[YEP-DC] New Position: Director, State Policy & Implementation Support

ABOUT ACHIEVE

 

Achieve is an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit education reform organization dedicated to working with states to raise academic standards and graduation requirements, improve assessments, and strengthen accountability. Created in 1996 by a bipartisan group of governors and business leaders, Achieve is leading the effort to make college and career readiness a priority across the country so that students graduating from high school are academically prepared for postsecondary success. When states want to collaborate on education policy or practice, they come to Achieve. At the direction of 48 states, and partnering with the National Governors Association and the Council of Chief State School Officers, Achieve helped develop the Common Core State Standards. Twenty-six states and the National Research Council asked Achieve to manage the process to write the Next Generation Science Standards. Achieve has also served as the project manager for states in the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers, which are developing next generation assessments. And since 2005, Achieve has worked with state teams, governors, state education officials, postsecondary leaders and business executives to improve postsecondary preparation by aligning key policies with the demands of the real world so that all students graduate from high school with the knowledge and skills they need to fully reach their promise in college, careers and life. For more information about the work of Achieve, visit www.achieve.org.

POSITION SUMMARY

 

The Director, State Policy & Implementation Support is responsible for overseeing Achieve's strategy for working with states to help them develop, enact, and sustain college- and career-ready policies and initiatives. Major responsibilities include development, refinement and execution of Achieve's strategy for partnering with states to support an integrated, coherent approach to college-and career-ready competency-based pathways (CBP), guiding states in the transition to high-quality, aligned college- and career-ready (CCR) assessments, and providing guidance to states as they work to value, measure and incentivize college and career readiness in their accountability and public reporting systems.

 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

 

State Policy & Implementation Support

• Monitor and evaluate state efforts to advance and implement the college-and career-ready agenda, with specific attention to emerging approaches such as competency-based pathways, state assessments, and accountability systems

• Design, refine and oversee targeted support to states and districts on policy and implementation tools and resources across competency-based pathways, assessments and accountability systems

• Identify new areas of focus and develop strategies to overcome challenges and foster change in assessment and accountability policy design and implementation to further support the goals of the college-and career-ready policy agenda

• Plan and facilitate conversations with state leaders, national experts and critical partners on topics such as the attributes, processes and infrastructure for assessments to validate instructional-level determinations of student proficiency/mastery of college- and career-ready standards

• Assist states and districts in streamlining the number of assessments administered to serve essential instructional, diagnostic and accountability purposes

• Encourage states to improve assessment score reports, as well as school-level report cards and other related materials that are part of a state's public reporting strategy

• Coordinate knowledge management for state policy and implementation for competency based policies as well as assessment and accountability issues

• Build upon Achieve's expertise in competency-based pathways, assessments and accountability by staying current and synthesizing relevant research from national and international sources, developing white papers/briefs on critical topics, and participating in appropriate meetings and roundtable discussions

• Contribute to the State Policy and Implementation Support Team's strategic planning, including helping develop, execute and monitor strategies for working with states to help them adopt and implement policies consistent with the college-and career-ready agenda

• Collaborate with Achieve's communications team to create strategy to increase visibility of initiatives

• Ensure success of convenings, webinars and state/partner events

• Manage efforts of consultants and related contracts

 

Outreach/Liaison

• Maintain and develop relationships with organizations and partners critical to improving college- and career readiness outcomes

• Advocate for college- and career readiness for all students before a variety of national and state audiences

 

Budget and Grant Support

• Directly manage grants and budgets providing interim and final grant reports for grants associated with state services.

• Proposal and report writing and editing are also required.

WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

Internal: State Policy & Implementation Support Unit, Communications Unit, Strategic Initiatives Unit

 

External: State leaders, policymakers, K-12 educators, partner organizations, consultants

 

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

Associate Director, Assessment & Accountability, Senior Policy Associate, State Policy & Implementations Support, consultants

 

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

 

• Bachelor's degree in education, public policy or related field, plus at least 10 years of experience in the education policy arena;

• Advanced degree a plus

• Deep knowledge of state education and reform processes

• Strong understanding of emerging education approaches, state assessment and accountability systems

• Outstanding facilitation, writing and research skills
• Ability to work under pressure with proven ability to plan and manage large-scale complex projects while maintaining a strong attention to detail
• Ability to lead cross-state/district networks of policy and practice
• Advanced skills in collaboration, engagement and team problem-solving

• Persistence, resourcefulness, drive and ability to work proactively
• Experience working effectively in an entrepreneurial, collaborative environment
• Ability to travel nationally up to 25-30%

 

COMPENSATION
Salary is commensurate with experience and qualifications. Achieve offers a comprehensive benefits package.

 

APPLICATION PROCESS

To apply, please send a resume and cover letter to jobs@achieve.org.

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