Senior Director of NAEP

Note: Hiring of this position is contingent upon funding. This is a 5 year contract position with the possibility to extend.

For full consideration for interview, all applicants are required to complete the following supplemental questions. Responses to these questions will be provided during the application process.

1. How many years of management and supervisory experience do you have?

2. Describe your experience with developing new systems that have embedded quality controls and are well documented.

3. How many years of experience do you have working in an organization that develops large scale educational assessments for k-12 students?

4. How many years of experience do you have working in an organization that develops large scale professional certification assessments?

5. Describe your experience managing a unit within an organization that develops large scale professional certification or educational assessments for k-12 students.

6. Describe your experience in providing deliverables that meet the terms of a contract.

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This position works remotely requiring a telecommuting agreement and adherence to the UCSC Telecommuting/Remote Work Guidelines. The employee shall be available in a full-time capacity during assigned telecommuting work hours (specific hours to be discussed with supervisor). While telecommuting/remote working, the employee is responsible for ensuring a worksite environment suitable for accomplishing their regular job duties during scheduled hours of work and, if applicable, arranging for dependent care just as they would if they were working at the regular UCSC worksite.

NO VISA SPONSORSHIP IS AVAILABLE FOR THIS POSITION.

HOW TO APPLY

For full consideration, applicants should attach their resume and cover letter when applying for a job opening. For guidance related to the application process or if you are experiencing difficulties when applying, please review the Applicant Resources on our website.

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INITIAL REVIEW DATE (IRD)

Application materials submitted by 11:59 pm on the IRD will be routed to the hiring unit for consideration. Materials submitted after the IRD will ONLY be forwarded at the request of the hiring unit. To ensure your application is routed for consideration, submit your materials before 11:59 p.m. on the IRD. Application materials cannot be accepted outside of the jobs portal. Applications cannot be edited on an applicant's behalf. For more information about the IRD and the applicant review process, view this link.

The IRD for this job is: 11-13-2024

ABOUT UC SANTA CRUZ

UC Santa Cruz is a public university like no other in California, combining the experience of a small, liberal arts college with the depth and rigor of a major research university. It's known as an unconventional place where innovation and experimentation is part of the campus's DNA. That playful, bold spirit still thrives today, all on a campus renowned as among the most beautiful in the world.

DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW

The Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC) is a public agency supported by 12 members (states and territories). Through the work of thousands of educators, Smarter Balanced created an online assessment system aligned to the Common Core State Standards (CCSS), as well as tools for educators to improve teaching and learning. Smarter Balanced is housed at the University of California Santa Cruz (UCSC) Silicon Valley Extension.

The work of Smarter Balanced is guided by the belief that a high-quality assessment system can provide information and tools for teachers and schools to improve instruction and help students succeed - regardless of disability, language, or subgroup. SBAC involves experienced educators, researchers, state and local policymakers, and community groups working together in a transparent and consensus-driven process.

Smarter Balanced staff have a profound commitment to UCSC's Principles of Community including embracing diversity, equity, and inclusion.

UCSC Extension provides professional training that reflects the academic rigor of the University of California and the hands-on, roll-up-your-shirtsleeves practicality of Silicon Valley culture. Developed with guidance from key industry leaders and academic experts, our certificate programs match the economic demands of industry, from engineering to business, education to bioscience. The University of California reviews and approves UCSC Extension courses and programs for academic content, merit, and instructor qualifications. Many Extension courses may be applied toward degree programs or may be eligible for professional certificates and licenses.

More information can be found here:https://smarterbalanced.org

JOB SUMMARY

The incumbent will lead and provide oversight, direction, and supervision to the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) team within the Smarter Balanced program. This position is responsible for ensuring that Smarter Balanced creates dynamic, accurate, and timely content for presentations and trainings that will directly support the ability of NAEP coordinators to promote and implement the National Assessment of Educational Progress effectively.

Similarly, the Senior Director of NAEP will provide oversight regarding developing and implementing Professional Learning Plans for each of the 80 NAEP coordinators housed in each state and large urban school district. Further, this position will provide oversight for the Ambassador program that engages with each Chief State School Officer and large urban district in the nation and provides consultation regarding how to use information from NAEP to inform their educational policies.

The NAEP team's position is based on a time/material contract with the National Center for Educational Statistics and, therefore, this position will need to establish time keeping systems that provide detailed documentation of the hourly allocation of effort from each staff and contractors.

APPOINTMENT INFORMATION

Budgeted Salary: $104,900 - $151,900/year. Salary commensurate with skills, qualifications and experience.
Under California law, the University of California, Santa Cruz is required to post a reasonable estimate of the compensation for this role. The salary shown above is the budgeted amount the University reasonably expects to pay and the salary extended should not exceed this posted amount.

