Senior Consultant

Education First is seeking an experienced leader to join our team as a Senior Consultant. Candidates for the Senior Consultant role will demonstrate expertise in at least one of the following areas: Implementing high-quality instructional systems and aligned assessment practices that provide actionable data and advance academic coherence;Designing innovative strategic staffing systems that strengthen educator talent; orDeveloping pathways to college and/or careers that align student outcomes with workforce and community needs.Candidates for this role should also demonstrate proficiency with Artificial Intelligence (AI), which they can leverage to advise funders, nonprofit, school districts, state education agencies (SEAs) and other firm clients on how the strategic use of or investment in AI can accelerate systems-level coherence. Reporting to the Senior Director of Consulting Practice, Senior Consultants manage project teams and client relationships, develop high-quality deliverables and ensure projects are completed on-time and within budget parameters. Candidates should bring evidence of deep content knowledge, strong project management and team leadership skills and be excited to advance systems change.What You’ll DoSuccessfully manage complex projects, including building capacity in and advising clients, developing and maintaining project workplans, monitoring team members’ experiences and developing (or co-developing with others) project deliverables that meet the firm’s quality standardsUnderstand root causes of the problems clients are trying to solve, design with and for people most proximate to those problems and deliver equitable, effective and innovative solutions to clients’ challengesDevelop and execute on project work plans according to client needs and budget constraintsAdapt project plans to reflect changes in project requirementsCoordinate knowledge management across streams of workProduce client deliverables, including landscape analyses, written reports and memos, and facilitation plans for convening and communities of practiceDevelop trusting relationships with high-profile clients in the education field (funders, school districts, nonprofits, SEAs, etc.) and support district, organizational and state teams in ways that lead to repeat business.Design and facilitate effective client meetings that reflect an understanding of adult learning principles, advance project outcomes and support client decisionmakingCapture and share project insights for clients and for the firm internallyDesign and deploy technical assistance to clientsCollaborate on the development of tools and strategies to assess client needsStay up to date on the latest policy trends and research in K12 systems, and lift up relevant insights and emerging best practices for clientsBuild and lead inclusive project teams where members experience professional growth and both invite and receive balanced feedback from each otherDevelop systems, routines and workplans that support collaboration and trust among team membersCoach and support your colleagues’ professional growth by diagnosing areas for development and providing project-embedded feedback RequirementsYou have experience designing and implementing for successful education policies designed to improve P-20 education outcomes for young people, in settings including school districts, education reform organizations, foundations, and state boards/departments of educationYou can demonstrate strong, inclusive project management experience, including the ability to juggle several complex projects at once, develop work plans, maintain project budgets, manage risks, and meet deadlines and targetsYou have the ability to synthesize complex ideas from technical literature and qualitative research into a clear storyline for reports and presentations; ability to identify the key and relevant “so what” findings and advice for clients from data and researchYou have demonstrated experience managing people, especially those at different points in their careers and from diverse backgroundsYou can demonstrate proficiency with AI in your work (e.g., identifying appropriate use cases for AI, apply AI tools to improve efficiency and quality of work product, integrate AI into project workflows, exercise sound judgment about responsible AI use) and can support or coach others to use AI as wellYou have a working knowledge about the key trends in public education and AI, the common tools used in school systems, and how AI-generated insights can inform instructional design and professional learning You possess strong interpersonal skills and high emotional intelligenceYou are a strong communicator through verbal and written mediumsYou have deep facilitation experience with a range of stakeholder groups and clientsYou are skilled at building well-organized and creating compelling client-facing PowerPoint presentationsYou can lead through ambiguity to create clear structures that deliver high-quality results to clientsYou take initiative to resourcefully solve problems while anticipating and adjusting for the unexpected You provide and receive feedback with easeYou lead by influence – establishing open lines of communication and understanding and including the perspectives of othersCompensationThe salary for this position is $134,000. Employees living in cities with higher cost of living may receive a location-based supplement equivalent to 1-5% of the base salary.Benefits100% remote, U.S.-based team Sales bonus opportunities Firmwide in-person engagements once a year Telework subsidy Professional development stipend Foundational Bonding and Parental Leave 20 PTO days, 11 holidays and two firmwide shutdown weeks Medical, dental, vision and life insurance  401(k) match

Education First is seeking an experienced leader to join our team as a Senior Consultant. Candidates for the Senior Consultant role will demonstrate expertise in at least one of the following areas:

1. Implementing high-quality instructional systems and aligned assessment practices that provide actionable data and advance academic coherence;
2. Designing innovative strategic staffing systems that strengthen educator talent; or
3. Developing pathways to college and/or careers that align student outcomes with workforce and community needs.

