Assistant Director

Who We Are

Education Commission of the States partners with education policy leaders  nationwide to address issues by sharing resources and expertise. We are proud to serve both the people who develop and implement education policy and the students who directly benefit from effective policy change. Every day, we provide  education leaders with unbiased information and opportunities for collaboration because informed policymakers create better education policy. We are an equal opportunity employer offering competitive salaries and an outstanding benefits package. Education Commission of the States provides an exciting intellectual environment, a collegial workplace, flexible hours and an organizational structure that encourages teamwork.

Who You Are

The Assistant Director will facilitate an effective learning network that helps state and local education leaders move from priorities and learning frameworks to evidence-based plans, implementation and continuous improvement. The Assistant Director facilitates learning and collaboration among state leaders and external partners, aligning expertise and resources with state-defined priorities to strengthen coordination and reduce duplication of efforts.

Reporting

May supervise other team members. Receives direct supervision from an Executive Director of the Education Commission of the States (ECS).

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

National coordination: Build and facilitate collaboration among state leaders and other partners around state-defined needs. Establish routines for joint planning, shared learning and clear handoffs that reduce duplication and strengthen coordinated support.

State and local planning: Facilitate state-team planning sessions that connect state priorities with

local implementation realities, clear learning questions, measurable milestones and appropriate

technical assistance. Support states’ ownership of their learning frameworks and plans.

Continuous improvement: Design and facilitate practical improvement cycles for network and

state/local teams, including needs assessment, root-cause inquiry, measurable aims,

implementation testing, feedback and adjustment. Translate learnings into improved support

plans and shared practice.

Peer learning and convening: Design and facilitate communities of practice, cross-state exchanges and network workshops that advance state-team planning, cross-sector learning and the sharing of promising practices.

State Advisory Fellows: Coordinate with contracted personnel, the Executive Director and State Relations to match former state-leader experience with state planning and implementation needs and ensure actionable follow-through

Knowledge and performance: Capture practical lessons, promising practices, common barriers and implementation milestones; collaborate with Policy, Communications and designated partner performance teams to turn learning into useful resources and assess the use of network support.

Project and relationship management: Manage assigned workplans, partner relations, deliverables and budgets; represent ECS in national and state venues; and support the Executive Director’s strategic and governance work.

Other Duties: Perform other duties as required to support the mission and priorities of ECS.

Required Skills and Qualifications

• NETWORK LEADERSHIP & COLLABORATION

Demonstrated ability to build partnerships, align organizations around shared priorities, and

facilitate coordinated action.

• TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE & CAPACITY BUILDING

Ability to translate state and local education priorities into practical plans, implementation

support, and measurable progress.

• EVIDENCE USE & CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT

Ability to apply research, data, and improvement processes to strengthen decisions,

implementation, and results.

• FACILITATION & COMMUNICATION

Strong skills in leading collaborative planning, peer learning, and discussions with diverse

education leaders and partners.

• PROJECT & RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT

Ability to manage complex workstreams, budgets, deliverables, and partner relationships

with accountability and follow-through.

Background Experience

EDUCATION

We do not require candidates to demonstrate a specific degree or level of academic certification. We encourage candidates with the professional experiences and skills outlined in this position specification to apply.

EXPERIENCE

• Demonstrated success leading statewide, multi-state …