Created by the nation's governors and business leaders, Achieve, Inc., is a bipartisan, non-profit organization that helps states raise academic standards, improve assessments and strengthen accountability to prepare all young people for postsecondary education, work and citizenship. Achieve serves as a significant national voice for quality in standards-based education reform and regularly convenes governors, CEOs and other influential leaders to sustain support for higher standards and achievement for all of America's schoolchildren.

Position Purpose:
The Project Associate is an integral part of both the Content team and Policy Research team, providing support to bth. S/he will serve as a liaison between the teams, especially as a link between the Achieve office and those who work off-site.

Major Responsibilities:

• Participating in the planning and convening of content groups associated with mathematics and English language arts, and science, Alignment Institutes, the ADP benchmark revisions, the International Benchmarking project and other issue-focused sessions that emerge in ADP states.
• Supporting the creation of “side-by-side” charts in English language arts and mathematics to assist Senior Associates in their reviews of state standards and assessments.
• Joining research team in the development, design and production of reports, white papers, briefing materials and press events. Providing research on key policy elements of the American Diploma Project action agenda.
• Attending briefings/reading reports on issues of importance to Achieve and preparing summaries for staff.  Representing Achieve’s Content and Policy Research teams at internal and external meetings as needed.
• Establishing and maintaining relationships with individuals from states in relation to Achieve projects. Serving as a liaison to project consultants and off-site staff as necessary to help keep them informed of and engaged in Achieve’s work.
• Developing and assembling materials and Power Point presentations for Web site and for senior staff visits with state and national audiences.  Helping to develop and maintain a data warehousing system and project files for Content and Policy Research projects.

The ideal candidate has a BA or MA; experience in the education policy arena; excellent research, writing, communication and computer skills (Excel and PowerPoint a must); an ability to manage a number of tasks in a fast-paced environment; willingness to travel; and a team-oriented work style.

 
Interested candidates should fax resume and cover letter to (202) 828-0911, Attention: Jacqueline Gilkes or e-mail to jgilkes@achieve.org.

Posted August 8, 2008