Job Description:

Program Associate
Child Welfare Strategy Group

Deadline: Until filled

Location: Baltimore, MD

Group: Center for Systems Innovation

Unit: Child Welfare Strategy Group

Position Summary

The Foundation seeks a professional with expertise in the field of child welfare to join CWSG as a program associate. Program associates support and coordinate major bodies of work overseen by senior associates. Based on available opportunities and demonstrated capability, program associates manage grants and/or lead specific pieces of work under the supervision of a senior associate or the director.

CWSG's work primarily involves providing direct consultation to child welfare leaders in public systems in intensive, multiyear engagements. The team also develops and promotes strategies shown to improve outcomes throughout the child welfare system. The program associate may be directly involved in these efforts, which include Team Decision Making; foster family recruitment, development and support; family-based care; teen diversion; outcome and performance management; and policy reform.

Responsibilities

• Inform and organize the development, improvement, implementation and evaluation of CWSG strategies, technical assistance and tasks
• Provide content expertise on child welfare policy, practice, strategies and overall reform efforts
• Promote the Foundation's focus on child welfare system improvements, communicating information to policymakers, target communities, providers, partners and the public
• Inform, guide and provide technical assistance to sites and grantees, planning and implementing work plans in collaboration with public system administrators, convening and leading workshops, advising system leaders, working with stakeholders to solve problems, facilitating roundtable discussions and building capacity for sustainable reform
• Plan and manage conferences, training, meetings or other gatherings of agency representatives, grantees, consultants and partners
• Establish collaborative working relationships with system stakeholders so that ongoing enhancements and modifications can be made efficiently and effectively
• Facilitate and guide building consensus, setting goals, planning reform and tracking implementation and results among site stakeholders
• Assist in establishing and maintaining positive relations with key contacts, leaders, public officials and organizations as required
• Prepare written presentations and other materials, including reports and program/policy analyses in support of system reform efforts, including financial and statistical analyses
• Support CWSG's engagement team, including keeping notes of meetings, preparing client-ready documents, organizing team files and managing logistics on-site
• Represent the Foundation's mission, principles and work by participating in meetings and public presentations
• Seek to use Foundation resources in an equitable manner with regard to race, ethnicity and gender
• Demonstrate awareness and appreciation of the Foundation's mission, values, standards, principles and programs

The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a human service field - a graduate degree preferred - and at least three years of work experience in child welfare; lived experience with the child welfare system can be substituted for one year of work experience
• Strong administrative and organizational skills to implement and oversee complex multisite projects
• Seasoned judgment and compelling communication skills
• Sound interpersonal diplomacy to collaborate with a broad range of partners
• Proven ability to work effectively independently and as part of a diverse interdisciplinary team and organization

Essential Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of child welfare system policy, practice and strategy implementation, including frontline practice and community-based programming
• Experience working in community settings or with system leaders in child welfare, juvenile justice, schools, mental health or other human service fields
• Exceptional writing, public speaking, presentation and facilitation skills, including experience presenting complex subject matter to nonexpert audiences and presenting strategic and complex information to high-level decision makers
• Experience crossing boundaries of race, class, ethnic origin and personal philosophy; capacity to work effectively with a broad range of constituencies
• Proven problem-solving and critical-thinking skills
• Strong analytical skills and ability to gather and synthesize data from quantitative analysis and qualitative interviews to identify systemic challenges, distill themes and build narratives
• Political savvy and demonstrated ability to build relationships and engage co-investors
• Fluency in Spanish preferred

Compensation

This is an exempt position, meaning pay is on a salaried rather than hourly or daily basis. Starting salary is commensurate with experience. A strong benefits package will be provided.

Please apply online at www.aecf.org/about/jobs

For additional information, contact:

Jestine May, Human Resources Specialist

The Annie E. Casey Foundation

503 N. Charles Street

Baltimore, MD 21201

410.547.6600

recblid ffwk32ffzht1340nt7itc647dhdllm

Apply Now