Outreach Prog Assoc Dir- Wisconsin Child Welfare Professional Development System (WCWPDS)

University of Wisconsin Madison • Madison, WI

12d • Onsite

About The Position

The Associate Director works closely with the WCWPDS Director to fulfill the mission of the WCWPDS and provide leadership to the assigned delivery units. Primary position responsibilities include: collaborative development of policy and goals; overseeing the delivery and quality assurance of professional development resources for Wisconsin child welfare professionals; managing personnel related matters; staff supervision and development; assessing training needs; ensuring transfer of learning; and unit/program evaluation. Assists in the development, supervision, and delivery of quality outreach programs with institutional recognition and scope. Maintains strategic partnerships to support growth and execution of programs. Promotes stable and productive relationships between the university and community. Supervises and trains staff. The position will report to the Director of the Wisconsin Child Welfare Professional Development System. In this role, you can expect to: Communicate regularly with county agency administrators and other constituencies regarding professional development and other program needs. Direct long-range and short-term planning in response to identified needs and to further the growth of the outreach program. Develop organizational and operational policies and procedures and monitors performance to ensure alignment with strategic objectives. Prepare and present reports to the WCWPDS Steering Committee on training activities and accomplishments. Serve as the representative of the WCWPDS Director, in their absence, in all formal communication to various WCWPDS constituencies as well as a liaison to internal and external stakeholder groups providing organizational information. Negotiate and execute contracts with subcontracted trainers and/or facilitators. Develop, monitor, and assure the completion of work plan activities related to assigned delivery units. Participate in university, partnership, and statewide work teams and committees as appropriate. Participate in the development of the WCWPDS annual budget and in ongoing fiscal oversight. Participate in the development of the WCWPDS annual report. Participate in management and staff meetings. Facilitate staff meetings within the delivery unit. Ensure the accurate certification of attendance at trainings and professional development opportunities to assure adequate documentation and record keeping. Manage human resources and personnel related matters, including interfacing with the social work department and the College of Letters and Sciences. Work with the University purchasing department to facilitate timely procurement of services to assist WCWPDS in meeting annual priorities. Other duties as assigned. Delivery Unit Responsibilities Lead the collaborative development of the annual training or special initiative calendar to ensure adequate delivery of professional development resources across Wisconsin. Regularly assess the training and/or organizational needs of Wisconsin child welfare professionals. Participate in project development, curriculum development and maintenance. Collaborate on material preparation. Respond to requests for information, training, and assistance. Work with partners and trainers in the development of learning objectives and outcomes for requested trainings and special initiatives. Monitor the development of project parameters, training sessions and curricula to meet identified competencies and learning objectives and ensure the integration of adult learning techniques. Other duties as assigned. Staff Recruitment, Development, Support and Evaluation Identify/acquire and develop personnel and resources to assure adequate WCWPDS staffing to meet the professional development needs of Wisconsin’s child welfare workforce. Exercises supervisory authority, including hiring, transferring, suspending, promoting, managing conduct and performance, discharging, assigning, rewarding, disciplining, and/or approving hours worked of employees. Provide direct supervision to Outreach Specialists, Outreach Program Coordinators, Outreach Program Managers and other WCWPDS staff. Oversee Delivery Unit staff evaluation and development and collaborate with other units on evaluation and continuous quality improvement strategies. Ensure staff are in compliance with contract requirements. Ensure staff have the necessary tools to provide services. Provide technical assistance, feedback, and evaluation to staff. Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Extensive Public Child Welfare Experience – Minimum of 10 years of experience in public child welfare, including at least 3 years in leadership, administration, management, and staff supervision.
• Child Welfare Expertise – Comprehensive knowledge of Wisconsin child welfare statutes, standards, best practices, safety assessment and intervention models, and familiarity with Federal Title IV-E child welfare training requirements.
• Adult Learning and Training Leadership – Demonstrated success designing and implementing adult learning, workforce development, and staff training strategies, with strong knowledge of adult learning principles and effective group facilitation.
• Leadership and Organizational Effectiveness – Proven ability to work independently, manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, contribute to budget development, and consistently produce high-quality work.
• Communication and Technology Skills – Excellent written, verbal, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills, along with proficiency in Microsoft Office and internet-based applications.
• Travel Requirements – Ability to obtain or possess a valid Wisconsin driver's license and reliable transportation to fulfill required travel responsibilities.
• Master’s degree required in the fields of Social Work, Public Administration, Psychology, Counseling, Human Services, Human Ecology, or Education.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in Wisconsin Child Welfare Services.
• Experience overseeing the development and delivery of resources for child welfare professionals in Wisconsin.
• Experience and/or understanding of challenges faced by county human/social services agencies in providing child welfare services to Wisconsin families.
• Understanding of and/or experience with the Wisconsin Child Welfare Professional Development System and its mission and system structures.
• Social work certification preferred.

