JPD - Implementation Specialist

Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois•Chicago, IL

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Implementation Specialist supports the successful adoption, integration, and sustainability of new programs, policies, evidence-based practices, and organizational initiatives across the Juvenile Probation and Court Services Department. Using principles of implementation science, change management, and continuous improvement, the position works collaboratively with Department leadership and staff to translate organizational priorities into sustainable day-to-day practice. The Implementation Specialist assesses organizational readiness, identifies barriers and facilitators to implementation, develops implementation strategies, coordinates necessary supports, and monitors progress to determine whether new practices are being adopted and sustained as intended. The position works across operational divisions and functional areas to ensure implementation efforts consider the people, processes, resources, communication, training, coaching, policy, data, and organizational conditions necessary for successful change. Working with a high degree of independence, the Implementation Specialist serves as an internal resource and consultant to Department leadership, managers, and project teams. The position collaborates closely with Quality Assurance, Evidence-Based Practice, Policy, Data and Performance, Training, Human Resources, Information Technology, and operational leadership to support effective organizational change.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
Two (2) years of progressively responsible professional experience involving implementation, organizational change, program or project development, quality improvement, project management, organizational development, or other related work.
An equivalent combination of relevant education, professional training, and experience may be considered.
Primary residence in the State of Illinois within 90 days of the date of hire.
Pass a pre-employment medical exam, drug screen, and background check (LEADs and CANTS).
A negative result from the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services child abuse registry.

Nice To Haves

Experience supporting or leading the implementation and sustainability of new programs, practices, policies, or organizational initiatives.
Knowledge of or experience applying implementation science, implementation frameworks, change management, or other structured approaches to organizational change.
Experience assessing implementation readiness, barriers, facilitators, stakeholder engagement, and implementation progress.
Experience developing implementation plans, tools, workflows, guidance, or other resources to support organizational change.
Experience working across multiple organizational functions and levels to support implementation.
Experience working in government, courts, human services, behavioral health, juvenile justice, or another complex organization.
Specialized training or certification in implementation science, change management, project management, quality improvement, or a related area.

Responsibilities

Develops comprehensive implementation plans for new programs, policies, evidence-based practices, organizational initiatives, and significant changes in Department operations.
Applies implementation science, change management, and continuous improvement principles to support the adoption and sustainability of organizational initiatives.
Assesses organizational and operational readiness for implementation and identifies conditions necessary for successful adoption.
Identifies potential barriers, risks, resource needs, and implementation challenges and develops strategies to address them.
Establishes implementation milestones, activities, responsibilities, feedback mechanisms, and measures of progress.
Provides consultation and technical assistance to managers and project teams throughout the implementation process.
Assesses the impact of proposed changes on staff, supervisors, workflows, policies, technology, resources, communication, training, and organizational culture.
Engages affected staff and stakeholders to understand implementation needs, anticipate challenges, and inform implementation strategies.
Develops change management approaches that promote understanding, engagement, adoption, and sustainability.
Identifies organizational conditions that may support or impede implementation and recommends appropriate interventions.
Supports leaders and supervisors in preparing staff for organizational change and reinforcing new practices following implementation.
Develops methods to monitor implementation progress, adoption, and sustainability in collaboration with Data and Performance, Quality Assurance, Evidence-Based Practice, and operational leadership.
Establishes feedback loops to identify implementation challenges, unintended consequences, and opportunities for improvement.
Analyzes qualitative and quantitative information to assess implementation progress and recommend adjustments.
Conducts implementation reviews at appropriate intervals following launch to assess whether practices have been integrated into routine operations.
Assists in distinguishing appropriate adaptation from changes that may compromise essential components or intended outcomes of an initiative.
Documents implementation lessons learned and incorporates findings into future organizational change efforts.
Works collaboratively across operational divisions and organizational functions to coordinate implementation activities and promote shared accountability.
Partners with Policy Analysts to ensure policies and procedures support successful implementation.
Collaborates with Training and Evidence-Based Practice staff to identify competency development, coaching, and practice support needs.
Partners with Quality Assurance and Data and Performance staff to develop measures of implementation progress, fidelity, and organizational impact.
Collaborates with Human Resources, Information Technology, Finance, Legal, Labor Relations, and other functions when implementation requires changes to workforce practices, systems, resources, or organizational processes.
Facilitates implementation workgroups, planning sessions, readiness discussions, and other cross-functional activities.
Develops tools, templates, readiness assessments, implementation guides, and other resources to strengthen the Department's implementation capacity.
Builds knowledge of implementation principles among Department managers and project leaders.
Maintains current knowledge of implementation science, change management, continuous improvement, and emerging practices relevant to juvenile justice and public-sector organizations.
Supports development of a consistent Department approach for planning, implementing, evaluating, and sustaining organizational change.
Participate in training, professional development, and continuous learning opportunities.
Remain current on research, emerging trends, and best practices in juvenile justice.
Perform other duties as assigned.