Job Description

Senior Technical Assistance (TA) Specialist

AnLar is looking for a highly motivated and passionate individual to provide leadership, direct technical assistance, support, and consultation for education policy practice and management projects for clients in federal, state, and local (district) education and early learning agencies. We are looking for individuals with IDEA Part C early intervention, Part B Preschool Special Education (Section 619), and early childhood systems experience. We are looking to add a versatile, independent, disciplined problem-solver to our rapidly growing team of people doing influential work. This position will provide direct technical assistance and consultation regarding national policy initiatives as well as state and local education systems through change management, strategic planning, facilitation, and professional development. This position is a fully remote opportunity. However, occasional travel to client locations is required for this position. All AnLar employees are able to use our Arlington, VA offices at their discretion. 

AnLar’s benefits package is a reflection of our commitment to putting our people first. Our benefits include generous paid vacation time; competitive medical, dental, and vision insurance; a monthly wellness stipend; annual professional development stipend; a volunteer matching program; and a 401K match, among others. The salary range for this position is $90K-$110K. To keep AnLar’s compensation equitable, we ask that you only apply if this range aligns with your salary preferences.  

Who we are: 

AnLar is a multidisciplinary team of adept, dedicated, kind-hearted people striving to have a positive effect on the areas of life they’re most passionate about ─ education, equity, health, and so on. We are researchers and seekers, consultants and communicators, problem solvers and partners. In industry-speak, one could say we specialize in work such as creating modernized data systems, supporting change management, conducting research and program evaluation, providing technical assistance, and exploring the depths of this work further through visual communications design. Based in the DC area with remote staff all over the US (and a few abroad), we at AnLar value strong relationships, thoughtful and creative approaches, hard work and grit, and the overall wellbeing of our team. All in all, we want to be able to feel good about the work we do, how we do it, and with whom we collaborate. For more information about us, please visit anlar.com. 

What the job entails:

This position will work with a variety of technical assistance activities focused on early childhood special education, early learning, education and special education related topics. 

• Technical assistance and consultation: Lead projects that provide consultation based upon subject matter and process expertise to clients to help them achieve their goals. Topics may include early childhood systems, leadership, strategic planning, engaging stakeholders, special education, early intervention and early childhood special education, and/or state systemic improvement planning. Includes leading plans for  and implementing work with clients to review their organizational objectives and resources to develop strategic and implementation plans, as well as updated policies and practices. 

• Professional development: Lead projects that develop content for, provide, and evaluate in-person and online professional development (PD) in the form of training and workshops, communities of practice, coaching, or developing online modules. Evaluation of professional development includes creating logic models, theories of action, and evaluation plans, as well as developing data collection protocols and performance metrics, and collecting and analyzing data to support client objectives and providing results in meaningful ways (for example, data visualizations or reports). May also lead the process to help clients develop a sustainable approach to PD. 

• Research planning and implementation: Leading and conducting research design and research activities for AnLar TA projects, including developing research methods and data collection protocols for both qualitative and quantitative data. Conducting data collection through literature searches, focus groups, interviews and surveys. Ensuring consistency and quality in data collection an analysis. Leading the analysis and summary of data; and leading report writing and visualizations that provide results of research to the client.

• Project direction: Lead a portfolio of projects for the Technical Assistance team, including leading a team of content experts, AnLar project managers and senior AnLar staff and identifying, developing and managing technical assistance approaches to addressing client needs. Lead the team to develop project pans and scopes of work that include deliverables, budgets, and structures for tracking and maintaining project work. Track project progress during implementation; monitor project timelines and coordinate with clients and content experts. Support the client directly during calls and meetings, identifying key areas of support and follow up as needed.

• Business development: Support the team in identifying opportunities for AnLar to expand its service offerings by supporting proposal writing and developing relationships with clients and potential funders. May lead the development of new work lines or focused areas of development within the topic areas covered by the TA team. 

What skill set we’re looking for:

• Relationship building. You are able to build genuine relationships with clients and your project team. You are driven to figure out what the client needs (not just what they want) in collaboration with your team. You value strong working relationships with others. 

• Making meaning. You are able to effectively use data to help inform decisions and draw meaningful insights for clients. This includes designing and completing research and program evaluations, needs assessments, and ongoing improvement to systems and processes. This also includes an understanding of research designs, methodologies, and evaluation techniques, as well as data management and both qualitative and quantitative data analysis approaches.

• • Communicating effectively.  You tailor your communication to different audiences effectively (internal communication, clients, other stakeholders, etc.). You are an active listener who is able to remain responsive and flexible in challenging situations.
  • Adept at facilitating. You can design and implement a variety of facilitation processes that help groups maintain focus on the task at hand and that create opportunities for original thinking. Using keen observation skills you are able to match your tone and affect to that of the group while maintaining an overall positive attitude. 
  • Planning and proactivity. You are able to prioritize multiple activities based on client and/or teammate needs while remaining flexible. Dependable and organized, you seek out creative ways to proactively solve problems and expand on what is working.

• Creative life-long learner. You enjoy learning about new ways to approach work, and you adapt these new approaches into your existing processes. When you try new approaches, you reflect on their successes and challenges so that you can improve them for future use. 

Who the right candidate is:

• Required:
  • Expertise in one or more of the following content areas related to AnLar’s Projects;
    • Early childhood systems;
    • Early intervention;
    • Early childhood special education;
    • Special education; and 
    • Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in education.
  • Expertise in systems change strategies and theory including change management, implementation science, and/or strategic planning.
  • Experience with Excel and Stata for data analysis and management.
  • Project direction experience.
  • Skilled facilitator with experience in both large and small group meetings to achieve particular goals.
  • Coachable and open to giving and receiving feedback.
  • A team player. You step up when someone needs help, follow through on commitments, and are willing to go the extra mile for your team and our clients. 
  • Driven by a strong work ethic and integrity.

• Committed to building an inclusive and equitable environment at AnLar. You are ready to engage in conversations about diversity, equity, inclusion and justice. 

• Doctoral degree with two or more years experience in the field, Master’s degree with five or more years experience, or Bachelor’s degree with seven or more years of experience. Degree in special education, public policy, education policy, psychology, management, sociology, or a related field is preferred.
• Someone who loves puns and won’t mind being referred to as an “AnLarian”.

• Preferred, but not required:
  • Previous education, government, or management consulting experience.

Application instructions:

Interested applicants should submit a resume, cover letter, brief writing sample (no more than 5 pages), and anything else that makes you stand out via anlar.com/careers. In your cover letter, please include one paragraph on which of AnLar’s core values resonates most with you and why, and highlight which of AnLar’s current content areas listed above you are most passionate about. Please submit applications by 5:00pm ET on Friday, September 29, 2023.  If you have any questions, you can reach out to us at

ca*****@an***.com











.

Diversity is valued and inclusion is reflected in our efforts to recruit, develop, and engage the diverse staff needed to accomplish our mission. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, national origin, protected veteran status, or disability. 

If you need to request an accommodation for the selection process, please contact Emily Konig (

ek****@an***.com











).

How to Apply

Job Types: Full-Time. Salaries: 80,000 - 100,000.

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