Technical Support Specialist Jobs

POSITION TITLE: Grants and Technical Assistance (Principal Consultant #414)

LOCATION: SPRINGFIELD OR CHICAGO

Reporting to the Director, performs duties related primarily to services to school districts with migrant and language minority students; provides technical assistance to school staff on meeting the needs of their students; reviews programs for compliance with state and federal laws, rules and regulations and performs other duties related to the implementation of programs for this student population; assists management in the administration of programs assigned to the department; participates in or organizes meetings related to department activities; prepares or oversees the preparation of reports, correspondence, papers and other documents.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Assists in developing applications and implementing one or more federal or state funded programs to ensure their effectiveness.
• Oversees department grants and contracts, including writing, awarding, monitoring, reporting, and communicating with grantees.
• Develops and presents data reports aligned with English learner and immigrant data as requested.
• Provides technical assistance to the field consistent with best practices and in alignment with all applicable rules, regulations, and law as applicable to English learners.
• Works with external stakeholders (as required) to complete duties and responsibilities.
• Provides support and technical assistance to schools and districts in the implementation of required procedures for the identification of English learners.
• Manages the implementation of entrance and exit procedures in regards to the proper identification of English learners.
• Supports in conducting the implementation of compliance monitoring protocols for state and federal legal guidance, rules, and law requirements as applicable to English learners and immigrant students.
• Assists district staff in the implementation of their programs consistent with best practices and legal provisions.
• Develops clear communication tools (e.g., infographics, memos, etc.) regarding the entrance and exit procedures for English learners.
• Assure school and district compliance with all programmatic and fiscal regulations as related to laws and grants including, but not limited to, Title III and EL-EBF.
• Participates in department, center, and agency cross-functional teams as designated by management.
• Reviews and approves grant applications, plans, program delivery reports, amendments, and other reports or evaluations submitted by districts.
• Provides support and technical assistance to schools and districts in the implementation of required state and federal legal guidance, rules, and law requirements as applicable to English learners and immigrant students as a result of compliance monitoring.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications:

• Familiarity with grant procedures (e.g., application, implementation, monitoring, technical assistance).
• Knowledge in conducting research and/or data analysis.
• Solid time-management abilities to efficiently manage multiple assignments with competing deadlines.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently with limited direction from management.
• Ability to problem solve.
• Master's Degree, or, Bachelor's degree plus two years of relevant professional experience.
• Coursework in bilingual education, English as a second language, world language or applied linguistics. (COPY OF TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED AT TIME OF APPLICATION)
• Ability to write, proofread, edit, and finalize professional written work products for a variety of audiences.
• Proficient in a language other than standard English.
• Two years of experience (in addition to education requirements) working in education.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Ability to use Microsoft Office.
• Experience with budgets.
• Degree in Bilingual Education, English as a Second Language, World language, Education Policy, Public Policy or Applied Linguistics.
• Experience working in schools, Local Education Agencies, or State Education Agencies implementing rigorous entrance and exit procedures for English learners.
• Experience implementing the WIDA model, WIDA kindergarten screener, WIDA screener, WIDA access, and/or WIDA ALT access.
• Master's Degree in Education.