World Education (WE) is a division of John Snow, Inc. (JSI), a global nonprofit that is dedicated to improving people’s lives around the world through greater health, education, and socioeconomic equity for individuals and communities. Projects in World Education’s US Portfolio seek to improve the availability, quality, and capacity of adult education and workforce programs through professional development, coaching, technical assistance, demonstration projects, research, advocacy, and evaluation. Our work is grounded in the lived experience of adults and communities impacted by economic inequity, racism, xenophobia, and other forms of oppression and marginalization.
The PD Specialist will work across several World Education projects to coordinate, develop, promote, and deliver professional development related to digital literacy and technology integration. A core focus of this role will be the SABES Program Support PD Center, with other projects to be added according to the candidate’s interest and skill set.
The SABES Program Support Professional Development Center (PSPDC) is a project of World Education, funded by the Adult and Community Learning Services (ACLS) unit of the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). The PSPDC develops and delivers high quality professional development (PD) to MA educators and program staff in six priority areas: Educational Leadership and Program Management; Digital Literacy; Career Pathways; Advising and Student Support Services; ADA Resources & Training; Connecting Adults with Adult Education Programs, which includes the MA Adult Education Help Desk. Each year, our team delivers (on average) more than 5,000 hours of PD to more than 2500 participants via 200 PD events and connects more than 1,200 adult learners to programs through the Help Desk.
This role is full-time. Half of the PD Specialist’s time (.5 FTE) will be dedicated to the PSPDC, where they will lead the PSPDC’s scope of work related to digital literacy and technology integration. The remaining half will be divided among other projects within World Education’s U.S. Portfolio, with projects to be chosen according to the candidate’s interest and skill set. The PD Specialist reports to the Director of the PSPDC.
The PD Specialist will be based in our Boston office and should be located in a state where JSI is registered to do business (California, Colorado, Georgia, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont, or Washington, D.C.). Hybrid work options may be available based on the candidate’s location. Due to the nature of the work, candidates who live in Massachusetts or have experience in Massachusetts adult education programs are preferred. Travel within Massachusetts will sometimes be required; travel outside of Massachusetts (for trainings and conferences) may occasionally be an option.
Work Environment
As a member of both the PSPDC team and the larger U.S. Portfolio, candidates can expect to work in a flexible but fast-paced environment that values self-direction, communication, and a commitment to growth. Candidates can expect to work both independently and as part of a team to complete projects and tasks within the scope of work. Across all of our projects, we work and communicate with a variety of stakeholders – including practitioners, state and national subject matter experts and consultants, funders, and others – and strong communication skills are valued. We also encourage individual professional growth and engage in opportunities to learn from each other and from practitioners, students, and experts in the field.
Our team prioritizes access and equity in learning. We look to adult learners and adult education practitioners as experts in their own stories and needs, work to center and lift up their perspectives, and seek opportunities to collaborate and co-create with them. We aspire to methods of teaching and learning that are accessible, engaging, and effective for individuals with many different learning needs and preferences. The PD Specialist should share these approaches and have a demonstrated commitment to changing practices, institutions, and systems that work to disadvantage people of color and marginalized groups, including adult learners. Participation in agency-wide activities to promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) will be required.
Responsibilities
We expect the PD Specialist to be responsible for the following areas of work. Reasonable accommodations will be made for employees with disabilities.
PD Development, Promotion, and Delivery
Collaborate with the PSPDC team, the broader SABES network, our funder, consultants, and practitioners to develop and implement an annual plan to provide professional development that supports digital literacy, digital resilience, and technology integration in teaching and learning for students and staff in Massachusetts adult education programs
Collaborate with the PSPDC team, consultants, and team members on other projects to coordinate, develop, revise, promote, and deliver professional development offerings, sharing groups, and communities of practice, as well as relevant training materials and other resources
Provide coaching for programs and individuals
Write articles for newsletters, the SABES resource library, professional journals, and other sites and publications
Stay up-to-date on relevant local and national resources and offerings and resources; curate and disseminate relevant resources, training materials, and events
Other Responsibilities
Support overall project management, including communications and website planning, data and budget tracking, quarterly grant reports, and other responsibilities
Participate in team meetings, system meetings, and U.S. Portfolio meetings
Contribute ideas that benefit the project’s continuous improvement, including a commitment to centering diversity, equity, and inclusion in both planning and implementation
Assist with recruiting, interviewing, and orienting new staff as needed
Contribute to portfolio-wide activities, projects, and events planning
Qualifications
We understand that many qualified candidates will not meet all of the following qualifications, and encourage anyone who meets many or most of the qualifications to apply.
We Expect That The Ideal Candidate Will Have Around 5-7 Combined Years Of Experience In Most Or All Of The Following Areas
Digital skills instruction; the integration of digital skills into content-driven instruction and curriculum
Teaching, facilitation, professional development, and/or instructional design, including adult learning theory and teaching methodology
Coaching individuals and programs
Training and leading others, especially as part of a team
We also expect that an effective candidate will have expertise in most or all of the following areas:
Effective practices for teaching and learning in a variety of modalities (e.g. online, hybrid/blended, in-person, etc.)
Tools and strategies for developing digital professional development resources
Tools and strategies for working with adult with emerging digital skills
Workforce/job readiness training as an area of practice is desirable
The Following Qualifications Are Also Highly Desirable
A working understanding of the adult education field in Massachusetts; experience attending or working in publicly-funded adult education programs is particularly desirable
Strong written and oral communication skills; fluency in one or more language/s other than English (particularly a language popularly spoken among low-income, limited-English proficient speakers (LEPs) in Massachusetts) is highly desirable
Proficiency in Microsoft and Google tools, Zoom, and a variety of edtech and workplace collaboration tools is expected. Familiarity with Canvas is desirable.
Compensation & Benefits
This position has an annual salary range of $65,000-$75,000, commensurate with experience and documented skills. WEI offers competitive benefits including health insurance, dental, vision, and a 403b with a company match.
Salary commensurate with experience.
Interested candidates should submit their resumes and cover letters online by 08/09/2024.
No phone calls please.
Principals only please.
Seniority level
Entry level
Employment type
Full-time
Job function
Education and Training
Industries
Non-profit Organizations
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