Nonprofit Senior Project Specialist, Child Welfare

Join a team that makes a difference in the lives of children and teens in the US foster care system!

NAA is seeking a Senior Project Specialist to join its team!

Overview:

The Senior Project Specialist provides administrative and programmatic support for the National Adoption Association (NAA) National Opportunity Youth Workforce Development Program and Ujima Black Family Program.

· National Opportunity Youth Workforce Development Program was developed by NAA to promote and advance the economic mobility of opportunity youth, adults who have been affected by the criminal justice system or child welfare system between the ages 16 – 24.

· Ujima Black Family Program is a transformational program of NAA and its Ujima Leadership Council.  The program convenes child welfare leaders nationally in immersive trainings and workshops to change mindsets around the importance of Black family connection to divert or deflect Black opportunity youth from experiencing family separation in foster care and incarceration.

This position supports both national programs. This role is remote and reports directly to the Program Manager who also oversees both initiatives.

This position is grant funded. Continued operations is contingent on grant funding being received.

Education and Experience:

• Minimum of 5 years of related experience with proven track record of managing event/meeting logistics, data management, and administrative support.

•Bachelor’s degree in social work or related field preferred.

•Prior social services or child welfare experience.

•Experience working with opportunity youth or adults who have been affected by the criminal justice system or child welfare system, ages 16 – 24 preferred.

•Prior lived experience in child welfare/Foster Care or criminal justice impacted, non-profit or child welfare experience preferred.

Key Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

·Exceptional written, oral, interpersonal, and organizational skills.

·High level proficiency in Microsoft Office—MS Outlook, Word, Excel, Access, SharePoint and PowerPoint.

·Proficiency with Survey Monkey, Qualtrics, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Canva, Zoom, project management tools, or similar tools, and overall familiarity and comfort with technology.

·Ability to contribute to a strong team-based environment.

·Results-oriented with a high attention to detail, ability to multi-task, and meet deadlines in a demanding, fast-paced environment.

·Passion about the children, families, and jurisdictions served by NAA.

·Desire to work with programs on a national scale, develop training skills, foster connections with community stakeholders, and understand the interconnection of child welfare and criminal justice.

Role and Responsibilities:

1.Event & Meeting Coordination. Develop and monitor event workplan and logistics including virtual and in-person events (i.e., think tanks, webinars, trainings, meetings, conferences). Develop community-based events, identify key stakeholders in communities that are disproportionately impacted and surveilled by child welfare and justice systems. Coordinate travel, schedules, and materials. Hold internal meetings to plan logistics, provide day-of support for in-person meetings and technical support for virtual convenings. Coordinate as a team and review workplan for major meetings. Follow up on phone calls. Research data for potential partners. Drafting letters/emails; researching leads on social media and in partnership with Ujima leaders.

2. Data Coordination. Collect, coordinate, and maintain the compilation of survey data and update database systems as needed. Analyze data to identify trends or relationships among variables of training registration, participant tracking, and logistical administrative support. Prepare documents and reports on the data findings.

3.Marketing Support. Using Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator, provide support in the development of marketing materials to promote the program. Utilizing email marketing, social media, and various applications to promote the programs.

4. Education & Webinar Support. Promote webinars through email campaigns and act as the point of contact for any registration needs. Provide practice sessions for webinar hosts, technical assistance during the webinar and collect data as needed. Develop applications for continuing education units to be offered in conjunction with member meetings.

5. Administrative Support. Provide general administrative support. Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources. Providing information to supervisors and coworkers. Prepare correspondence, documents, spreadsheets, and reports.

6. Customer Service. Ensure a high level of customer service to internal and external personnel. Support the team by providing high quality customer service and support to consultants, external programs, donors, grantors, community stakeholders, opportunity youth, and young adults with lived experience. 

Additional Notes:

Work is expected to be performed remotely with the requirement of travel 4-6 times per year within the US for conferences/meetings. This position will require occasional evenings and weekends. NAA conducts background checks on all employees. This position is grant funded and is contingent on the award of continuation grant funds.

Benefits and Compensation:

The Senior Project Specialist salary is $60,000. As a member of our team, you will not only receive a competitive salary and a generous benefits package including a gold health plan, dental & vision insurance (100% employer paid for employees!); employer retirement plan contribution; and professional development opportunities, among others. You will also enjoy your work - knowing you are a part of a dedicated group of professionals making an impact.

NAA is an Equal Opportunity employer committed to a diverse workforce.  We do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability. 

How to Apply:

No phone calls please. Apply online at Senior Project Specialist with a cover letter and resume by July 22, 2024.

Please note - applications without cover letters will not be considered.

About NAA:

Founded in 1982 under the name Adoption Exchange Association, the National Adoption Association is the country's premier national association of adoption professionals and organizations. NAA is the only national association focused exclusively on supporting the educational needs of those in the adoption profession. The organization serves adoption exchanges, private child-placing agencies, and public child welfare systems by engaging members in national discussions to eliminate barriers to foster care adoption and share best practices. Our mission is leaders advancing best practices in adoption from foster care. Our vision is to build the premier network of professionals and agencies to create innovative strategies and solutions so that every child has a permanent loving family. www.adoptnaa.org

NAA Racial Equity Statement:

As leaders in child welfare, we recognize systemic racism creates disparities that negatively impact our staff as well as the children and families we serve. NAA is committed to listening, learning, and taking actions to advance racial equity by:

·       Continually and intentionally recruiting, hiring, and supporting diverse staff, including consultants and vendors;

·       Using a racial equity lens in all of our programmatic work;

·       Evaluating our organizational policies and procedures to ensure that they are antiracist[1];

·       Allowing staff to be their authentic selves.

[1] Anti-Racism is defined as the work of actively opposing racism by advocating for changes in political, economic, and social life. Anti-racism tends to be an individualized approach and set up in opposition to individual racist behaviors and impacts.  Source: ProInspire sourcedRace Reporting Guide by Race Forward_V1.1.pdf