Sr. Technical Assistance Specialist (I)

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

The Child Trends Education Research Team strive to identify the educational policies, programs, and structures that create positive conditions that help youth of all backgrounds flourish. Current work focuses on the education of children in juvenile and adult corrections and detention facilities, dismantling the school-to-prison pipeline, school behavioral health, out-of-school time programs, and healthy school environments, among other topics. Equity is foundational to all of our work.

The team is currently seeking a seasoned technical assistance specialist for a senior-level position to support Child Trends’ continued growth in technical assistance. This position will work closely with senior staff on the education team—as well as across the organization—to develop and cultivate new technical assistance work that fits within the team’s mission. This position would further serve as a mentor to more junior staff and would be charged with helping to develop junior staff’s research and proposal skills. This position is remote, but may opt to work out of either our Minneapolis, MN or Chapel Hill, NC offices, if desired.

This is an exciting position ideal for someone looking for a supportive, team environment in which to build a line of work and focus a national discussion on topics important to the education, health, and development of children. The successful candidate has extensive prior experience providing technical assistance at all levels of the education system (states, local education agencies, schools), particularly in the context of U.S. Department of Education funded technical assistance centers. The successful candidate also has experience leading and winning federal and foundation proposals. The successful candidate is entrepreneurial but enjoys working in strong teams and has management or supervisory experience. Finally, the successful candidate has subject matter expertise related to the education team’s broad foci. They will understand and apply an equity and positive youth development lens through all elements of their work.

Typical Duties and Responsibilities:

• Serves as the project director on one or more federally funded technical assistance centers.
• Leads successful proposals for large federal technical assistance contracts or cooperative agreements.
• Develops relationships with external clients and partners and conducts reconnaissance research ahead of potential bids.
• Serves as a mentor and supervisor for more junior staff.
• Interprets and effectively presents results; writes final reports, research briefs, and executive summaries and presents results to clients, other researchers, policymakers, or practitioners.
• Prepares papers for presentations and publications. Audiences may be researchers, policymakers, or practitioners.
• Supports Child Trends’ best-place-to-work environment and participates in organizational events and meetings.

Qualifications:

• Extensive experience providing research-based technical assistance, particularly in the context of U.S. Department of Education funded technical assistance centers.
• M.A. or equivalent in a related field (e.g., education, psychology, human development, criminology, sociology, public health, demography).
• Commitment to applying an equity lens throughout all work.
• Experience serving in a project management role for federal contracts.
• Demonstrated ability to write successful proposals to private and public funders.
• Demonstrated ability to manage technical assistance projects effectively.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively and grow client relationships.
• Experience effectively managing research and technical assistance staff.
• Experience working in education policy or governance is desirable, but not required.
• Excellent oral and written communication.
• Desire to grow (or continue to build) a line of technical assistance practice.
• Desire to shine as a national thought leader improving the lives and prospects of children and youth.

Please note that this position is contingent upon funding.

Locations: Flexible Remote Work; Child Trends’ offices are based in Rockville, MD; Chapel Hill, NC; Minneapolis, MN. Many Child Trends staff work remotely, and while we are set up to hire remote staff in many states, we are not yet operating everywhere in the US and do not have any overseas operations. We are currently approved to hire full-time staff in AK, AL, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IL, IN, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MT, NC, NH, NJ, NM, NY, OK, OR, PA, TN, TX, VA, WI, and WV. The organization will require time to assess additional set up requirements (e.g., employment and tax law) for locations outside of areas where we are currently approved to hire. Individuals who would like to work from areas outside of the currently approved states, if offered the position, should indicate this preference as early as possible in the application process.

Benefits:
For all full-time and part-time employees who work a minimum of 20 hours per week, we offer generous vacation + sick leave + paid holidays; optional individual/domestic partner/family medical, dental and vision benefits effective first day of employment; optional pet benefits; pre-tax reimbursement funds (FSA, HSA, Commuter); life insurance; short/long term disability, basic life and AD&D coverage paid for by Child Trends; paid family leave; paid bereavement leave; professional development and tuition reimbursement allowance; and 403(b) retirement plan with immediate vesting and Child Trends contributions after 1 year of employment. To learn more, go to https://www.childtrends.org/about-us/careers and click " Benefits."

Background Investigation:

Jobs that involve interactions with children and positions that rely on high levels of trust to perform duties are subject to a background check at the time of hire. Employment will be contingent upon successful completion of a background investigation including criminal history. We will always conduct interviews of qualified individuals prior to requesting a criminal background check and never inquire into an applicant's criminal history until interviews have been conducted and offer decisions are being made. Current employees may also be subject to future background checks depending on the nature of their duties. A criminal history will not automatically disqualify a candidate or current employee from employment, however any convictions related to the responsibilities and requirements of the position may do so.

How to Apply:

Please follow the “apply” link to submit your application. When asked by the system to upload resume, please upload one document that includes your resume, cover letter, writing sample, official or unofficial transcripts , and contact information for three professional references. Materials must be combined into one document in order to be uploaded. If you have any difficulties with this process please email the requested materials to recruitment(at)childtrends.org and make sure to reference the position in the subject line. No phone calls please!

Child Trends is a nonprofit, nonpartisan research center headquartered in Rockville, MD with more than 200 staff in over 28 states that provides valuable information and insights on the well-being of children, youth, and their families. For more than 40 years, policymakers, funders, educators, and service providers in the U.S. have relied on our data and analyses to make better decisions and policies on programs serving children, families, and youth. www.childtrends.org  

Child Trends is committed to hiring, retaining, and promoting staff who bring a rich diversity of experience to support our mission of improving the lives and prospects of children and youth, especially those made most vulnerable by the effects of historical and ongoing systemic discrimination. Together, we envision a world in which a child’s race, ethnicity, family income, gender, sexual orientation, disability status or any other social identity does not determine how that child will fare in life. Therefore, we approach every aspect of our work with these ideals in mind and encourage professionals who share in our commitment to apply.   

Child Trends is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer. Protected veterans and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.