Multilingual Learners Specialist (MLL Specialist)

MULTILINGUAL LEARNERS (MLL) SPECIALIST

CA-Based Location Flexible (Remote/Hybrid w/ Travel)

Exempt, Full-Time (2-Year Fixed Term)

Catalyst California Organizational Background & Multilingual Learners Involvement

Catalyst California (formerly known as Advancement Project California) advocates for racial justice by building power and transforming public systems. We partner with communities of color, conduct innovative research, develop policies for actionable change, and shift money and power back into our communities. Rooted in the historic struggle for racial and economic equality, Catalyst California envisions a world where systems are designed for justice and support equitable access to resources and opportunities for all Californians to thrive. The primary programs are Educational Equity, Equity in Community Investments, Political Voice, and Reimagine Justice & Safety. To learn more about Catalyst California please visit www.catalystcalifornia.org.

From 2016 to 2021 Catalyst California was an active participant and strategic advisor in First 5 California’s Dual Language Learner (DLL) Communities of Practice (CoP) and DLL Pilot Study, an initiative that was intended to evaluate the efficacy of existing culturally and linguistically responsive strategies in early learning settings to serve multilingual learners (MLLs) and to evaluate the conditions for effective and sustained scalability. For added insight and context into Catalyst CA’s involvement with the CoPs visit this blog post.

Position Overview

In response to the DLL Pilot findings, Catalyst California has teamed up with First 5 California (F5CA), and the California Department of Social Services, Child Care and Development Division (CDSS) to create, design and generate a newly developed position. The Multilingual Learners (MLL) Specialist position will not only build upon the legacy of the DLL Pilot but will also provide capacity at the state level to improve outcomes for MLLs. The new role will be housed within Catalyst California and will report directly to the Associate Director of Birth to Third Grade Policy at Catalyst California as the primary supervisor. The Education Programs Consultant at F5CA and the Child Development Consultant at CDSS will serve as co-advisors to the MLL Specialist in overseeing and guiding the day-to-day responsibilities of the MLL Specialist. To learn more about F5CA’s DLL Pilot Study findings which were led by the American Institutes for Research (AIR) you can visit www.air.org/project/first-5-california-dual-language-learner-pilot-study.

Key Responsibilities

The MLL Specialist will be responsible for accumulating the experiences and gathering the appropriate feedback from the Early Learning and Care (ELC) field, identifying what supports need to be built within state agencies, supporting with the identification of policy needs, and providing a supporting connection from the field to policymakers. Key responsibilities will include but are not limited to the following:

• Strategic Planning & Capacity Building Strategy (35%)
• Serve as MLL liaison between state agency partners, F5CA, CDSS, and advocacy organizations, to promote MLL programs and priorities 
• Support and coordinate MLL project implementation for current and emerging cross-programmatic efforts between F5CA and CDSS
• Research, analyze and elevate existing information/resources available in the ELC field with a focus on supports for MLL children and families that advance racial equity and economic justice in state policy and practice
• Act as a subject matter expert and provide technical assistance to early learning interest holders (i.e. providers, coaches and other state funded program professionals), and foster cross collaboration among state agencies to create awareness, systems and best practices that advance supports for MLL children and families
• Travel when needed to Sacramento and across California to support F5CA’s LEGACY Fund efforts, county commission, regional Hub meetings, and CoPs
• Travel when needed to attend state/national conferences to stay abreast of MLL best practices and trends
• Connect F5CA’s IMPACT Legacy Initiative to future MLL advancement and activities; including the review of IMPACT applications from each regional hub that is specific to MLL strategies
• Research and stay up-to-date on early childhood/MLL policies and legislation and report relevant findings back to the Team
• Coordinate short term and long-term action items that move towards advancing MLL infrastructure
• Provide progress reports to Team on MLL activities being conducted, and provide updates on any research/policy recommendations related to MLLs
• Draft an end of project work plan and report to capture recommendations and outcomes for F5CA and CDSS based on the initial work completed

• Training & Facilitation Coordination Support (35%)
• Provide coordination and identification support for trainings, professional development, and communities of practice (CoPs) for the ELC field 
• Create an access plan to ensure professional development for the ELC workforce is aligned with high-quality instructional practices for MLLs
• Coordinate training opportunities to build the capacity of those working with MLLs

• Data Collection & Information Sharing (20%)
• Collect qualitative and quantitative data on the successes and gaps as it relates to F5CA’s MLL efforts
• Collect needs assessment data and feedback from CoPs to help inform MLL implementation initiatives
• Recommend MLL data indicators
• Analyze data to address and identify MLL system gaps
• Serve as thought-partner to CDSS with identification and data collection of MLL information especially as it relates to AB 393 implementation

• Advocacy Strategy Support (10%)
• Promote multilingual learning as an asset
• Contribute to development of recommendations for state and local policy efforts aimed at improving MLL outcomes and eliminating disparities
• Advocate and educate policymakers and interest holders regarding policy
• Travel as needed to Sacramento to provide support to F5CA’s external and governmental affairs team to help educate and inform stakeholders
• Represent the state at MLL related events

