fast Facts

Join WestEd as a Research Associate to support the Special Education Policy & Practice Team in enhancing educational outcomes for children with disabilities through research and evaluation projects in various special education domains.

Responsibilities: Coordinate and manage research activities, handle data collection and management, support report and proposal writing, and facilitate communication with various stakeholders related to special education.

Skills: Proficient in educational research, quantitative data analysis, and project management. Strong communication, technical writing, and organizational skills are essential.

Qualifications: A Master's degree in educational research or a related field, with at least three years of relevant work experience, is strongly preferred.

Location: The position can be home office based or located in one of our offices in San Francisco, CA, with potential for occasional travel.

Compensation: $80000 - $100000 / 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.

Brief Description:

WestEd's Special Education Policy & Practice Team (SEPP) builds capacity for systems improvement at the district, regional, state, and national levels to improve outcomes for children and youth with disabilities by closing long-standing equity gaps. In addition to collaborating with state and local health, education, and human service agencies on systems change efforts, SEPP offers professional develop; facilitates interagency team trainings that promote education and supports the State Education Agencies and local school districts to address students with disabilities under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

Position Overview:

This individual will work on a variety of research and evaluation projects, some of which may includespecial education systems and policy, learner characteristics, universal design for learning (UDL); multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS); science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM); positive behavior interventions and supports (PBIS), school-based mental health, educational technology, and other related special education research domains. This person will assist the SEPP research team with writing research proposals, including literature reviews, research design and analysis plans, and proposal editing. Additionally, this person will provide internal production support, coordinating budgeting, quality assurance processes, and submission. Responsibilities may also include project coordination, data collection, data management, and supporting article and report writing. This position will report directly to the Director of Learner Variability and work directly with the SEPP research staff. The position can be home office based or based in one of our offices (Boston, Washington, DC, Atlanta, San Francisco, etc.).

Responsibilities

The Research Associate’s responsibilities will include:

• Project Management and Coordination – coordinate, schedule, and manage field research activities such as interviews, focus groups, and survey administration; cultivate and sustain strategic partnerships with internal and external teams; assist with participant recruitment and incentive management.

• Data Collection – establish and maintain data collection and implementation fidelity systems to monitor program quality; participate in or lead various data collection efforts (e.g., focus group, surveys, interviews, etc.); conduct user needs assessments and use data-driven frameworks to guide continuous product iteration.

• Quantitative Data Management/Analysis – build, maintain, clean, and manage large datasets (e.g., Common Core of Data school directory files, client implementation databases, etc.) usingExcel or another statistical software package; effectively summarize descriptive data for client products, dissemination, and annual reports.

• Report and Proposal Production – contribute to and/or lead the conceptualization and writing of small-to-large project reports and proposals; prepare descriptive reports, analytic sections, and evaluation reports; assist in the preparation and submission of large and small proposals.

• Facilitation/Presentation – facilitate meetings and present research findings; interface with clients and lay persons related to data collection, analyses and reports; communicate effectively with a range of internal and external audiences including colleagues, clients, researchers, practitioners, and lay persons.

• Understand the Functioning of Educational Settings such as Schools and Classrooms – deep knowledge of early literacy interventions, autism spectrum disorders, and MTSS; direct experience in classroom teaching (General or Special Education); ability to work in such settings by showing respect for and understanding of the structure of how teachers and administrator’s function.

Qualifications

A minimum of three years direct work experience in educational research, quantitative social science research, or related field and a Master’s degree with a specialty in educational research or a related discipline such as special education, psychology, sociology, economics, or public policy is strongly preferred.
Strong knowledge of research and evaluation methodology, measurement, and quantitative and qualitative data analysis.
Data management experience in Excel or a major statistical package (e.g., SPSS, SAS, R, or Stata).
Experience preparing research and literature reviews, coordinating and designing research and evaluation projects, and writing reports of project findings for multiple audiences.
Experience working with clients on program improvement efforts (to develop and modify program designs) and providing feedback based on evaluation findings and evidence from prior research and practice.
Ability to balance multiple projects, prioritize tasks, and communicate effectively with peers and supervisors. Capability to be adaptive to pressing requests and work with Project Directors to ensure timely completion of deliverables.
Ability to translate research findings to practitioner-oriented materials, including brief reports, presentations, and professional development materials.
Excellent organizational skills & Demonstrated ability to learn new technologies such as survey platforms and web management systems.
Expertise in one or more substantive areas relevant to special educational research, evaluation, and policy analysis, such as UDL, MTSS, PBIS, STEM, literacy, special education, or educational technology.
Ability to collaborate with others and work in a team setting.
Strong technical writing and communication skills with the ability to coordinate multiple tasks on various projects.
Ability to develop charts, tables, and other graphics for reports and presentations.
Ability to manage occasional overnight travel as part of project work.

*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 (9), is $80,000 to $125,000, but WestEd does not typically hire at or near the top of the salary range. The typical hiring range for this role is $80,000 to $100,000. 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)

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