RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION SPECIALIST

Arizona Department of Education

The Arizona Department of Education is a service organization committed to raising academic outcomes and empowering parents.

RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION SPECIALIST

Job Location:

Exceptional Student Services (ESS) Section

Phoenix Location

Posting Details

Salary: $67,000 - $71,500

Grade: 21

Closing Date: 02/20/2025

Job Summary

• This position is responsible for supporting public education agencies (PEAs) in the recruitment and retention of effective special education personnel in collaboration with other ESS Recruitment and Retention team members by providing guidance on recruitment and retention topics, connecting and collaborating with internal and external partners, empowering educators through the coordination of professional learning opportunities, collecting, analyzing, and reporting special education workforce data, connecting job seekers and employers, and increasing the special education pipeline through grant-funded programs.
• This specialist collects and analyzes data, stays abreast of current research and best practices, and engages in strategic planning with ESS Recruitment and Retention team members to continuously improve and enhance the recruitment and retention of special education personnel in Arizona.
• Occasional in-state and out-of-state travel is required for this position.
  
  

The Arizona Department of Education currently utilizes a hybrid work environment, with up to two days of remote work (contingent upon business needs). Candidates should apply with an ability and willingness to work in-office up to five days per week as business needs necessitate.

Job Duties

• Coordinate/manage projects and events to support PEAs in their efforts to recruit and retain special education personnel, including coordinating Teach Camp, the Special Education New Directors Symposium (SENDS), ESS tuition reimbursement programs, the SELECT program through NAU, and contracts with universities to prepare related service providers
• Communicate recruitment and retention information to internal and external stakeholders, including presenting data, information, and resources at conferences and events, answering questions from the field such as pathways to special education certification, attending recruiting events on behalf of Arizona PEAs, and creating marketing materials to connect job seekers with PEAs
• Engage in data collection, analysis, action planning, and strategic implementation, including coordinating the Teacher Attrition Survey and sharing survey results with the field, analyzing the needs of the field to inform ESS recruitment and retention activities, and collecting and analyzing project outcomes data
• Collaborate with internal and external partners to enhance and advance ESS recruitment and retention efforts
• Maintain knowledge and expertise in the research and trends of recruitment and retention of special education personnel
  
  

Knowledge In

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities (KSAs):

• The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
• Individualized Education Program (IEP) development and implementation
• General practices and trends in the recruitment and retention of special education personnel
• Principles, methods, and tools for developing and delivering professional learning for adult learners
• Applicants must have special education experience in a school setting
• A Bachelor’s degree in Education, a related field, or equivalent experience to substitute for the degree, is required.
  
  

Skills In

• Project/event management
• Time management
• Organization
• Work planning
• Attention to detail
• Productivity
• Data-driven decision-making
• Conducting research and synthesize information
• Excellent written, oral, and visual communication
• Public speaking,
• Facilitation skills for both internal and external audiences
• Delivery of engaging and effective presentations
• Analysis and evaluation of data, programs, and program effectiveness
• Intermediate to advanced proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook
  
  

Ability To

• Solve problems efficiently and effectively
• Manage multiple projects simultaneously
• Organize trainings, activities, conferences, and meetings
• Effectively establish and maintain positive working relationships with internal and external stakeholders
• Analyze and report data
• Represent ESS/ADE in a professional manner at all times
• Cooperate in all efforts to improve projects and maintain high expectations
• Adapt to changes in priorities and project activities
• Self-directed in completing tasks independently
  
  

Selective Preference(s)

Preference will be given to those applicants with:

• Master’s degree in special education
• Experience mentoring special education personnel
  
  

Pre-Employment Requirements

• Offers are contingent upon successful completion of all background and reference checks, required documents and, if applicable, a post-offer medical/physical evaluation.
  
  

If this position requires driving or the use of a vehicle as an essential function of the job to conduct State business, then the following requirements apply: Driver’s License Requirements.

All newly hired State employees are subject to and must successfully complete the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify).

Benefits

The State of Arizona provides an excellent comprehensive benefits package including:

• Affordable medical, dental, life, and short-term disability insurance plans
• Top-ranked retirement and long-term disability plans
• Ten paid holidays per year
• Vacation time accrued at 4.00 hours bi-weekly for the first 3 years
• Sick time accrued at 3.70 hours bi-weekly
• Paid Parental Leave-Up to 12 weeks per year paid leave for newborn or newly-placed foster/adopted child (pilot program).
• Deferred compensation plan
• Wellness plans
  
  

Learn more about the Paid Parental Leave pilot program here. For a complete list of benefits provided by The State of Arizona, please visit our benefits page

Retirement

You will be required to participate in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS) upon your 27th week of employment, subject to waiting period. On or shortly after, your first day of employment you will be provided with enrollment instructions and effective date.

Contact Us

The State of Arizona is an Equal Opportunity/Reasonable Accommodation Employer. Persons with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation such as a sign language interpreter or an alternative format by calling (602) 542-3186 or emailing [email protected]. Requests should be made as early as possible to allow sufficient time to arrange the accommodation.