Systems Engagement Specialist

University of Texas; Austin, Northern (TX, KY); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 105,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Texas is seeking a Systems Engagement Specialist at the Pickle Research Campus.Reporting to the Charles A Dana Center, you will collaborate with Center and Dana Center teams to design and support programs that strengthen secondary mathematics pathways and align K–12, postsecondary, and workforce education. Travel is required; remote work is possible, with a 40-hour work week.

The position begins Oct 01, 2026, and is exempt from FLSA.

Qualifications

• 5-7 years of experience in secondary mathematics education, workforce development, or a related field.
• Experience working with external partners such as school districts, state agencies, systems offices, postsecondary institutions, or other organizations and funders.
• Experience working as part of a team, with strong collaboration skills.
• Strong organizational, written, and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and tasks and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Bachelor's degree in a related field, or equivalent experience.

Responsibilities

• Secondary Mathematics Alignment Support: Support the design and implementation of initiatives that strengthen secondary mathematics pathways and student support structures, including dual enrollment, early college, courses and course-sequencing models, and that align K-12, postsecondary, and workforce development efforts.
• State and Partner Engagement: Coordinate and maintain relationships with external partners — including state agencies, systems offices, district partners, policy collaboratives, and other organizations. Support planning and facilitation for meetings, convenings, and professional network activities. Design and facilitate professional learning experiences that build capacity and advance continuous improvement across the network.
• Project Support and Execution: Support day-to-day execution of SEI team projects, including tracking deliverables, timelines, and documentation. Collaborate with team members and colleagues across other Dana Center teams to ensure high-quality, timely work products.
• Field Influence and Resource Development: Contribute to the Center's visibility by producing field-facing materials, participating in relevant networks and events, and sharing insights that reflect the Center's expertise.

Skills

Program design

Stakeholder engagement

Project management

Written communication

Verbal communication

Collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree preferred

Job description

Systems Engagement Specialist

Hiring Department: Charles A Dana Center

Position Open To: All Applicants

Weekly Scheduled Hours: 40

FLSA Status: Exempt from FLSA

Earliest Start Date: Oct 01, 2026

Position Duration: Expected to Continue

Location: PICKLE RESEARCH CAMPUS

Remote work possible

Travel will be required

Purpose

The Specialist works individually and collaboratively, executing and supporting projects under Center leadership, and partners closely with colleagues across the Creating Conditions for Impact team — which focuses on creating the conditions for implementation, including shifting mindsets, shaping recommendations for how change is carried out, and identifying ways to mitigate the risks of unintended impacts — as well as other teams at the Center, including Building Capacity for Innovation, evaluation, policy, communications, and operations.

Responsibilities

• Secondary Mathematics Alignment Support: Support the design and implementation of initiatives that strengthen secondary mathematics pathways and student support structures, including dual enrollment, early college, courses and course-sequencing models, and that align K-12, postsecondary, and workforce development efforts. Contribute content knowledge on secondary systems, structures, and reform trends to inform project design and materials. Help develop resources, tools, and materials that advance alignment between secondary, postsecondary, and workforce systems.
• State and Partner Engagement: Coordinate and maintain relationships with external partners — including state agencies, systems offices, district partners, policy collaboratives, and other organizations. Support planning and facilitation for meetings, convenings, and professional network activities. Design and facilitate professional learning experiences that build capacity and advance continuous improvement across the network. Serve as a responsive point of contact for assigned partners — providing expert guidance and advising informed by field expertise, connecting partners with others doing similar work in the field, and ensuring timely follow-up and clear communication.
• Project Support and Execution: Support day-to-day execution of SEI team projects, including tracking deliverables, timelines, and documentation. Collaborate with team members and colleagues across other Dana Center teams to ensure high-quality, timely work products. Contribute to data collection, reporting, and other tasks that support project monitoring and continuous improvement.
• Field Influence and Resource Development: Contribute to the Center's visibility by producing field-facing materials, participating in relevant networks and events, and sharing insights that reflect the Center's expertise. Support proposal development and funder reporting by providing content expertise, data, and examples related to secondary and workforce alignment and state partnerships.

