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Education Opinion

Help Wanted: Four Intriguing Edu-Jobs

By Rick Hess — September 03, 2010 3 min read
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Despite the nation’s tough job market, the news is brighter for those in the education sector. In the last week or so, I’ve gotten word of four terrific edu-jobs--Dean of the Hunter College School of Education, a program officer with the Walton Family Foundation, a researcher focused on innovation at the Gates Foundation, and a director of research and evaluation at Teach For America (and this doesn’t even include the new hiring taking place at Fordham, Bellwether, and Brookings). Check it out:

Hunter College is looking for a Dean of the School of Education to fill the huge shoes that the dashing David Steiner left behind when he became New York’s commissioner of education. The Dean oversees 73 tenured or tenure-track faculty and more than 200 other faculty. Particularly appealing about this job is the chance to build upon the heralded Teacher U program launched under Steiner and headed up by all-world CEO Norman Atkins. For my money, Teacher U, product of a path breaking collaboration with KIPP, Achievement First, Uncommon Schools, and TFA, is one of the most intriguing teacher ed efforts going. Hunter is looking for an academic, practitioner, or policymaker with a doctorate in a relevant field, a record of scholarship and organizational leadership, and an interest in urban issues. Send applications or nominations to HunterEdDean@spencerstuart.com, and include a C.V. and short letter describing candidate qualifications.

The Walton Family Foundation is looking for a new Program Officer to join the foundation’s Systemic K-12 Education Reform Team. This is a terrific opportunity for anyone interested in charter schooling and parental choice, as Walton has long been at the forefront of these efforts. The new hire will work as part of a small team of talented program officers. Duties will include managing relationships with granting, shepherding proposals, monitoring projects, and helping to shape the foundation’s reform strategy. They’re looking for someone with at least a bachelor’s degree (but prefer something more) and two years or more of experience in K-12 reform. Applicants should be willing to travel up to 50% of the time. Helpful experience includes familiarity with education policy, advocacy, consulting, non-profit management, grants management, or K-12 teaching or administration. If you’re interested, send a cover letter and resume to Walton’s terrific director of K-12 reform, Jim Blew, at jblew@wffmail.com.

Gates is seeking a Senior Program Officer to help develop and manage research for the Next Generation Models initiative. The hire will shape research projects, select grantees/contractors, and provide project oversight. Given the thin research base in areas like online learning, hybrid learning, social learning environments, and the use of games, this is a killer chance to break new ground. A huge plus is getting to work for two of the smartest, nicest, and most interesting people I know--Gates research chief Tom Kane and innovation chief Stacey Childress. They’re seeking someone with 10-15 years managing research and evaluation projects; experience with evaluators or contractors; at least a master’s (and preferably a doctorate); and familiarity with K-12, ed innovation, and technology. The job requires some travel and moving to Seattle. You’ll find the job posting on the Gates jobs page (Plug in “requisition # 2153BR” to find the posting and the application portal.)

Teach for America is seeking a Director of Research and Evaluation. They want someone with strong analytic chops to manage research collaborations with external partners. The hire will be charged with facilitating and shepherding evaluations and studies into TFA’s impact, leading analysis, and helping to translate research findings for practical application across the organization. They particularly seek someone with quantitative skills and a taste for research design and execution issues. One giant perk is the chance to work with TFA’s dynamic research honcho, Heather Harding. The job also entails writing and editing reports, serving as an internal resource, and representing TFA in the research community. They’re seeking at least a master’s (a doctorate is preferred), five years experience, and prior research and writing. They’d prefer the person to be in D.C., but are flexible. Candidates should submit a resume and a one-page cover letter with your application at their jobs page.

Happy (job) hunting. And here’s wishing you a lovely Labor Day weekend.

The opinions expressed in Rick Hess Straight Up are strictly those of the author(s) and do not reflect the opinions or endorsement of Editorial Projects in Education, or any of its publications.