Associate Consultant

AI overview

The Associate Consultant will lead research initiatives and manage project plans to deliver high-impact systems that support rigorous instructional practices in education.

Education First is seeking an early- to mid-career professional to join our consulting team as an Associate Consultant. As a member of the Accelerating Academic Coherence home team, the Associate Consultant will support clients in implementing high-quality, rigorous instructional systems (e.g., materials and professional learning) and aligned, coherent assessment practices that provide clear, actionable data. In this role, the Associate Consultant will lead research workstreams, manage research project plans and conduct rigorous qualitative and quantitative analyses that inform high-impact client deliverables.

Associate Consultants synthesize complex findings into clear, compelling insights for internal and external stakeholders and often serve as content leads on key topics that shape client-facing materials. Reporting to the Principal and Senior Director of Consulting Practice, Associate Consultants manage discrete workstreams within projects and are accountable for delivering high-quality, client-ready products.

Requirements

  • Serve as lead researcher on project teams 
    • Develop research work plans and serve as research lead on project teams, ensuring client deliverables meet basic research standards and Education First’s style guide 
    • Develop interview protocols, administer and analyze surveys, and facilitate interviews and focus groups
    • Gather, organize and synthesize data from surveys, desk research, interviews and focus groups utilizing equity-centered practices to bring diverse perspectives and a broader range of data from multiple sources in order to generate ideas and narratives for landscape scans to advance team and client decisions
    • Leverage research tools such as Qualtrics, Atlas.ti, Gemini and other AI tools to execute research activities and produce high-quality deliverables
    • Lead key portions of projects such as particular work streams or work groups 
    • Develop and collaborate with project managers to create and finalize “client-ready” PowerPoint presentations, policy memos, briefs, reports, strategy documents and other products drawing from documentation and research work
  • Coordinate client and project commitments
    • Design and facilitate client meetings and internal project team meetings
    • Cultivate relationships with clients and your professional network on behalf of the firm
  • Engage and build on ongoing strategy
    • Build advanced knowledge of P-16 education policy issues by staying up-to-date on legislation and research impacting the field, particularly related to assessments and high-quality instructional materials
    • Mentor and create shared learning experiences for project team members to build their content expertise
    • Engage in team problem solving by generating new ideas and sharing evolving trends and best practices

Why You’re a Great Candidate

  • Must Haves:
    • You have experience with research, project management and/or program management in a research, policy, organizational development, philanthropy, nonprofit, government, education consulting, public affairs, or other relevant role
    • You are committed to the vision of a more equitable education system in the U.S. and have demonstrated understanding of current K12 education reform issues, particularly assessments and the use of high-quality instructional materials 
    • You are a strong, confident communicator with excellent written and verbal communication skills and are highly-skilled in translating and synthesizing complex topics such as technical literature and quantitative research into a clear storyline for varied audiences
    • You have strong qualitative research skills and experience, including interview and focus group analyses, landscape scans, literature reviews, legislative/policy analysis and/or synthesis
    • You enjoy leading convenings, collaboratives, communities of practice, networks or member services with varying groups of stakeholders to help them seek strategic common ground and learn from one another
    • You have strong problem-solving skills, can lead through ambiguity and are willing to ask difficult questions
    • You are a strong project manager with excellent time-management skills who is self-motivated and results oriented
  • Nice to Haves:
    • Understanding of equitable design processes

Benefits

  • 100% remote, U.S. based team 
  • Firmwide in-person engagements a few times a year 
  • Telework subsidy 
  • Professional development stipend 
  • Foundational Bonding and Maternity Leave 
  • PTO days, 11 holidays and two firmwide shutdown weeks 
  • Medical, dental, vision and life insurance  
  • 401(k) match

Compensation 

The salary range for this position is $81,000 - $87,600. Employees living in the following locations are eligible for a location-based supplement: Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, District of Columbia, Denver, Hoboken N.J.,, Houston, Los Angeles, Madison, Miami, New Orleans, New York City, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Portland, Salt Lake City, San Francisco and Seattle. 

Perks & Benefits Extracted with AI

  • Equity Compensation: 401(k) match
  • Health Insurance: Medical, dental, vision and life insurance 
  • Home Office Stipend: Telework subsidy
  • Learning Budget: Professional development stipend
  • Paid Time Off: PTO days, 11 holidays and two firmwide shutdown weeks
  • Remote-Friendly: 100% remote, U.S. based team

Education First is a mission-driven education policy consultancy dedicated to ensuring that all students – and particularly students in poverty and students of color – are prepared for success in college, careers and life. We work with organizations that are shaping the future of P-16 education across the nation, including school networks and districts, state departments of education, policy and advocacy organizations, youth empowerment organizations, talent organizations and foundations. We help these system leaders catalyze change through our services: Conduct research and analysis on policies and provide contextual recommendations and strategic support to translate findings into concrete, sustainable action Develop and implement visionary, coherent strategies and strategic plans by prioritizing inclusive voices, focusing on the right problems, and providing space to explore Plan and facilitate meaningful convenings for organizations and individuals to learn, problem solve, collaborate, and advance their work Design actionable and equitable solutions that meet client needs, achieve program goals, and implement initiatives with clarity and quality Support grantmakers, funders, and foundations to develop thoughtful, high-impact investment strategies that align with their goals, interests, and resources We are a team of more than 70 former teachers, district and state education leaders, policy advisors, and grantmakers who live and work virtually in more than 20 states and DC. Because of our experience, we approach the challenges our clients face with humility, realistic solutions, and a commitment to follow-through. Our culture is built on genuine care for our clients and for each other. We celebrate original thinking, collaboration, entrepreneurialism, authenticity and fun.Our Equity CommitmentWe recognize that in order to pursue our own organizational mission at Education First, we must approach our work by studying gaps and inequities, asking tough questions about structural racism and more deliberately engaging diverse voices in problem-solving. We’ve been building our own skills to deliver solutions that center racial equity, with particular attention to equitable ways of thinking and working, and we are committed to helping our clients do the same in projects that have a goal of increasing equity at their core. Within Education First, we have committed to building a race equity culture – creating the conditions to adopt antiracist mindsets and actions.We believe: Black lives matter. We are collectively responsible to amplify and support Black students, families and leaders. People are experts in their own experience. We cannot effectively support our clients to problem solve and innovate without centering the people they aim to serve. Racism and inequity were designed, and can be redesigned. People make up the systems, policies and processes that govern our experience, and we must support our clients to explore their role in reimagining what could be possible. For greater detail about our Equity Commitment, please visit our website.Education First actively engages our team with a robust Race, Inclusion, Diversity and Equity (RIDE) strategy to build our staff and organizational capacity to lead on issues of equity and to increase diversity, equity and inclusion at all levels of the firm. As a proud equal opportunity employer, we strongly encourage applications from candidates of all races, national origins, ages, religions, creeds, veteran or disabled statuses, sexual orientations, gender identities or gender expressions.

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Salary
$81,000 – $87,600 per year
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