Required Qualifications

• 5-7 years of experience in secondary mathematics education, workforce development, or a related field, with an understanding of student support structures such as dual enrollment, early college, or course-sequencing models.
• Experience working with external partners such as school districts, state agencies, systems offices, postsecondary institutions, or other organizations and funders.
• Experience working as part of a team, with strong collaboration skills.
• Strong organizational, written, and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and tasks and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Bachelor's degree in a related field, or equivalent experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in Education, Public Policy, K-12 Education Leadership, or a related field.
• Experience with secondary mathematics pathways, course-sequencing reform, or dual enrollment/early college models specifically.
• Experience facilitating professional networks, convenings, or communities of practice.
• Experience contributing to grant or funder reporting, or proposal development.
• Familiarity with national systems-change or workforce alignment initiatives in education.

Salary Range

$90,000 - $105,000

Working Conditions

Travel will be required

May work around standard office conditions

Repetitive use of a keyboard at a workstation

Use of manual dexterity Required

Required Materials

Please mark "yes" on the application for required materials. Failure to attach all additional materials listed may affect candidates being considered for the position. Resume/CV 3 work references with their contact information; at least one reference should be from a supervisor Letter of interest Important for applicants who are NOT current university employees or contingent workers: You will be prompted to submit your resume the first time you apply, then you will be provided an option to upload a new Resume for subsequent applications. Any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) will be uploaded in the Application Questions section; you will be able to multi-select additional files. Before submitting your online job application, ensure that ALL Required Materials have been uploaded. Once your job application has been submitted, you cannot make changes. Important for Current university employees and contingent workers: As a current university employee or contingent worker, you MUST apply within Workday by searching for Find UT Jobs. If you are a current University employee, log-in to Workday, navigate to your Worker Profile, click the Career link in the left hand navigation menu and then update the sections in your Professional Profile before you apply. This information will be pulled in to your application. The application is one page and you will be prompted to upload your resume. In addition, you must respond to the application questions presented to upload any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) that were noted above.

Employment Eligibility

Regular staff who have been employed in their current position for the last six continuous months are eligible for openings being recruited for through University-Wide or Open Recruiting, to include both promotional opportunities and lateral transfers. Staff who are promotion/transfer eligible may apply for positions without supervisor approval.

Retirement Plan Eligibility

The retirement plan for this position is Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS), subject to the position being at least 20 hours per week and at least 135 days in length.

Background Checks

A criminal history background check will be required for finalist(s) under consideration for this position.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The University of Texas at Austin, as an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.

Pay Transparency

The University of Texas at Austin will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information.

Employment Eligibility Verification

If hired, you will be required to complete the federal Employment Eligibility Verification I-9 form. You will be required to present acceptable and original documents to prove your identity and authorization to work in the United States. Documents need to be presented no later than the third day of employment. Failure to do so will result in loss of employment at the university.

E-Verify

The University of Texas at Austin use E-Verify to check the work authorization of all new hires effective May 2015. The university’s company ID number for purposes of E-Verify is 854197. For more information about E-Verify, please see the following: E-Verify Poster (English and Spanish) [PDF] Right to Work Poster (English) [PDF] Right to Work Poster (Spanish) [PDF]

Compliance

Employees may be required to report violations of law under Title IX and the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act) and if this position is identified a Campus Security Authority (Clery Act), you will be notified and provided resources for reporting. Responsible employees under Title IX are defined and outlined in HOP-3031. The Clery Act requires all prospective employees be notified of the availability of the Annual Security and Fire Safety report. You may access the most recent report here or obtain a copy at University Compliance Services, 1616 Guadalupe Street, UTA 2.206, Austin, Texas 78701.

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Comments and Inquiries

Email comments to [e-mail]. For questions or concerns regarding equal opportunity only, contact Equal Opportunity Services. Additional information for applicants can be found on the Human Resources web page: Applying for Employment. For more job information, call the Human Resource Service Center at [phone], or toll-free at [phone]. UT Austin is a Tobacco-free Campus