Child Development and Parenting State Specialist

About the Division of Extension: As a statewide engagement arm of UW-Madison, the Division of Extension embodies the Wisconsin Idea to extend university knowledge to every corner of the state. Our statewide network of educators and specialists is responding every day to emerging and longstanding hurdles residents are overcoming to compete and prosper.

About the Human Development and Relationships Institute: The Human Development and Relationships Institute is one of six institutes in the Division of Extension. We promote the development of resilient individuals and communities across Wisconsin and at every stage of life through meaningful partnerships and research-based education.

This position supports the Human Development and Relationships Institute at UW-Madison's Division of Extension and will focus on developing, implementing, and evaluating nonformal, community-based education initiatives within the Family Engagement and Relationships Program. The primary responsibilities of this role involve providing research and technical expertise in child development, parenting, and family relationships to enhance Extension's educational programs and facilitate applied scholarship. Additionally, this position leads efforts to expand continuing education opportunities for Wisconsin's early care and education workforce and other professionals who serve families.

Examples of programs and projects that this position will lead or support include:
- Continuing education initiative for the early care and education workforce
- Annual parenting conference for all those that care for children
- Ongoing parenting and family relationship education programs, including the Just in Time Parenting national initiative and statewide delivery model
- State and national partnerships that support parenting and family relationship education

Collaboration is a central aspect of this role. The position will work closely with on-campus faculty, state specialists, and local educators to ensure Wisconsin families receive high-quality, research-based outreach and engagement. The position is responsible for fostering productive relationships between the university and local, state, and federal governments and other external organizations. There may also be opportunities to seek grant funding for new initiatives and manage program budgets.

This position offers a unique opportunity for innovation, creativity, and community-focused scholarship. It allows the individual to engage in meaningful outreach while ensuring the programs are accessible to diverse audiences across Wisconsin. In addition to program development, the individual will facilitate learning experiences, assess outcomes, and ensure program effectiveness. There may also be supervisory responsibilities, including overseeing program staff and resolving personnel matters.

Ultimately, this position represents a chance to be part of a dynamic team of educators and specialists working together to create meaningful change for children and families throughout Wisconsin.

The Division of Extension has a deep and profound commitment to diversity, inclusion, and equity, believing that these values are foundational elements to eliminate disparities and expanding access for all. As Extension, we acknowledge the need for strategic and coordinated actions that help us form a more equitable, anti-racist, non-biased, and inclusive organization. (https://blogs.extension.wisc.edu/oaic/call-to-action/). As such, all Extension employees are expected to foster and promote the values of diversity and inclusion.

• 10% Identifies, promotes, and maintains external partnerships to support the outreach program
• 15% Schedules and secures resources and communicates logistics in support of an outreach program
• 5% Delivers outreach program content and materials to community members
• 30% Researches, develops, and facilitates outreach program content and materials
• 20% Develops and evaluates curriculum and programs and provides recommendations for improvement
• 5% May assist with the monitoring of outreach program budget spending
• 10% Leads the implementation of programs, policies, and procedures through oversight of day-to-day activities for program staff and student and community volunteers
• 5% May supervise program staff and resolve personnel issues

Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background - people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world.

For more information on diversity and inclusion on campus, please visit: Diversity and Inclusion

Required
Master's Degree
In a field that relates to the position, including human development and family studies, child or developmental psychology, early childhood education, or education.

Preferred
PhD
Or other terminal degree in a field that relates to the position, including human development and family studies, child or developmental psychology, early childhood education, or education.

Required:
- At least three years of work experience relevant to the programmatic responsibilities of the position.
- Current content knowledge in fields related to the purpose of this position such as child development, parenting, family relationships & systems, family stress, coping & resilience, family engagement, and early childhood education.
- Demonstrated success in developing, implementing, and evaluating educational programs using a variety of methods and technologies.
- Demonstrated skills in interpreting, utilizing, and applying evidence-based information and research findings and communicating program impact and value to stakeholders.
- Knowledge of adult learning principles.
- Strong verbal and written communication.
- Ability to lead collaborative projects to meet intended objectives, including securing and managing necessary resources.
- Knowledge and skills to effectively interact with people from different cultural backgrounds, including those associated with race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, socioeconomic status, age, gender, disability, sexual orientation, and other aspects of human diversity.

Preferred:
- Demonstrated skills in mentoring and coaching others in a professional setting.
- Experience conducting applied, community-based research and scholarship.
- Experience developing effective partnerships at a community, state and national level.
- Experience with writing and/or managing extramural grants and contracts.
- Strong interpersonal relationships and problem-solving skills in a team setting.
- Effective group facilitation skills.

Full Time: 100%

This position may require some work to be performed in-person, onsite, at a designated campus work location. Some work may be performed remotely, at an offsite, non-campus work location.

Ongoing/Renewable

Minimum $67,500 ANNUAL (12 months)
Depending on Qualifications
Starting salary is negotiable based on experience and qualifications. Employees in this position can expect to receive benefits such as generous vacation, holidays, and paid time off; competitive insurances and savings accounts; retirement benefits. Benefits information can be found at (https://hr.wisc.edu/benefits/).

Please note that successful applicants are responsible for ensuring their eligibility to work in the United States (i.e. a citizen or national of the United States, a lawful permanent resident, a foreign national authorized to work in the United States without need of employer sponsorship) on or before the effective date of appointment.

- The primary accountability for this position is the Institute Director for Human Development and Relationships for supervision, compensation and benefits, and performance reviews.
- The University of Wisconsin-Madison has a remote work policy that offers the potential for remote or hybrid work. This position will be based in Madison Wisconsin. The person hired will have the opportunity to work up to two days a week remotely. More about that policy within the Division of Extension can be found here: https://kb.wisc.edu/extension/113536.
- It is expected that employees will make individual arrangements for transportation adequate to meet position responsibilities and essential job functions which would include instate and out-of-state travel. Information about UW-Madison Driver Authorization can be found at https://businessservices.wisc.edu/managing-risk/driver-authorization-and-insurance/driver-authorization/.
- This position may be required to work occasional nights and weekends to meet the program needs and priorities of the communities served.

We are eager to learn more about how your experience and passion may align with this position. To begin the application process, click the "apply now" button. You will be prompted to upload the following documents:
- Resume or CV
- Letter of Qualifications (cover letter)

Please submit a cover letter referring to your related work experience and a resume detailing your educational and professional background. Your cover letter should communicate your interest in the position and how your skillset aligns with the role. The application reviewers will be relying on written application materials to determine who may advance to preliminary interviews.

For additional guidance and resources on how to tailor your application materials to the job posting, please click https://extension.wisc.edu/careers/.

Lindsay Weymouth
lindsay.weymouth@wisc.edu
608-265-5785
Relay Access (WTRS): 7-1-1. See RELAY_SERVICE for further information.

Outreach Specialist(OE009)

A47-EXTENSION/YFH/HDR/HUM DEV REL INST

Academic Staff-Renewable

308810-AS