Qualifications

Education & Experience

• 5+ years of professional experience with relevant knowledge of the early learning and care system space (e.g. Birth to age 8) 
• Bachelor's degree required
• Proven track record working with diverse stakeholders (e.g. children, families, community, civil rights/racial justice organizations, coalitions, and agency teams)

Candidate Profile, Skills, and Abilities

• Demonstrated commitment to advancing racial and economic justice for the highest-need communities; Understanding of the importance and need for cultural and linguistic diversity
• Ability to organize, track and analyze qualitative and quantitative information
• Excellent project management, organization and detail-orientation skills with demonstrated ability to execute projects on time and on-budget 
• Strong interpersonal, oral communication, facilitation and presentation skills  
• Strong written communication, analytical, technical editing skills
• Self-starter, proactive spirit and problem-solving abilities with ability to work independently and with minimal supervision 
• Demonstrated ability to work in a small team setting 
• Flexibility to adjust and contribute to evolving work situations/changing priorities
• Excellent computer skills, including strong internet research skills; proficient with MS Office applications including Excel

Nice-to-Have Qualifications Although Not Required

• Masters degree in relevant field such as education, education policy, early childhood education, public administration and public policy preferred
• Experience and interest in advancing language justice for BIPOC children who are DLL/MLL highly preferred
• Bilingual proficiency or lived experience as a DLL/MLL
• An understanding of the educational and early learning care systems is a plus
• Direct practitioner or classroom experience a plus

Physical Demands

Occasionally must be able to move office supplies and equipment weighing up to 15 pounds across the office or during events. 

Compensation & Total Rewards

In the spirit of pay transparency, we are excited to share the base salary range for this position is $90,000 - $105,400. Please note, any new hire at Catalyst California final salary compensation will be determined based on factors such as skills, education, and/or experience. In addition to those factors – we believe in the importance of pay equity and consider internal equity as a part of any final offer. We also offer a generous compensation and benefits package outlined below:

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision benefits and affordable employee contribution for spouses, dependents, including registered Domestic Partners
• 403B retirement plan with employer matching benefits after 90 days
• Flexible Spending Account for eligible employees to allocate pre-tax money throughout the year
• 15 vacation days, 6 personal days, 8 sick days, and 2 weeks paid parental leave along with national and office holidays
• Personalized professional development goals
• Opportunity to see the meaning and impact of your work at an organization that is actively building more equitable communities and systems across California 
• Opportunity to work in a flexible work culture that is sensitive to employee wellbeing and encourages work life balance 

Application Instructions

Please submit the following 3 items: 1) Cover letter responding to the question prompts below, 2) Resume and 3) Writing Sample Excerpt (sample should be no more than 3pgs that speaks to the topic of bilingual/multilingual education and/or racial/language justice) combined into one document. In the file name and email subject header, please write the name of the position you are applying for and your last name: e.g., “MLL Specialist_Ramirez.”

We invite you to utilize your cover letter as an opportunity to discuss the following:

• Tell a story that illuminates your interest in multilingual language learner issues AND Birth to age 8 issues; and
• Share how your background and experience aligns to the key responsibilities of this position

Please email your application materials to MLLSpecialist@catalystcalifornia.org by the Priority Application Deadline of Wednesday, July 31, 2024.

Additional questions about the role or interview process, or to request an accommodation, please reach out to Vanessa Ramirez, Recruitment Consultant supporting this search at MLLSpecialist@catalystcalifornia.org.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Catalyst California is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, religion, national origin, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, disability, age, or any other category protected by local, state, or federal laws. We are committed to building a diverse, equitable, and inclusive staff team. We strongly encourage applicants who are people of color, LGBTQ, women, people with disabilities; and/or formerly incarcerated people to apply.

We also offer a generous compensation and benefits package outlined below:

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision benefits and affordable employee contribution for spouses, dependents, including registered Domestic Partners
• 403B retirement plan with employer matching benefits after 90 days
• Flexible Spending Account for eligible employees to allocate pre-tax money throughout the year
• 15 vacation days, 6 personal days, 8 sick days, and 2 weeks paid parental leave along with national and office holidays
• Personalized professional development goals
• Opportunity to see the meaning and impact of your work at an organization that is actively building more equitable communities and systems across California 
• Opportunity to work in a flexible work culture that is sensitive to employee wellbeing and encourages work life balance 

Application Instructions

Please submit the following 3 items: 1) Cover letter responding to the question prompts below, 2) Resume and 3) Writing Sample Excerpt (sample should be no more than 3pgs that speaks to the topic of bilingual/multilingual education and/or racial/language justice) combined into one document. In the file name and email subject header, please write the name of the position you are applying for and your last name: e.g., “MLL Specialist_Ramirez.”

We invite you to utilize your cover letter as an opportunity to discuss the following:

• Tell a story that illuminates your interest in multilingual language learner issues AND Birth to age 8 issues; and
• Share how your background and experience aligns to the key responsibilities of this position

Please email your application materials to MLLSpecialist@catalystcalifornia.org by the Priority Application Deadline of Wednesday, July 31, 2024.

Additional questions about the role or interview process, or to request an accommodation, please reach out to Vanessa Ramirez, Recruitment Consultant supporting this search at MLLSpecialist@catalystcalifornia.org.