Ascension LLC is seeking a Privacy Technical Assistance Specialist to support the U.S. Department of Education’s Privacy Technical Assistance Center (PTAC). This role is critical to helping education agencies, institutions, and stakeholders understand and apply federal privacy requirements related to student data protection.

The ideal candidate is a privacy-focused professional with strong domain knowledge in education data privacy and the ability to translate complex statutory and regulatory requirements into clear, actionable guidance. This position plays a key role in advancing PTAC’s mission by providing technical assistance, developing privacy resources, and supporting compliance with laws such as FERPA and PPRA.

This role is well suited for someone who combines policy knowledge, analytical thinking, and strong communication skills, and who is motivated by mission-driven work that directly impacts students, families, and educators nationwide.

Summary of the Contractor Role

The Privacy Technical Assistance Specialist provides subject matter expertise and hands-on support related to federal education privacy laws and best practices. The role supports PTAC’s technical assistance activities, including responding to stakeholder inquiries, developing guidance materials, and supporting outreach and training initiatives.

The ideal candidate is detail-oriented, organized, and capable of working independently in a remote environment. They should be comfortable operating in an environment with evolving guidance and priorities, able to anticipate issues, synthesize information from multiple sources, and provide clear recommendations. The role requires strong written and verbal communication skills and the ability to collaborate with policy, legal, technical, and program staff.

The specialist will use collaboration and knowledge management tools to track inquiries, develop resources, and ensure consistent, accurate responses aligned with Department of Education policy and federal requirements.

Position Day-to-Day Activities

• Provide technical assistance and subject matter support on federal education privacy laws, including FERPA and PPRA
• Analyze privacy-related questions submitted by education stakeholders and draft clear, accurate responses
• Develop, review, and update privacy guidance materials, FAQs, toolkits, and technical assistance resources
• Support the planning and delivery of virtual trainings, webinars, and outreach activities related to student data privacy
• Conduct research on emerging privacy issues, trends, and best practices in education data governance
• Collaborate with government staff and contractor team members to ensure consistent interpretation of privacy requirements
• Track technical assistance requests and resolutions using approved case management or tracking tools
• Support internal quality assurance processes to ensure accuracy, consistency, and timeliness of deliverables
• Assist with reporting, documentation, and knowledge management activities as required by the contract