Sr. Program Associate (Onsite Seal Beach, CA)

About WestEd

As a community of over 1,400 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.

WestEd supports individual initiative, excellence, and hard work of all individuals in our hiring and work practices. WestEd complies with all applicable federal and state anti-discrimination laws, as well as OFCCP requirements. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to disability, or status as a protected veteran.

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.

Join Our Team  

WestEd is a nonpartisan research, development, and service organization committed to improving learning and healthy development for children, youth, and adults. We partner with educators, policymakers, and communities to translate research into practice through professional learning, technical assistance, coaching, and systems improvement.

Within WestEd, the Educational Leadership and System Design team partners with schools, districts, county offices of education, and state agencies to strengthen leadership through professional learning, facilitation, coaching, leadership networks, and implementation support. Grounded in research, we partner with leaders as they implement new learning, strengthen their leadership practice, and build organizational capacity. 

As demand for our leadership development services continues to grow, we are expanding our Southern California team to partner with educational leaders across the country. We are seeking an experienced educational leader who is passionate about developing other leaders and ready to contribute to meaningful work alongside a collaborative team. 

Position Summary: Onsite, Seal Beach, CA 

The Senior Program Associate supports the design, coordination, facilitation, and continuous improvement of education leadership development initiatives.

Working alongside experienced colleagues, this position combines professional learning, facilitation, coaching, project coordination, and client partnership. The successful candidate will help design and deliver high-quality professional learning experiences that support implementation, strengthen leadership practice, and build leadership capacity across schools, districts, county offices of education, and state agencies.  

This position also collaborates with colleagues across WestEd, contributing to interdisciplinary projects and supporting the organization's mission to improve outcomes through research-informed practice.  

Primary Responsibilities: 

Professional Learning and Facilitation 

• Co-facilitate professional learning for school, district, county, and state leaders.
• Support the delivery of leadership development services, including Leadership Playbook, Leading from the Middle, School Leadership Team Networks, leadership retreats, coaching, and other professional learning initiatives.
• Facilitate collaborative learning experiences, planning sessions, leadership networks, and small-group activities.
• Partner with leaders as they implement new learning, reflect on their practice, and strengthen leadership within their organizations.
• Develop and refine facilitation guides, participant resources, and learning tools that strengthen established leadership development services.

Project Coordination and Client Partnership 

• Coordinate multiple projects from planning through implementation, ensuring high-quality experiences for clients and participants.
• Develop and manage project timelines, communications, deliverables, and work plans.
• Coordinate virtual and in-person professional learning, including participant communications, logistics, materials, and technology.
• Build and maintain productive partnerships with clients, participants, consultants, and project partners.
• Prepare facilitation materials, participant resources, reports, and project documentation.

Collaboration and Continuous Improvement  

• Collaborate with colleagues across WestEd to support interdisciplinary projects and organizational priorities.
• Support proposal development and project planning for new and existing client engagements.
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of professional learning by integrating research, participant feedback, and implementation evidence into program design and delivery.
• Stay current on emerging research and effective practices in educational leadership, adult learning, and organizational improvement.

Qualifications: 

Required 

• Master's degree in education or a related field.
• Experience serving in a school or district leadership role, such as principal, assistant principal, coordinator, instructional coach, teacher on special assignment, dean, manager, or a similar position.
• Experience facilitating professional learning or leading adult learning experiences.
• Strong project management and organizational skills.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to build productive relationships with diverse partners.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining high-quality work.
• Willingness to travel throughout California and across the country, as needed.

Preferred  

• Experience coaching educational leaders.
• Experience designing professional learning.
• Experience facilitating leadership networks or communities of practice.
• Experience supporting organizational improvement and implementation efforts.
• Experience contributing to grant-funded, research-informed, or cross-functional initiatives.

What Success Looks Like 

Successful candidates:  

• Build trusting partnerships with educational leaders and clients.
• Facilitate engaging, high-quality professional learning experiences.
• Balance strong facilitation with thoughtful project coordination.
• Partner with leaders as they move from learning to implementation and sustained practice.
• Contribute to a collaborative, innovative team culture.
• Continuously improve their own practice while helping others grow.

*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 (X), is $92,000 to $143,000, but WestEd does not typically hire at or near the top of the salary range. The typical hiring range for this role is $92,000 to $115,000. The actual offer considers 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 and immediately 100% vested

· Pre-tax Flexible Spending Accounts and Health Savings Account option

· All health/welfare benefits are effective the first of the month following the hire date

· PTO: 19 days (increases to 21 days beginning the third year of employment), 12 paid holidays

· Life Insurance: value of 3x gross salary, max of 500k

· Opportunities for annual merit-based performance increases + annual incentives

· Professional development opportunities & mentorship program 

For more details about our benefits, go to: https://www.wested.org/work-at-wested/#benefits WestEd is a Drug Free Employer and maintains a drug-free workplace. #LI-CA   #Circa-CA

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)