Description

ICF seeks a Peer Services & Program Specialist to support the Child Welfare Capacity Building Center for States (the Center) contract with the Children’s Bureau (CB). The purpose of the Center is to support and enable child welfare agencies across the country to build on and expand their capacities to serve their communities and to keep children safe and families strong. The Center helps advance the Children’s Bureau’s priorities around shared decision-making with individuals with lived experience, racial equity, and providing prevention-oriented services to help all families thrive.

The Center supports peer group networks which bring together different target audiences from child welfare audiences across the country to engage in networking, building relationships, and peer to peer learning and sharing on critical programs and key initiatives in child welfare services.

The Peer Services & Programs Specialist will be responsible for coordinating and managing peer group event activities, particularly virtual peer group events. The Specialist works with peer group team leads and the Peer Services & Programs manager to inform decisions about timing and sequencing of events, liaise between the peer group and the Center’s dissemination and marketing team, and support the development of event content with creative and appealing PowerPoints and ensure the incorporation of participant engagement activities and a race equity lens into event agendas.

This is a full-time, exempt position that requires travel approximately two times per year.

Key Responsibilities

Establish a close (“shoulder-to-shoulder”) working relationship across the project specifically with the peer services team and peer group leads. Serve as a representative of the peer services team in meetings, virtual events and other Center work groups as assigned. Efficiently manage and coordinate peer group event tasks, timelines, and outcome status across all peer groups at the Center to ensure adequate time is allocated for supporting the event development process. Support the development of virtual events in partnership with peer group leads, technical and programmatic experts and others, to ensure content is engaging and achieves event objectives. This may include the development of PowerPoint visuals, encouraging the use of engagement activities and strategies in the event, and organizing the flow of event content to maximize participant engagement. Convene and co/facilitate peer group leads meetings and quarterly strategic planning check in calls with individual peer group teams. Troubleshoot and address barriers to ensure event goals are met, milestones are achieved, and peer group event activities are completed. Coordinate with other project teams and individuals, including marketing and dissemination, evaluation, events, and various consultants and subject matter experts, as needed to advance event milestones. Contribute to the development of annual and semi-annual reports, infographics, presentations, briefing documents, and other materials using strengths-based culturally responsive language and imagery. Contribute to the Peer Services team’s continuous quality improvement efforts through brainstorming actions that may support achievement of CQI goals and participating in the implementation of those actions. Work across the project to ensure data from peer group events is communicated efficiently and timely to those who need it. Support the coordination and programmatic needs of the Peer Services and National Authority teams. This includes working closely with the Peer Services and Programs manager to develop new and innovative programming.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in social work, Psychology, Sociology, Public Policy/Administration, Public Health, or related social services or social sciences area.

• 3-5 years of professional work and lived experience with at least 3 years’ experience in child welfare or a related human service area.

Preferred Qualifications

• Complex and critical thinking tasks may be best supported with an advanced degree in Social Work, Public Policy/Administration, or related social services or social sciences field (an advanced degree can substitute for the equivalent years of professional and personal experience).

• Education and/or experience in the application of racial equity, diversity and inclusion and social justice strategies in human service settings.

• Lived and/or professional experience working across various differences (e.g., race, ethnicity, language, gender, income, education, power) and/or lived experience in the child welfare system.

• Experience working in a federal contracting environment and on cross-functional teams including state and federal agency members.

• Experience incorporating best practices in instructional design and adult learning principles to create effective learning solutions.

• Strong understanding of instructional design principles, adult learning theory, and learning technologies.

• Project Management Professional or similar certification.

• Experience managing complex projects, including development of project timelines and benchmarks and facilitation of meetings with cross-functional teams.

• Strong organizational and time management skills

• Ability to collaborate with subject matter experts to analyze learning needs and develop learning objectives.

• Experience developing training and learning development opportunities for adults.

• Proficiency utilizing Microsoft Office products including Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Teams. Experience using various virtual platforms such as Mural or Zoom.

Professional Skills

• An understanding of, and responsiveness to, diverse cultural, linguistic, and socioeconomic contexts is necessary.

• Ability and willingness to apply a racial equity and intersectional framework to all areas of work.

• Ability to promote and contribute to an equitable and inclusive organizational culture and environment.

• Excellent oral and written communication skills.

• Superior attention to detail in all aspects of work.

• Strong critical-thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making capabilities.

• Strong team player with the ability to build relationships, develop rapport, work with diverse teams, and work independently.

• Ability to effectively manage rapid change and prioritize work quickly in response to changing needs.

Working at ICF

ICF is a global advisory and technology services provider, but we’re not your typical consultants. We combine unmatched expertise with cutting-edge technology to help clients solve their most complex challenges, navigate change, and shape the future.

We can only solve the world's toughest challenges by building an inclusive workplace that allows everyone to thrive. We are an equal opportunity employer, committed to hiring regardless of any protected characteristic, such as race, ethnicity, national origin, color, sex, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability status, or military/veteran status. Together, our employees are empowered to share their expertise and collaborate with others to achieve personal and professional goals. For more information, please read our EEO & AA policy (https://www.icf.com/legal/equal-employment-opportunity) .

Reasonable Accommodations are available, including, but not limited to, for disabled veterans, individuals with disabilities, and individuals with sincerely held religious beliefs, in all phases of the application and employment process. To request an accommodation please email icfcareercenter@icf.com and we will be happy to assist. All information you provide will be kept confidential and will be used only to the extent required to provide needed reasonable accommodations.

Read more about workplace discrimination rights (https://www.eeoc.gov/sites/default/files/2022-10/EEOC_KnowYourRights_screen_reader_10_20.pdf) , the Pay Transparency Statement (https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/ofccp/pdf/pay-transp_%20English_formattedESQA508c.pdf) , or our benefit offerings which are included in the Transparency in (Benefits) Coverage Act. (https://www.icf.com/legal/equal-employment-opportunity)

Pay Range - There are multiple factors that are considered in determining final pay for a position, including, but not limited to, relevant work experience, skills, certifications and competencies that align to the specified role, geographic location, education and certifications as well as contract provisions regarding labor categories that are specific to the position. The pay range for this position is:

$63,511.00 - $107,968.00

Nationwide Remote Office (US99)