Educational Consultant, Special Education

The Educational Consultant within Transition Tennessee is part of the Department of Special Education at Vanderbilt University and is a key individual contributor responsible for the delivery of professional development, technical assistance, coaching, and resource development to improve the transition-related outcomes of middle and high school students with disabilities across the state of Tennessee. This position is a full time, exempt, hybrid, grant-funded position. 

The Educational Consultant will be expected to come to Vanderbilt’s campus on Wednesdays. 

As well, this position requires a moderate amount of travel throughout the state of Tennessee. Reporting directly to the Principal Investigator, the Educational Consultant will collaborate regularly with a team of faculty, staff, and university students. 

The Educational Consultant will: (a) develop in-person and virtual professional development content; (b) assist schools and districts to improve the quality of their transition services, supports, and partnerships; (c) establish communities of practice and regional trainings addressing best practices in transition; (d) support data collection and evaluation efforts; and (e) contribute to a statewide transition team. 

About Transition Tennessee (TransitionTN): 

The purpose of this state-funded contract from the Tennessee Department of Education is to provide resources, training, and technical assistance to schools and districts in order to improve the quality of transition services and outcomes for students with disabilities. More information about Transition Tennessee can be found at http://www.transitiontn.org. 

About the Department of Special Education 

TransitionTN is housed within Vanderbilt’s Department of Special Education. The Department has a history of significant and continuous impact on the field of special education and intellectual or developmental disabilities. Faculty and staff are committed to equipping students with diverse backgrounds and experiences to provide exceptional services and supports to people with disabilities and their families. More information can be found at http://peabody.vanderbilt.edu/departments/sped/  

Duties and Responsibilities

In collaboration with other team members, the Educational Consultant will carry out the following activities: 

• Develop and provide technical assistance to schools and districts aimed at improving the quality of their transition services, supports, and partnerships. 
• Provide in-person trainings on transition-related topics to in-school transition professionals. 
• Facilitate and support one or more communities of practice on transition in collaboration with our state partners. 
• Contribute to the continued development of our online learning content and support resources featured in the project’s online clearinghouse (http://www.transitiontn.org/); this includes revising and updating existing resources and modules aligned to best practice and state law. 
• Provide feedback on materials and trainings developed by other team members, as well as receive such feedback. 
• Participate in and support the work of the State Transition Leadership Team. 
• Assist with data collection and evaluation efforts. 
• Supervise the work of students and trainees working on the project. 
• Support the work of other transition-related projects at Vanderbilt as needed. 
• Collaborate, both in-person and virtually, with team members. 

Supervisory Relationships

This position does not have supervisory responsibility; this position reports administratively and functionally to Hilary Travers, Transition Tennessee Principal Investigator.  

Qualifications 

A minimum of a Bachelor's degree in special education is required. 

• Experience working in a middle or high school setting with transition-aged youth (ages 14-22) is required. 
• Strong writing skills are necessary. 
• Strong presentation skills are necessary. 
• Strong computer skills (e.g., Word, PowerPoint, Keynote, Excel) are necessary. 
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with multiple people as part of a collaborative team is necessary. 
• Demonstrated ability to prioritize and execute multiple tasks and meet deadlines is necessary. 
• Prior experience delivering training or professional development is preferred. 

Job responsibilities listed herein are intended to be a thorough representation of the duties, responsibilities, expectations, and qualifications for this specific role at the time of hire but should not be considered all-encompassing as actual responsibilities may evolve to include additional duties as assigned based on organizational and operational needs. 

Commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

At Vanderbilt University, we are intentional about and assume accountability for fostering advancement and respect for equity, diversity, and inclusion for all students, faculty, and staff. Our commitment to diversity makes us who we are.  We have created a community that celebrates differences and lets individuality thrive. As part of this commitment, we actively value diversity in our workplace and learning environments as we seek to take advantage of the rich backgrounds and abilities of everyone. The diverse voices of Vanderbilt represent an invaluable resource for the University in its efforts to fulfill its mission and strive to be an example of excellence in higher education. 

Vanderbilt University is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran, or any other characteristic protected by law. 

Please note, all candidates selected for an offer of employment are subject to pre-employment background checks, which may include but are not limited to, based on the role for which they have been selected: criminal history, education verification, social media review, motor vehicle records, credit history, and professional license verification.