The McGarity Consulting Group, a Chicago-based consulting firm specializing in workforce development, instructional design, and organizational effectiveness, is seeking a subject matter expert to serve as lead trainer and content authority for professional development programming on the state special education complaint process. All work is performed remotely, with training delivered virtually via Zoom or Microsoft Teams.

The Role

Working alongside McGarity's instructional design team, the SME will help develop and deliver training for professionals responsible for investigating and responding to state special education complaints. Responsibilities include:

Designing and delivering initial and refresher training sessions on the complaint investigation process, from intake through written decision

Developing and facilitating occasional short remedial sessions on specific topics as needs are identified

Keeping curriculum current with changes in federal and state special education law and regulation

Reviewing content with client leadership prior to deployment and incorporating feedback

Supporting post-training participant evaluation and reporting

The time commitment is modest and episodic — concentrated delivery periods in fall and spring with occasional single sessions in between — making this engagement well suited to a practicing consultant, attorney, or recent retiree seeking flexible project work.

Subject Matter Scope

Federal and state regulatory framework governing state special education complaints, including IDEA Part B dispute resolution requirements (34 CFR 300.151–153) and related state rules

Determining whether complaints are properly submitted and meet formal complaint criteria

The investigation process: on-site investigations, complainant submissions, public agency written responses, timelines, and opportunities for mediation or alternative resolution

Writing decisions that address each allegation with findings of fact, conclusions, reasoning, and corrective action orders

Required Qualifications

Two or more years of experience developing and implementing professional development or training related to state special education complaint response, demonstrable on your CV or resume

Two or more years of experience gathering, analyzing, and reporting participant evaluation data from training programs

Strong command of IDEA Part B and state-level special education dispute resolution procedures

Comfort delivering engaging instruction in a live virtual environment

Preferred Backgrounds

Former state education agency complaint investigator or dispute resolution staff

Special education attorney, due-process hearing officer, or compliance consultant

Former district or cooperative special education director with complaint-response experience

Practitioners affiliated with special education dispute resolution networks (e.g., CADRE)

Terms

Independent contractor (1099) engagement. Compensation structured as a fixed fee per training cycle or hourly, commensurate with experience. Fully remote.

To express interest, please submit a current CV or resume highlighting your special education dispute resolution and training experience.

Flexible work from home options available.