Senior Director, Professional Development - Children's Services - Media, PA

Since 1852, Elwyn has helped people with autism, intellectual, developmental, and behavioral challenges lead meaningful lives. As an internationally recognized nonprofit human services organization, we have always been on the forefront of innovation.

Please join us to make a difference in the life quality of children, teens and adults with autism, intellectual and developmental disabilities, and related behavioral health challenges - and feel the resulting pride that will enrich your own life.

Providing an excellent benefits package is another way we know that Elwyn is truly a special place to work. We invest in your future while you help care for ours:

• Generous Paid Time Off
• Comprehensive Medical/Dental/Vision Benefit Packages
• Earned Wage Access/On-Demand Pay
• Paid On-the-Job Training
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Career Advancement Opportunities and Growth
• Flexible Schedules
• Retirement Savings Plan

The Senior Director of Professional Development works alongside the Children's Services leadership team to ensure high quality staff development activities for educational and allied health professionals working within Elwyn's Children's Services programs. The Senior Director oversees a team of program-specific professional development staff to coordinate, schedule, deliver, and evaluate the effectiveness and impact of all professional development initiatives across Elwyn's Children's Services programs.

POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide supervision of assigned staff in areas including, but not limited to, recruitment, selection, leadership, coaching, training, performance management, promotion, discipline, and termination
• Serve as the primary liaison to Children's Services administrators regarding areas of professional development activities, initiatives, and workforce needs with activities including but not limited to the development and implementation of core curricula, elective content and the assessment and measurement of staff outcomes as well as the development of program-specific professional development structure, content development, content delivery, assessment of competency outcomes and assessment of ongoing application of learned content
• Enhance the effectiveness and preparedness of all Children's Services staff by developing tools, tests, and performance measures that directly address the required subject matter and content relevant to the specific roles within Children's Services programs
• Ensure a robust curriculum-based annual training calendar that addresses the varied professional development needs of educational staff including teachers, paraprofessionals, speech, occupational, physical therapists, parents, caregivers, and leadership through the development and refinement of content that incorporates appropriate regulatory requirements, as well as alignment with program-specific best practices
• Develop and maintain a working relationship and directory of local subject matter experts (SMEs) in special education and allied health services including, but not limited to: speech and language pathology (SLP), occupational therapy (OT), physical therapy (PT), vision, hearing, nursing, positive behavior supports (PBS) staff/behavior specialists, administration, and leadership to ensure staff access to the most relevant and innovative content available within the field
• Conduct cross-consultations with the Children's Services leadership regarding overall program performance, data trends, and staff needs through activities including but not limited to department-specific and/or division-wide collaborations ensure cohesion across the Children's Services division
• Provide a rigorous, diverse, and data-driven professional development program that is inclusive of best practices, educational laws and regulations, classroom strategies, leadership, classroom and community-based practices, various modes of assessment, child development, early language and literacy, forms and formats, least restrictive practices, positive behavior support, and local policies and procedures
• Oversee an array of learning and development modalities, including but not limited to, classroom-based training, web-based training, consultation, coaching, modeling and observation, discipline-specific meetings, group supervision, peer supervision, mentoring, information-sharing, and internship supervision to ensure high-quality and well-rounded delivery of professional development to Children's Services staff
• Lead program-specific professional development teams in ensuring staff development-related compliance with regulations and requirements through identified federal or state systems of oversight including, but not limited to, the Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL), Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE), and Community Behavioral Health (CBH)
• Maintain a working knowledge of Chapter 14 regulations, Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), and program policies and procedures; keep current with changes, mandates, and OCDEL/PDE/CBH expectations
• Lead the Directors of Professional Development across Children's Services in developing and implementing discipline-specific professional development courses and developing and implementing programs for general professional development by activities including but not limited to networking with the key stakeholders associated with each program (e.g. PDE, OCDEL, SMEs, etc.), ensuring cohesion of content across programs where applicable and oversight of ongoing content improvement efforts
• Create strategy, planning, and global and targeted activities to address the ongoing needs of staff, including but not limited to staff surveys, employee satisfaction and engagement measures, employee appreciation, and the staff trainer initiative to support the holistic needs of Children's Services staff
• Equip Children's Services staff with knowledge and tools as it relates to the implementation of evidence-based interventions for children with disabilities through the direct instruction of the definition and components of evidence-based practice and ensuring ongoing access to evidence-based practice resources , as well as the oversight of coaching initiatives on the utilization of current research to guide intervention development and implementation
• Oversee the Directors of Professional Development to assist entry-level educators and/or clinicians in pursuing the certifications necessary to satisfy federal or statewide requirements; oversee any student teaching or internship placements and coordination of recruiting interns/externs of a wide array of disciplines to support education of higher education students, as well as contribute to workforce in an efficient and responsible manner
• Perform other duties as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE, AND EDUCATION:

• Master or doctorate in education or related field, including but not limited to Early Childhood Education, Special Education, Speech and Communication, Social Work, Psychology, and Human Services preferred; direct and relevant experience may be substituted for education
• Ten (10) years of supervisory experience
• Seven (7) years' experience working in Education, Preschool Early Intervention, and/or Children's Behavioral Health fields
• Five (5) years of experience in leading curriculum development, staff development, and/or quality improvement
• Demonstrated ability to develop and implement strategic plans relative to program initiatives
• Experience in utilization of data collection and analysis to drive interventions for staff and students
• Demonstrated ability to work with internal department managers and administrative team to devise work-flow processes as needed to implement strategic plans
• Demonstrated ability to interact with stakeholders with excellent relationship-building skills
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively as part of a team
• Demonstrated knowledge and application of the IDEA, PA Title 22, Chapter 14 and necessary behavioral-health related regulations in the development of policies, procedures and strategic plans
• Must have current, valid driver's license in state of residence, three (3) years driving experience, and acceptable driving record

PHYSICAL DEMANDS/ENVIRONMENTAL PROFILE: See Physical Demands Checklist which represents the general physical demands and environment conditions to which the employee holding this position must meet, in addition to the duties and responsibilities listed above, to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Elwyn will engage otherwise qualified candidates for this position whose disabilities may require reasonable accommodations to enable an individual to perform the essential functions.

Elwyn reserves the right to revise or change job duties and responsibilities as needed. This job description is not intended to be an all-inclusive statement of duties and responsibilities of the job nor does it constitute a written or implied contract.

Elwyn is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Elwyn does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, ancestry, pregnancy status, medical condition, gender, gender identity or expression, genetic information, sexual orientation or identity, age, national origin, citizenship, handicap status, marital or family status, mental or physical disability, perceived disability, military or veteran status, political activities or affiliations, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state or local law, ordinance, or regulation.

ELW-18533

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