Bilingual Team Leader

Westat is currently seeking motivated individuals to work as bilingual team leaders on an important study providing comprehensive data about children’s learning and development, transition into kindergarten, and progress through elementary school.

The primary role of the ECLS-K:2024 Bilingual Team Leader is to serve as the point of contact for participating schools in an assignment and to lead a team of assessors and all the data collection activities for assigned schools. The team leader will also conduct in-person child assessment at schools or a participant’s home and conduct telephone or in-person parent reminder calls and parent interviews. The bilingual team leader will complete child assessments, make parent reminder calls, and conduct parent interviews in both English and Spanish.

Westat has a long-standing policy to protect the health of our staff and the general public. Based on recommendations from the CDC and other public health authorities, we continue to require staff to protect and monitor their health while working on their assignment. The use of personal protective equipment or screening activities may be required, depending upon the specific study’s protocols, subject to approved accommodations under applicable law.

Basic Qualifications
Candidates must:

• Be 18 or older (or an emancipated minor) with the ability to enter binding confidentiality agreements to protect project information.
• Be a U.S. citizen.
• Be available to attend a mandatory in-person, out-of-town training from August 21 to 27, 2023, at the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront, with travel dates on the 20th and 27th.
• Be available to complete approximately 16 hours of web-based home study training between August 8 and August 20, 2023.
• Be available the week of August 28, 2023, for a training webinar on interviewing Spanish-speaking parents.

Minimum Requirements

• Live in the geographic work area defined by the project.
• Be available to work for the specified data collection period of August 7 to December 15, 2023. There may be a potential for additional work in future data collection rounds.
• Be available to work 30 hours per week, including evening and weekend hours, when work is available.
• Must be fluent in both written and spoken English and Spanish.
• Must successfully complete the Westat language assessment protocols for Spanish.
• Be willing to travel locally for project work or long distances for specified periods of time (depending on the assignment).
• Must be able to meet the physical requirements of the position, with or without reasonable accommodations:
  • Lift and carry up to 20 pounds (laptop computer and assessment materials) in and out of your home, vehicle, and schools;
  • Walk several blocks; and
  • Climb a flight of stairs while carrying equipment.
• Have a valid (current) driver’s license that is not under suspension.
• Have regular access to an insured, reliable vehicle; however, in selected urban areas where there are a variety of mass transit options to all regions, this requirement may be waived.
• Must be willing to adapt to changes in school schedules and requirements.
• Must be comfortable navigating and entering data into a web-based field management system.
• Excellent keyboarding and electronic data entry skills.
• Have excellent computer skills (be able to access the internet, use the keyboard, send/receive email)
• Ability to be a team player.
• High school diploma or GED equivalent.

Preferred Criteria

• Bachelor’s degree in education.
• Strong reading, verbal, and written communication skills.
• Prior experience as a field manager, team leader, troubleshooter, assessor, or interviewer on the ECLS-K:2011, ECLS-K:2024 FT, or as a school recruiter on the ECLS-K:2024.
• Education-related work experience.
• Experience collecting data in a standardized manner.
• Attention to detail (e.g., using correct school IDs, recording school information accurately) and good organization skills (e.g., maintaining school information and schedules).
• Experience working with children and/or in a school setting.
• Experience conducting assessments in schools.

Any offer of employment may be contingent upon receipt of acceptable results from a post-offer background screening, if required for the specific position, which may include, for example, identity verification, employment history, motor vehicle driving record history, and criminal or sexual offender records history.

The hourly rate for this position is $21.00.

This is a part-time variable hour, non-exempt position. This position is eligible for overtime pay. This position is not initially eligible for health insurance. All field positions accrue sick leave (based on hours worked) and are eligible to participate in the 401(k) program (employer matching is dependent on hours worked and disbursement is subject to program rules).

Upon successful completion of this assignment, you will be eligible for consideration for reassignment on other Westat field data collection projects if they become available.

Working on this study can be a fascinating, rewarding experience. If you are a reliable self-starter, this position may be right for you.

Westat is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, citizenship status, genetic information, gender identity or expression, or any other protected status under applicable law.