Candidates for this role should also demonstrate proficiency with Artificial Intelligence (AI), which they can leverage to advise funders, nonprofit, school districts, state education agencies (SEAs) and other firm clients on how the strategic use of or investment in AI can accelerate systems-level coherence.

Reporting to the Senior Director of Consulting Practice, Senior Consultants manage project teams and client relationships, develop high-quality deliverables and ensure projects are completed on-time and within budget parameters. Candidates should bring evidence of deep content knowledge, strong project management and team leadership skills and be excited to advance systems change.

What You’ll Do

• Successfully manage complex projects, including building capacity in and advising clients, developing and maintaining project workplans, monitoring team members’ experiences and developing (or co-developing with others) project deliverables that meet the firm’s quality standards
• Understand root causes of the problems clients are trying to solve, design with and for people most proximate to those problems and deliver equitable, effective and innovative solutions to clients’ challenges
• Develop and execute on project work plans according to client needs and budget constraints
• Adapt project plans to reflect changes in project requirements
• Coordinate knowledge management across streams of work
• Produce client deliverables, including landscape analyses, written reports and memos, and facilitation plans for convening and communities of practice
• Develop trusting relationships with high-profile clients in the education field (funders, school districts, nonprofits, SEAs, etc.) and support district, organizational and state teams in ways that lead to repeat business.
• Design and facilitate effective client meetings that reflect an understanding of adult learning principles, advance project outcomes and support client decisionmaking
• Capture and share project insights for clients and for the firm internally
• Design and deploy technical assistance to clients
• Collaborate on the development of tools and strategies to assess client needs
• Stay up to date on the latest policy trends and research in K12 systems, and lift up relevant insights and emerging best practices for clients

• Build and lead inclusive project teams where members experience professional growth and both invite and receive balanced feedback from each other
• Develop systems, routines and workplans that support collaboration and trust among team members
• Coach and support your colleagues’ professional growth by diagnosing areas for development and providing project-embedded feedback

Requirements

• You have experience designing and implementing for successful education policies designed to improve P-20 education outcomes for young people, in settings including school districts, education reform organizations, foundations, and state boards/departments of education

• You can demonstrate strong, inclusive project management experience, including the ability to juggle several complex projects at once, develop work plans, maintain project budgets, manage risks, and meet deadlines and targets
• You have the ability to synthesize complex ideas from technical literature and qualitative research into a clear storyline for reports and presentations; ability to identify the key and relevant “so what” findings and advice for clients from data and research
• You have demonstrated experience managing people, especially those at different points in their careers and from diverse backgrounds
• You can demonstrate proficiency with AI in your work (e.g., identifying appropriate use cases for AI, apply AI tools to improve efficiency and quality of work product, integrate AI into project workflows, exercise sound judgment about responsible AI use) and can support or coach others to use AI as well
• You have a working knowledge about the key trends in public education and AI, the common tools used in school systems, and how AI-generated insights can inform instructional design and professional learning
• You possess strong interpersonal skills and high emotional intelligence
• You are a strong communicator through verbal and written mediums
• You have deep facilitation experience with a range of stakeholder groups and clients
• You are skilled at building well-organized and creating compelling client-facing PowerPoint presentations
• You can lead through ambiguity to create clear structures that deliver high-quality results to clients
• You take initiative to resourcefully solve problems while anticipating and adjusting for the unexpected
• You provide and receive feedback with ease
• You lead by influence – establishing open lines of communication and understanding and including the perspectives of others

Compensation

The salary for this position is $134,000. Employees living in cities with higher cost of living may receive a location-based supplement equivalent to 1-5% of the base salary.

Benefits

• 100% remote, U.S.-based team
• Sales bonus opportunities

• Firmwide in-person engagements once a year

• Telework subsidy

• Professional development stipend

• Foundational Bonding and Parental Leave

• 20 PTO days, 11 holidays and two firmwide shutdown weeks

• Medical, dental, vision and life insurance 

• 401(k) match

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 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.

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 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 Commitment

We 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.