Consultant (Legislative and Legal Support)

CONSULTANT

The State Education Resource Center (SERC), a quasi-public agency serving the State of
Connecticut, is seeking candidates for a full-time position as a Consultant to support SERC's
consultant and legal teams, designing and delivering professional learning and supporting
SERC's compliance with contracts, legislative obligations and other internal legal matters.
This position reports directly to the Executive Director.

SERC's mission is to provide resources, professional learning, and a centralized library to
educators, families, and community members in collaboration with the CT State Board of
Education and other partners. SERC believes that all students have the right to access opportunities
and experiences that reflect and respect their differences and abilities. Research indicates that
educational outcomes for students of color, students who are English learners, and students with
disabilities continue to lag the outcomes of other students. SERC's consultants and staff, in
collaboration with our partners in school districts and organizations, build the capacity of
educators, service providers, and families to meet the diverse needs of our student population.

General Summary

SERC Consultants are instructional leaders who design, deliver, and evaluate high-quality
professional learning, supporting the application of learning, systems change, and capacity-
building for educators and school leaders. SERC consultants serve as agency liaisons to the CT
State Department of Education and Local Education Agencies (LEAs). Through collaborative
internal and external partnerships, consultants operationalize SERC's vision of Equity-Excellence
Education by applying a lens of equity and 21st - century skills to all programming, technical
assistance, and materials development. The candidate will support and coordinate SERC's multiple
internal and external professional learning initiatives that uphold research-based, data-focused, and
outcomes-driven best practices in schools, communities, and organizations.

Essential Job Functions

Applicants must have:

• Experience planning and coordinating professional learning programs that are accessible,

inclusive, and culturally relevant. Working knowledge of standards for professional
learning is vital.

• Experience in facilitation of multi-tiered systems of support, and effective strategies

meeting the needs of culturally and linguistically diverse learners in general education
settings.

• Excellent oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills.

• Demonstrated experience applying state statutes to a variety of situations including

procurement and ethics.

• An understanding of the state legislative process, and the capacity to develop policies and

procedures.

• Strong analytical writing and organizational skills.

Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform
essential functions.

Responsibilities

SERC Legislative and Legal Support Consultant will manage and coordinate various
responsibilities in partnership with peers, state agencies, school districts, colleges, universities,
community organizations, legal representatives, and state legislators. They include, but are not
limited to:

• Building collaborative relationships with internal and external partners.

• Assisting school administrators with district-level and school-level strategic programming

supporting academic achievement.

• Coordinating and providing internal coaching and other types of educational and

instructional support according to legislative requirements of the agency.

• Maintaining an understanding of current state and national trends related to education.

• Participating in the definition and development of agency policies, procedures and programs.

• Providing counsel and guidance on legal and legislative matters.

• Ensuring that the agency conducts its business in compliance with applicable laws and

regulations.

• Providing counsel and advice relating to non-profit law and board governance.

• Identifying intersectionality (race, language, culture, and ethnicity) within all aspects of

education and schooling as a link to promote seamless connections and ensure coherence

with the agency's vision of Equity. Excellence. Education.

• Demonstrating a proven commitment to work in culturally diverse and inclusive settings.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge of: 

Project development and management skills; strong interpersonal skills to work
with various external stakeholders to support the agency's work; strong attention
to detail; ability to work effectively and efficiently with an internal team of
consultants. 

Systems change, implementation fidelity and professional development. 

Professional learning standards, adult learning, and differentiated learning
models. 

Effective delivery of professional learning to achieve intended outcomes. 

CT statutes and the legislative process. 

Contract negotiation and preparation.

Skill in: 

Using quantitative and qualitative student, educator, and system data to plan,
inform and guide program development. 

Providing high-quality customer service and collaborative communication that is
culturally responsive and accessible for multiple stakeholders, internal and
external, to implement professional learning. 

Using technology to advance professional development and technical assistance. 

Communicating professionally and effectively, as well as a keen attention to
detail. 

Reading, writing and analyzing legal documents.

Ability to: 

Communicate and market professional learning opportunities, services, products,
resources, or programs. 

Develop funding sources and collaborate with funders to develop and implement

effective professional learning that meets agreed-upon outcomes. 

Learn independently, conduct research, synthesize and apply information from a
variety of resources. 

Successfully work in a cross-functional environment daily to achieve and exceed
desired goals. 

Work in culturally diverse and inclusive settings. 

Be a transformational agent of change, remaining neutral and constructive when
faced with partners' concerns.

The ideal applicants must have demonstrated effectiveness in a collaborative, highly team-oriented
environment yet possess initiative, self-motivation, and the ability to manage multiple priorities
independently and work with minimal supervision.

Supervisory Responsibility

This position has no supervisory responsibilities.

Work Environment

The Consultant operates in a professional or virtual office environment. Appropriate business attire
is required. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers and phones. Off-
site requirements are specific to workshops, training, or school and community work.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that an employee must meet to
perform the essential functions of this job successfully.

While performing the functions of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and listen.
The employee is frequently required to stand, be mobile; use hands or fingers; handle or feel; reach
with hands and arms, and lift/carry items. The capacity to drive and the availability of a car are
preferred.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work

This is a full-time, exempt position. The days and hours of work are Monday through Friday
from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Occasionally, weekend or after-hours work might be necessary.

Education and Experience

A master’s degree in education or a related field and a Juris Doctor degree and CT bar admission
are required. Experience working in law or policy development AND public schools or programs
is preferred.

Salary

• $87,500

• Salary is non – negotiable; all new hires will start at the beginning of the range.

This position will remain open until filled. A thorough, updated resume and at least three
professional references must be submitted with the application package to be considered. Apply
online at: (select Employment under the About tab).

SERC is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer and strongly encourages the
application of individuals from racially, culturally, and linguistically diverse backgrounds and
from persons with disabilities.