Exceptional Children State Project Consultant

$82,222 - $82,222/Yr

Education And Workforce Solutions - Columbus, OH

Full-time - Mid Level

Columbus, OH

About the position

The Exceptional Children State Project Consultant will coordinate and provide program direction for initiatives related to the Office for Exceptional Children (OEC) within the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce. This role involves managing various projects aimed at enhancing educational quality and ensuring compliance with federal requirements for students with disabilities. The consultant will serve as a liaison between stakeholders and the OEC, facilitating communication and outreach while developing policies and procedures to support program objectives.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and provide program direction for OEC initiatives such as State Personnel Development Grant (SPDG) and State Systemic Improvement Plan (SSIP).
• Serve as the OEC point of contact for administrative rule review regarding Operating Standards for Ohio's Schools Serving Children with Disabilities.
• Manage objectives of SSIP, SPDG, and discretionary projects, ensuring alignment with office and agency goals.
• Respond to programmatic issues and stakeholder needs.
• Assist leadership in monitoring tasks, reporting, and organizing workgroups.
• Organize and attend statewide stakeholder groups related to OEC initiatives.
• Plan and schedule project meetings and activities.
• Implement internal policies and procedures related to stakeholder groups and projects.
• Design processes for reporting on initiative progress and maintain reports.
• Monitor compliance with Operating Standards updates.
• Communicate objectives and deadlines effectively.
• Provide technical advice to aid administrators in decision-making.
• Serve as a liaison between the Administrator and staff/stakeholder groups.
• Develop and coordinate public relations for exceptional children initiatives.
• Provide communication and outreach to stakeholders.
• Coordinate office conferences with internal and external partners.
• Research and respond to inquiries related to stakeholder groups.
• Write reports concerning state implementation plans for students with disabilities.
• Prepare important documents, correspondence, directives, and publications.

Requirements

• Completion of an undergraduate core program in Education, Psychology, Social Sciences, Special Education, Public Policy, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience in administering the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and related federal requirements.
• 2 years of training or experience in a supervisory, administrative, or managerial position.
• 2 years of experience in project coordination, planning, research, or policy/procedure development.

Nice-to-haves

• Completion of a master's degree or higher in Education, Psychology, Social Sciences, Special Education, Public Policy, Juris Doctorate, or a related equivalent degree.
• 5 years of administrative or managerial experience at the district, regional, or state level.
• Political acumen with various stakeholders and constituent groups.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple complex roles and responsibilities.
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills related to educational policy, resource allocation, and program design.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills with a proven ability to build productive relationships with diverse stakeholders.

Benefits

• Medical Coverage
• Free Dental, Vision and Basic Life Insurance premiums after completion of eligibility period
• Paid time off, including vacation, personal, sick leave and 11 paid holidays per year
• Childbirth, Adoption, and Foster Care leave
• Education and Development Opportunities (Employee Development Funds, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, and more)
• Public Retirement Systems (such as OPERS, STRS, SERS, and HPRS) & Optional Deferred Compensation (Ohio Deferred Compensation)