Associate Specialist Position at UCR

Position Description:
The School of Education (SOE) at the University of California Riverside (UCR) is committed to its mission to advance educational systems and practices which are driven by core values of equity, evidence, excellence, community, critical thinking, and compassion. Located in the Inland Empire, a racially and economically diverse region on Tribal lands, UCR is a land-grant public institution designated as a Hispanic-Serving, Minority-Serving, and Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution. Within this context, we seek to hire a part-time (40% appointment) Associate Specialist that has demonstrated exceptional talent as a researcher and writer. This position will join the School of Education’s project funded by the Stuart Foundation to provide curriculum development and narrative writing tied to highly contentious schooling contexts. The case studies will draw on examples from California and will be aimed to inform researchers, policy makers, and the broad public. The curriculum to be developed will draw on a survey of principals and will be designed to provide students with an opportunity for an informed discussion of educational issues that impact their lives.

Responsibilities and Examples of Duties:
Under the supervision of Dr. Joseph Kahne, the Associate Specialist will contribute to the following efforts

1. Identify exemplary efforts occurring in California schools that effectively help educators support all students' healthy development and opportunities for informed engagement with contentious issues.
2. Develop engaging case studies that provide readers (including the broad public) with compelling examples of ways that educators can meet the needs of all students and support their informed engagement with civic issues.
3. Develop compelling curriculum for middle and high school age students that supports interdisciplinary skills of analysis and evidence-based argument.

Qualifications:
Master’s degree in education, or related field or five to ten years of experience demonstrating expertise in the relevant specialization. Proven record of academic accomplishments, including contributions to published or in-press research in the field and a demonstrated record of university and/or public service. Knowledge of K-12 leadership. Demonstrated ability to work with K-12, teachers and students.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
Ability to work as a member of a team.
Ability to protect confidentiality of participant information.
Ability to provide leadership to others through example and sharing of knowledge and skills.
Ability to establish effective relationships with internal team members, stakeholders, community members, and participants.
Strong oral and written communication skills.
Strong organizational skills.
Strong commitment to research ethics.

Application Instructions:
Please apply online at https://aprecruit.ucr.edu/JPF02139 with your resume, cover letter and three reference letters.

Salary Range:
See Table 24B (N) https://www.ucop.edu/academic-personnel-programs/_files/2025-26/represented-july-2025-scales/t24-b-n.pdf for the salary range for this position. A reasonable estimate for this position is between $36.21 - $42.15 per hour. Additional off-scale pay or other components of pay are offered when necessary to meet competitive conditions.

UCR is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. If reasonable accommodation is needed, please contact Victoria Anaya (vanaya@ucr.edu).

The deadline for full consideration is September 10, 2025. Review of candidates will begin following the full consideration deadline and may continue until the position is filled.

Please contact Victoria Anaya (vanaya@ucr.edu) with any questions.

The University of California, Riverside is a world-class research university with an exceptionally diverse undergraduate student body. UCR is a member institution of the American Association of Universities (AAU) as well as the Alliance of Hispanic Serving Research Universities (HSRU). A commitment to the UCR mission (https://apro.ucr.edu/mission-statement) is a preferred qualification.

We seek to hire scholars who will both advance our research directions and effectively educate our undergraduate and graduate students, while also engaging with University and Professional service activities. Research and teaching statements that are included with application materials are opportunities for candidates to share knowledge, experience, and goals that support the mission of UCR. For more information on UC’s criteria for successful faculty, refer to the Academic Personnel Manual (APM) 210 - Criteria for Appointment, Promotion, and Appraisal (https://www.ucop.edu/academic-personnel-programs/_files/apm/apm-210.pdf).

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected categories under state or federal law. It is the policy of the University of California to undertake affirmative action and anti-discrimination efforts, consistent with its obligations as a Federal and State contractor.

As a University employee, you will be required to comply with all applicable University policies and/or collective bargaining agreements, as may be amended from time to time. Federal, State, or local government directives may impose additional requirements.

As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct.

“Misconduct” means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant’s previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment or discrimination, as defined by the employer. A Misconduct Disclosure Survey will be completed through Truescreen, which is the vendor that administers this process for the campus.

For the University of California's Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy please visit:
https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/4000385/SVSH.

For the University of California’s Anti-Discrimination Policy for Employees, Students, and Third Parties, please visit: https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/1001004/Anti-Discrimination.

For the University of California’s Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination in Employment Policy, please visit: https://www.ucop.edu/academic-personnel-programs/_files/apm/apm-035.pdf.