About WestEd

As a community of over 1,300 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.

Furthering diversity, equity, and inclusion is core to who we are and how we work. We are committed to working with our clients to illuminate and address disparities, value and elevate diverse voices, and ensure equitable access to our resources and services. Read more about . Come and join us!

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.

Content Area Description

WestEd's Assessment Research & Innovation (AR&I) group is involved extensively at the local, state, and national levels in planning, developing, and evaluating standards and assessment tools, methods, and systems. We are researchers first and foremost, so our projects tend to examine the technical aspects of testing in addition to assessment- and accountability-related issues for various student populations (e.g., English language learners) and for developing fields (e.g., computer science) as well as traditional academic areas. To ensure assessment innovations make it out of the laboratory and into the classroom, AR&I also works closely with WestEd's Assessment Design & Development experts who deliver high-stakes summative assessment programs in several states.

Position Description:

The Senior Research Associate will collaborate with other team members and clients to develop the capacity of our partners to improve educational outcomes and advance equity. The AR&I team is committed to assessment and research work that fosters equity, diversity, and accessibility and is looking for someone who shares these values. The position will be expected to support large-scale multi-year research studies; to support evidence-based technical assistance to states and districts; and to advance AR&I's research agenda by creating, communicating, and applying new knowledge in educational measurement.

Responsibilities:

• Gather, analyze, and synthesize information related to assessment through various methodologies.
• Classical Test Theory and Item Response Theory.
• Validity and reliability analyses.
• Statistical analyses, including regression.
• Produce reports and papers.
• Write reports suitable for various audiences (e.g. educators, researchers, policymakers).
• Design and deliver presentations to internal audiences, Technical Advisory Committees, or national/international conferences.
• Contribute to publications in the peer-reviewed literature.
• Communicate and collaborate, with external partners and internal team members.
• Understand the current policy environment surrounding assessment and stay abreast of current research in the field.
• Center equity concerns, including identifying opportunities to attend to issues of inequity, and to include voices from underrepresented communities.
• Design and conduct analyses in ways that are responsive to the concerns and questions of those who will ultimately use the research or knowledge products.
• Project management
• Develop timelines and meet deadlines.
• Contribute to the professional development of research assistants and interns.
• Collaborate with WestEd colleagues to contribute to strategic business development opportunities, including contributing to proposals and leveraging networks to grow new business.

Qualifications:

• Commitment to advancing equity in education.
• Ph.D. in educational measurement, statistics, quantitative psychology, research methodology, or related field.
• At least 3 years of experience as a psychometrician applying Item Response Theory methods in assessment programs (e.g., scaling, parameter estimation, vertical and horizontal equating, test construction, growth models, technical reporting) and conducting statistical analyses (e.g., regression, chi-square tests, descriptive methods).
• Programming experience in SAS or R.
• Experience with large datasets.
• Ability to write and communicate clearly.
• Ability to pursue work and goals with tenacity, flexibility, and persistence in the face of complex, uncertain, or shifting circumstances.
• Demonstrated ability to learn on-the-job, give and receive constructive feedback, and grow into new roles and responsibilities as the work demands.

TRAVEL (up to 20%): In a post-COVID world, travel is assumed to be about 20% for the purpose of client visits and presentations in the field. Most meetings are currently done virtually.

*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 12, is $120,400 to $180,000 but WestEd does not typically hire at or near the top of the salary range. The typical hiring range for this role is $120,400 to $150,500. The actual offer takes into account 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
• Pre-tax Flexible Spending Accounts
• All health/welfare benefits are effective first of the month following hire date
• PTO: 3 weeks vacation (increases to 4 weeks beginning the 4th year of employment), paid holidays, and 12 days paid sick leave per year
• Life Insurance: value of 3x gross salary
• Opportunities for annual merit-based performance increases + annual incentives
• Professional development opportunities & mentorship program

For more detail about our benefits, go to: https://www.wested.org/work-at-wested/benefits/

Committed to the diversity of race, ethnicities, perspectives, and opportunities, WestEd offers a variety of social and professional learning communities, such as Employee Resource groups, the Data Intelligence, Insights, and Innovation PLC, and the WestEd Parent Community, just to name a few. We hope you'll consider joining us to build better schools, communities, learning pathways, and more! #LI-Remote #LI-Hybrid

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)