Benefits Level Eligibility: Full benefits

Schedule Information:

• Full-time, Fixed
• Percentage of Time: 100%, 40 Hours per Week
• Days of the Week: Mon-Fri
• Shift Includes: Day

Employee Classification: Contract appointment

Job End Date: 5 years from hire date, with possibility of extension

Work Location: Remote

Union Representation: Non-Represented

Job Code Classification: 006832 (ACAD PRG MGT SUPV 2)

Travel: Up to 25% of the time

JOB DUTIES

40% - Leadership and Large Scale Assessment Expertise

• Provide expert content knowledge regarding large-scale assessment and professional development in support of staff's work
• Provide consultation to NAEP coordinators and Chief State School Officers regarding large-scale assessment and educational policy
• Promote the work of Smarter Balanced in external venues, including both the NAEP team's efforts and the products and services that Smarter Balanced provides to its members
• Analyze and prioritize issues that need to be escalated to the Executive Director, including providing detailed analysis of risks and strategies that can mitigate risks
• Provide extensive reviews of staff's work products and ensure that deliverables are free of errors, clearly articulated, appropriate for the intended audiences, and provided in a timely manner
• Provide consultation to staff, consultants, and NAEP coordinators regarding professional development and specific knowledge progressions that will help NAEP coordinators meet their professional goals
• Provide periodic updates to the Smarter Balanced Executive Committee regarding the progress of the work

35% - Supervision

• Provide supervision, mentoring, encouragement, and redirection as necessary to ensure the NAEP team is collaborative, effective, and inclusive, with a strong commitment to customer service
• Ensure that staff follow UCSC policies as well as Smarter Balanced procedures
• Conduct performance reviews on a regular basis throughout the year and implement disciplinary actions as necessary to ensure the team is effectively completing their responsibilities

25% - System Design

• Establish standard operating procedures that guide staff regarding how to coordinate with the Research Triangle Institute (RTI) International and the National Center for Educational Statistics (NCES) as applicable regarding the design, development, and implementation of plans, presentations, and reports
• Oversee the development of systems to plan, track, and report the hourly effort of staff as necessary to fulfill contractual obligations and submit invoices to RTI as needed
• Oversee the development of systems of documentation, file sharing, and other essential elements of infrastructure to ensure that the NAEP team is effectively able to collaborate internally and externally
• Develop systems to coordinate with other managers within Smarter Balanced to align processes as appropriate and develop a mutual understanding of each team's respective responsibilities and work products
• Oversee the development of systems to manage contractors and ensure that there is a pool of sufficiently qualified contractors available to support the work of the NAEP team
• Develop a system to understand the quality of work products for staff and contractors and provide timely and effective feedback to improve performance quality

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Masters degree in Educational Policy, Educational Measurement, Educational Leadership or equivalent experient or training
• Experience providing deliverables that fulfill the terms of a contract
• Extensive experience managing a unit within an organization that develops large-scale professional certification assessments or large-scale educational assessments for K-12 students
• Thorough knowledge regarding the principles of large scale educational assessment and assessment literacy
• Strong project management skills to ensure that tasks are tracked, completed on time and are free of errors
• Advanced budgeting skills to ensure that activities are completed within existing budgets
• Advanced supervision skills to ensure that the team is motivated and able to complete deliverables on time with a high degree of quality
• Expert ability to design and document systems that are effective, repeatable and have extensive controls in place to ensure accuracy
• Strong written skills to communicate complicated concepts in plain language
• Strong verbal skills to communicate complicated concepts in plain language
• Excellent problem solving ability to address novel problems and derive effective solutions within constrained budgets and contractual agreements

SPECIAL CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

• Selected candidate will be required to pass a pre-employment criminal history background check.
• Ability to work long periods of time at a computer with or without accommodation.
• This is a fully remote position, and the selected candidate must be able to work successfully from a home/remote office and be able to fulfill the requirements of the UCSC telecommuting agreement.
• Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends as directed.
• Selected candidate will be required to complete training within established time frames as directed including UC compliance training.
• Ability to travel to multiple work locations on and off campus.
• Ability to travel within a defined regional or service area.
• Ability to travel nationally.
• Ability to maintain appearance and conduct suitable for working in a professional setting.
• The University of California has implemented a Vaccination Policy covering all employees. Employees, including new hires, are required to comply with any applicable policies relating to the University of California vaccine program.
• Per the Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act (CANRA), this position has been identified as a Mandated Reporter. The selected candidate will be required to report known or suspected child abuse or neglect as defined by CANRA and will be required to sign a Statement Acknowledging Requirement to Report Child Abuse prior to commencing employment. CANRA Penal Codes, and related definitions, requirements, and responsibilities may be obtained here.

SAFETY STATEMENT

All UCSC employees must understand and follow job safety procedures, attend required health and safety training, proactively promote safety at work, and promptly report actual and potential accidents and injuries.

NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY

EEO/AA

The University of California is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or protected veteran status. UC Santa Cruz is committed to excellence through diversity and strives to establish a climate that welcomes, celebrates, and promotes respect for the contributions of all students and employees.

For the University of California's Affirmative Action Policy please visit: https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/4010393/PPSM-20

For the University of California's Anti-Discrimination Policy, please visit: https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/1001004/Anti-Discrimination