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What is a senior education specialist and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
Quoted experts
Raina Gandhi,
Maria Salazar Ph.D.

Senior education specialists work in the education sector, contributing to its development by setting goals and suggesting policy improvements. They administer loans and provide technical assistance for development programs. They review and evaluate programs, advise on tools to achieve program goals, and set guidelines and standards to create a framework of educational development projects.

Working in this position, you will collaborate with government agencies, analyzing development strategies of the education sector. Apart from administrative tasks related to loans and development projects, you will do fieldwork as well. You will visit education projects on location to assess their technical assistance needs and evaluate their functioning.

You will need an academic degree, often even a Ph.D. in a field related to literacy or numeric education, linguistics, or other human sciences, to take on this role. You will need working experience in designing educational programs on a national or international level as well. Outstanding written and verbal communication skills are a must, as well as a proactive attitude and an organized mindset.

What general advice would you give to a senior education specialist?

Raina GandhiRaina Gandhi LinkedIn profile

Assistant Dean of Career Services, American University

First impressions matter and will stay with you, so remember to bring your most professional self to work, maintain a positive attitude, and put in the hours. When you make mistakes, learn from them.

Also, take the time to get to know your colleagues and workplace norms, make sure you understand how performance is measured, and don't be afraid to ask for feedback. As you get comfortable with your role, look for ways to take on additional responsibilities to expand your skillset and build your reputation within the company.

You may not land your dream job right away, but this first job is critical for building your experience and gaining transferrable skills. Stay current in your field by reading articles, subscribing to email newsletters, and following relevant people and companies on LinkedIn
ScoreSenior Education SpecialistUS Average
Salary
7.3

Avg. Salary $93,924

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
5.5

Growth rate 8%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
5.8
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.51%

Asian 5.99%

Black or African American 11.36%

Hispanic or Latino 16.47%

Unknown 6.35%

White 59.32%

Gender

female 59.48%

male 40.52%

Age - 44
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 44
Stress level
5.5

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level
8.0

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance
6.0

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Senior education specialist career paths

Key steps to become a senior education specialist

  1. Explore senior education specialist education requirements

    Most common senior education specialist degrees

    Bachelor's

    62.9 %

    Master's

    18.9 %

    Associate

    9.4 %
  2. Start to develop specific senior education specialist skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Professional Development16.49%
    Training Programs7.31%
    Training Materials7.24%
    Technical Support7.23%
    Training Sessions6.39%
  3. Complete relevant senior education specialist training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New senior education specialists learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a senior education specialist based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real senior education specialist resumes.
  4. Research senior education specialist duties and responsibilities

    • Manage the design process, development, and implementation for OTAP's SharePoint online learning center.
    • Lead acquisition of functional and technical curriculums from eLearning vendors.
    • Create powerpoint presentations on various health topics.
    • Train users including how to develop reusable, object-base eLearning content.
  5. Get senior education specialist experience

    Generally, it takes 2-4 years to become a senior education specialist. The most common roles before becoming a senior education specialist include educator, teacher team lead and internship.
  6. Prepare your senior education specialist resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your senior education specialist resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a senior education specialist resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable senior education specialist resume templates

    Build a professional senior education specialist resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your senior education specialist resume.
    Senior Education Specialist Resume
    Senior Education Specialist Resume
    Senior Education Specialist Resume
    Senior Education Specialist Resume
    Senior Education Specialist Resume
    Senior Education Specialist Resume
    Senior Education Specialist Resume
    Senior Education Specialist Resume
    Senior Education Specialist Resume
  7. Apply for senior education specialist jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a senior education specialist job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first senior education specialist job

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Average senior education specialist salary

The average senior education specialist salary in the United States is $93,924 per year or $45 per hour. Senior education specialist salaries range between $62,000 and $141,000 per year.

Average senior education specialist salary
$93,924 Yearly
$45.16 hourly

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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