Job Opportunities
We are building a team of Motivators that will take Motivate Lab’s work conducting and applying research to improve schools, colleges, and beyond to the next level. Motivate Lab values doing good work with good people. We also prioritize the personal and professional growth of our Motivators.
Currently, we have one open position to join our team:
Relationship Manager — California Community Colleges
Remote Position, California Preferred
About Motivate Lab
The mission of the Motivate Lab is to improve people's lives through rigorous motivation research. We develop tools to infuse learning-mindset supportive practices into educational and policy contexts, with a particular focus on supporting students from historically marginalized and underserved backgrounds in postsecondary education. We are driven to lead system change in practice, as we see the many inequities which exist in education in the United States while also knowing how powerful learning-mindset supportive practices and similar interventions are in ameliorating inequity. This drive has led us to design and test classroom interventions in postsecondary education and K-12 systems. We also aim to change the field of research through our innovative and agile methods of developing evidence-based practices. We utilize our rigorous methods to design valid and reliable quantitative measurement tools, qualitative research protocols, and translational activities, such as professional development and training for educators and learners, like our Motivating Learners Course (MLC). Putting these methods into practice lead to our dissemination efforts in which we share our learnings with both academic research and practitioner audiences.
Position summary
Motivate Lab is in the middle of a 3.5-year partnership with the California Community Colleges’ Chancellor's Office (4CO) System to accelerate its corequisite education implementation by focusing on instructor and student mindsets and professional development. The Motivate Lab is looking for a Relationship Manager who can serve in this part-time (20-25 hours per week) role beginning immediately. The Relationship Manager will play a vital role supporting Motivate Lab’s project implementing and scaling math and English corequisite education with a particular focus on instructor and student learning mindsets and professional development. The Relationship Manager will report to Motivate Lab’s California Community College Project Manager. This position is renewed on an annual basis pending satisfactory job performance.
key responsibilities
Motivate Lab is working on several major projects to help instructors and administrators across postsecondary education build more motivationally supportive learning contexts for students. The focus of this collaboration with 4CO is to bring this research and translation process to the community college context in California. The Relationship Manager will work with the project team to improve Motivate Lab’s relationships with community colleges and enhance engagement with the project across the 4CO system.
Relationship Management
Travel to community colleges and relevant events in California
Manage relationships with stakeholders at community colleges in California with the goals of:
Improving relationships with colleges
Maintaining previously established relationships with existing community college partners
Improving engagement in the Motivating Learners Course (MLC)
Improving attendance at Motivate Lab events
Improving data access through relationships with institutional research staff
Building the potential for long-term relationships with colleges that extend beyond the duration of our initial contract with 4CO
Support the recruitment of 20 additional colleges to participate in the next phase of the work by August, 2025
Project Logistics and Support
Attend project events and support event planning in California
Learn Motivate Lab’s content and approach to champion our work with stakeholders
Support the coordination of faculty fellows across community college campuses in California
Provide feedback on instructors’ project submissions through their participation in the MLC
Qualifications and Skills/Experiences
The ideal candidate will have a background and interest in psychology, education, postsecondary education reform, and/or equity research. This person will have a passion for shaping how community colleges serve students, implement and scale corequisite education, and create equitable spaces for students from historically marginalized and underserved populations.
Minimum Qualifications
Ability to travel frequently to community colleges in California, including but not limited to in and around the Bay Area and Southern California
Multiple years working as a postsecondary education instructor and/or in student affairs
Strong organizational skills, including attention to detail and managing multiple priorities
Strong interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills
Ability to interact effectively with a diverse team of internal and external stakeholders
Ability to work both independently and as part of a team
Bachelor's degree in Psychology, Education, Sociology, or a related discipline
Ability to maintain confidentiality and demonstrate professional judgment
Preferred Qualifications
Attended a community college (preferably one in California, but not required)
3-5 years postsecondary education or practical experience in a California Community College
1-3 years education reform experience, specifically corequisite education reform
Master's degree in Psychology, Education, Sociology, or a related discipline
We know there are great candidates who might not check all these boxes or who possess important skills we haven’t thought of. If that’s you, don’t hesitate to apply and tell us about yourself.
Commitment to Justice, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Motivate Lab is committed to:
Recruitment and retention of a diverse workforce of high-quality Motivators
Promoting a culture of bravery, growth mindset, enthusiasm, equity-mindedness, aggressive humility, and a focus on impact.
how to apply
Send a CV/resume to Matt Best (matt@motivatelab.org) and answers to the following questions in lieu of a cover letter:
What about Motivate Lab, and the Relationship Manager role in particular, is most intriguing to you?
What skills and experiences make you a uniquely qualified candidate for this role?
What is your experience working with specific underrepresented groups and how do you intend to bring a focus on practices that promote justice, equity, and inclusion to this role?
Motivate Lab LLC is an equal opportunity employer and encourages a diverse pool of candidates to apply. We accept applications on a rolling basis and will remain open until filled. For more information, please send an email to Matt Best at matt@motivatelab.org.
more about motivate Lab
Motivate Lab LLC is an independently run organization with an annual operating budget of over $1.5M. It is completely supported through external grants and contracts. Our current five-year strategic plan has ambitious goals of growing the size, scope, and impact of our work in education and beyond, including sports and workforce settings.
compensation
The total compensation range for the position is $2,560 - $3,200 per month. All Motivate Lab LLC consultants are independent contractors and are responsible for purchasing their own medical insurance and other benefits.