Responsibilities

• Develops organizational and operational policies and procedures and monitors performance to ensure alignment with strategic objectives
• Directs long-range and short-term strategic plans and initiatives to further the growth of the outreach program
• Assists with developing and monitoring the budget
• Serves as the unit liaison to internal and external stakeholder groups providing organizational information and representing the interests of the unit
• Exercises supervisory authority, including hiring, transferring, suspending, promoting, managing conduct and performance, discharging, assigning, rewarding, disciplining, and/or approving hours worked of at least 2.0 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees
• Collaborative development of policy and goals
• Overseeing the delivery and quality assurance of professional development resources for Wisconsin child welfare professionals
• Managing personnel related matters
• Staff supervision and development
• Assessing training needs
• Ensuring transfer of learning
• Unit/program evaluation
• Development, supervision, and delivery of quality outreach programs
• Maintaining strategic partnerships
• Promoting stable and productive relationships between the university and community
• Supervising and training staff
• Communicate regularly with county agency administrators and other constituencies regarding professional development and other program needs
• Prepare and present reports to the WCWPDS Steering Committee on training activities and accomplishments
• Serve as the representative of the WCWPDS Director, in their absence, in all formal communication to various WCWPDS constituencies as well as a liaison to internal and external stakeholder groups providing organizational information
• Negotiate and execute contracts with subcontracted trainers and/or facilitators
• Develop, monitor, and assure the completion of work plan activities related to assigned delivery units
• Participate in university, partnership, and statewide work teams and committees as appropriate
• Participate in the development of the WCWPDS annual budget and in ongoing fiscal oversight
• Participate in the development of the WCWPDS annual report
• Participate in management and staff meetings
• Facilitate staff meetings within the delivery unit
• Ensure the accurate certification of attendance at trainings and professional development opportunities to assure adequate documentation and record keeping
• Manage human resources and personnel related matters, including interfacing with the social work department and the College of Letters and Sciences
• Work with the University purchasing department to facilitate timely procurement of services to assist WCWPDS in meeting annual priorities
• Lead the collaborative development of the annual training or special initiative calendar to ensure adequate delivery of professional development resources across Wisconsin
• Regularly assess the training and/or organizational needs of Wisconsin child welfare professionals
• Participate in project development, curriculum development and maintenance
• Collaborate on material preparation
• Respond to requests for information, training, and assistance
• Work with partners and trainers in the development of learning objectives and outcomes for requested trainings and special initiatives
• Monitor the development of project parameters, training sessions and curricula to meet identified competencies and learning objectives and ensure the integration of adult learning techniques
• Identify/acquire and develop personnel and resources to assure adequate WCWPDS staffing to meet the professional development needs of Wisconsin’s child welfare workforce
• Provide direct supervision to Outreach Specialists, Outreach Program Coordinators, Outreach Program Managers and other WCWPDS staff
• Oversee Delivery Unit staff evaluation and development and collaborate with other units on evaluation and continuous quality improvement strategies
• Ensure staff are in compliance with contract requirements
• Ensure staff have the necessary tools to provide services
• Provide technical assistance, feedback, and evaluation to staff

Benefits

• generous vacation, holidays, and sick leave
• competitive insurances and savings accounts
• retirement benefits

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager