Job Description
POSITION ANNOUNCEMENTAssociate for Improvement Science
Hub for the Improvement of Practice
The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching
The Carnegie Foundation is engaged in a deep and long-term exploration of the application of the tenets, tools, and methods of improvement research to develop a science of performance improvement in education. The idea is to establish a “third way” to think of education research. The methodological richness and rigor of translational research requires controls and restrictions that limit its capacity to address real problems of practice in their contextual complexity and in ways that support improvement. Participant / practitioner research offers compelling immediacy and profound impact that unfortunately remains limited in its breadth of influence and therefore limits its contribution. The proposed “third way” partakes of each of these traditions and brings to bear an emerging science of improvement research to work on high leverage problems of practice in ways that produces knowledge that drives improvement -- ultimately at system-wide scale.
Structurally, this is addressed by establishing a number of Networked Improvement Communities (NIC), each comprised of practitioner researchers, scholar researchers as thinking partners, as well as facilitators and technical supports of various kinds. Each NIC works on a high leverage problem of practice and its membership and activities are defined as is appropriate to that problem. All of the NICs, however, are supported by a number of resources including the Associates for Improvement Science.
At the present time, Carnegie is focused on two high-leverage problems of practice — the extraordinarily high failure rates of Community College students in Developmental Math and the weak information and support systems for the improvement of teaching in K-12 systems. Carnegie has developed a Community College Pathways program and a Learning Teaching program aimed at forming productive collaborations to address these problems.
Improvement that is deep, widespread, and long-lasting requires the focused and sustained efforts of many. Every bit as important, however, is the steady guidance of a facilitative leader in the design and execution of improvement efforts in the NICs and within the Foundation. The Associate for Improvement Science works with Carnegie partners to engage in such efforts while developing that capacity in the partners’ organizations. The individual in this position will be expected to:
- Work with NIC members to identify high leverage problems whose solutions would significantly enhance performance, deliver results, achieve publicly stated Aims, and contribute to improvement throughout the NIC.
- Identify, adapt, and apply appropriate tools from the improvement sciences, including, but not limited to 90-day inquiry cycles; root cause analyses, driver diagrams; plan-do-study-act cycles for rapid prototyping and testing of change ideas; systems and data analyses, as well as knowledge management tools to inform improvement efforts in the NICs.
- Design and develop agenda and curricula for convenings, meetings, and trainings.
- Teach and coach on all aspects of improvement theory and methods.
- Work with members of the NICs to develop their structural, human, and cultural capacities to conduct and support improvement science within their organizations.
- Oversee project management aspects of improvement projects as assigned (e.g., facilitating information flow, coordinating with other NIC members, etc.).
- Participate in cross-unit teams within the Foundation to enhance its operation, performance, and culture as a learning organization.
- Other projects or tasks as they develop.
Application Procedures:
The Carnegie Foundation offers a competitive salary and generous benefits in a pleasant and friendly work environment. Review of applications will begin immediately, and the position will remain open until filled.
To apply, please refer to Job Code LIAIS-0713 in the subject line and email, send, or fax your resume, salary expectations, and a detailed cover letter explaining why you are interested in this position and how your strengths and skills would contribute to Carnegie’s work. Send these materials to:
Ms. Charlene Moran
Director of Human Resources
Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching
51 Vista Lane
Stanford, CA 94305
Email: resumes@carnegiefoundation.org Phone: 650/566-5100 Fax: 650/326-5312
Please visit our website for more information: www.carnegiefoundation.org
Desired Skills & Experience
Qualifications:
The ideal candidate for this position will have substantive experience in educational settings (classroom, school, district, community college and other higher settings, etc.), a strong background in improvement science and systems thinking, and an advanced degree, preferably an M.A. in a relevant social science.
Education & Experience:
- Master’s degree in either education or improvement sciences / performance assessment or the equivalent in training and experience required.
- Experience working in educational settings. Understands educational contexts and issues and is able to interact effectively with a variety of educational practitioners (e.g., teachers, principals, district administrators, community college and other higher education faculty and administrators, etc.).
- Experience applying improvement theory and methods.
- Inquisitive and versatile learner who is able to learn new subject matter quickly and is open to new ideas.
- Strong qualitative and quantitative analytic skills.
- Superb presentation and communication skills in a variety of settings and with a variety of audiences: one-on-one, small and large groups, with peers and leadership, etc.
- Strong process management skills: able to create effective processes to accomplish work, organize people and activities, manage multiple workflows, track and evaluate performance.
- Team player able to work effectively as a member of a small, diverse, and highly collaborative team.
- Comfortable with, and able to work effectively in, an environment where change and ambiguity are persistent challenges.
- Experience working effectively in a dynamic, fast-paced organization is highly desirable.
Physical Requirements:
The position requires occasional lifting, pulling or pushing objects of less than 25 pounds. Bending, kneeling and carrying are also occasionally required. A significant amount of time is spent sitting. The position requires visual and auditory acuity. It also requires spending substantial time keyboarding and looking at a computer screen.
Company Description
Founded by Andrew Carnegie in 1905 and chartered in 1906 by an act of Congress, the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching is an independent policy and research center. Improving teaching and learning has always been Carnegie?s motivation and heritage.The Carnegie Foundation is committed to developing networks of ideas, individuals, and institutions to advance teaching and learning. We join together scholars, practitioners, and designers in new ways to solve problems of educational practice. Toward this end, we work to integrate the discipline of improvement science into education with the goal of accelerating the field?s capacity to learn to improve.
Structurally, this is addressed by establishing a number of Networked Improvement Communities (NICs), which are comprised of practitioner researchers, scholar researchers as thinking partners, as well as facilitators and technical supports of various kinds. Each NIC works on a high leverage problem of practice and its membership and activities are defined as is appropriate to that problem.
At the present time, Carnegie is focused on two high-leverage problems of practice ? the extraordinarily high failure rates of community college students in developmental math and the weak information and support systems for the improvement of teaching in K-12 systems. Carnegie has developed a Community College Pathways program and a Learning Teaching program aimed at forming productive collaborations to address these problems.
Our current improvement research approach builds on the scholarship of teaching and learning, where members of our NICs:
Learn from each other
Improve on what we know works
Continuously create new knowledge
Take what we learn and make it usable by others.