Emerging Technology Manager Jobs

About WestEd

As a community of over 1,000 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.  

Furthering diversity, equity, and inclusion is core to who we are and how we work. We are committed to working with our clients to illuminate and address disparities, value and elevate diverse voices, and ensure equitable access to our resources and services. Read more about WestEd’s Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.  Come join us!

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.

The Opportunity:

The Emerging Technology Manager (ETM) is responsible for continuously researching new technology services and solutions that inform and drive agency strategy, enhance system capabilities, and promote innovation. This position will report to the Director of Technology. The ETM is responsible for understanding the mission of WestEd, our technology suite, and our client-facing work, while ensuring that new technical solutions focused on agency efficiencies and needs are well-researched.  The ETM must have outstanding knowledge with new technologies and their respective applicability to WestEd.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide leadership on agency system modernization efforts leveraging interoperability, security, and data quality tools.
• Stay abreast of new technologies and their ability to address agency needs, efficiencies, and growth.
• Produce and share a monthly report summarizing key developments across the emerging technology sector.
• Oversee an external security framework leveraging AI components for client-facing data reviews.
• Work with stakeholders to build support for emerging technology reports.
• Partner with our client facing Technology Projects team to assess the approach to the agency’s cloud infrastructure and develop a cloud strategy based on efficiencies, agency growth, security, and modernization based on the portfolio of Department and Division project needs.
• Produce in-depth reports on key emerging technology topics, including analysis of technology, associated security and privacy risks, and application.
• Lead WestEd’s AI strategic planning efforts.
• Leverage business analysts, technical leads, and project teams to prioritize requirements.
• Contribute to conference presentations, speaking engagements, and internal updates to executives on capabilities, opportunities, risks, and applicability of emerging technologies.
• Look for opportunities to leverage technology to achieve business unit objectives.

Position Requirements:

Formal Education & Certification

• College diploma or university degree in the field of business administration, computer science, finance, or information systems, and five years of related work experience.

 Knowledge & Experience

• Curious about technology, with the ability to quickly grasp and describe key aspects, current status, key players, and potential applications.
• Highly articulate and professional, with the ability to communicate with and present to senior executives and the broader industry.
• Supervisory & Management experience with the ability to communicate up, across, and down the management chain, providing the appropriate level of detail and focus on the right information.
• Understanding of application development and software development life cycle concepts.
• Ability to convey industry knowledge in written reports and briefings.
• Ability to meet clear deadlines.
• Ability to understand and communicate/present detailed and advanced business solutions. 
• Five to ten years of relative technology industry experience, with a demonstrated knowledge of emerging technologies.
• Demonstrated knowledge of non-profit or government organizational business operations, along with the strategic use of technology to support organizational growth.
• Excellent understanding of the WestEd’s goals and objectives.

Personal Attributes

• Ability to effectively prioritize and execute tasks while under pressure.
• Excellent listening, interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills.
• Excellent analytical and creative problem-solving skills.
• Experience working in a team-oriented, collaborative environment.
• Logical and efficient, with keen attention to detail.
• Able to exercise independent judgement and take action on it.
• Highly self-motivated and directed.

*Note: Visa sponsorship is not available for this position. Successful candidates must be authorized to work in the United States.

SALARY AND BENEFITS:

The full salary range for this position, WestEd level I, is $133,360 to $200,000 but WestEd does not typically hire at or near the top of the salary range. The typical hiring range for this role is $133,360 to $166,700. The actual offer takes into account 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

· Pre-tax Flexible Spending Accounts

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

· PTO: 3 weeks vacation (increases to 4 weeks beginning the 4th year of employment), paid holidays, and 12 days paid sick leave per year

· Life Insurance: value of 3x gross salary

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

· Professional development opportunities & mentorship program

For more detail about our benefits, go to:

https://www.wested.org/work-at-wested/benefits/

Committed to the diversity of race, ethnicities, perspectives, and opportunities, WestEd offers a variety of social and professional learning communities, such as Employee Resource groups, the Data Intelligence, Insights, and Innovation PLC, and the WestEd Parent Community, just to name a few.  We hope you’ll consider joining us to build better schools, communities, learning pathways, and more!  

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)