PROFESSIONALPOSITIONDESCRIPTION

Position Title: Policy Associate II: CYF/PH

Division: Muskie School of Public Service; Cutler Institute

Department: Cutler Institute for Health and Social Policy

Location: Portland 34 Bedford Street

Schedule: Full Time/Flexible

Reports to:Director Youth & Community Engagement

STATEMENTOFTHEJOB:

The primary purpose of this position is to provide leadership, coordination, and administrative responsibility for the development, planning, management and dissemination of projects, programs, and contracts in the areas of youth and community engagement. Responsibilities include designing and implementing organizational improvement and program reform strategies in response to varied policy, programmatic, and resource development to improve the educational, health, social capital and employment disparities that affect Maine’s children, youth and families. In addition to strong content knowledge in collaborative leadership, community engagement, and education and career development systems in Maine, this position requires expertise in working with philanthropy, municipal, state and federal systems, and requires a strong focus on trauma informed services, evidence based practice and continuous quality improvement.

ESSENTIALFUNCTIONS:

  • Provides leadership and direction in federal, state and philanthropic initiatives in the areas of project management, process facilitation, quality assurance, performance management and organizational development for programs servingMaine’s most marginalized and disenfranchised youth and families; develops initiatives to bring state-of-the-art programs and other professional development interventions to the state and to the institute’s strategic planning process in order to support best practice models.
  • Leads the development, implementation and evaluation ofthe Muskie School’s state-wide foster care secondary and post-secondary education Social Innovation Fund initiative to address the education and employment disparities for young adults in the Maine foster care system.
  • Provides training and technical assistance to public and private service agencies and facilitates the alignment of resources and strategies to have greater impact and outcomes for Maine’s foster care population.
  • Provides opportunities to expand and align project work with the Metropolitan University mission
  • Writes and reviews required reporting to foundation, state and federal funders in compliance with contracts and agreements; ensures quality assurance procedures in compliance with university and funding source requirements. Ensures compliance with research protocols.
  • Trouble shoots problem areas at a policy level and works with partner agencies to develop/revise polices/programs to address targeted areas.
  • Provides leadership for staff planning, contract negotiations and work plan development; has signature authority as Project Director or Principal Investigator; monitors work plan and contract performance and budgets.
  • Facilitates planning and decision-making; delegates and discusses responsibilities, adjustments as necessary; makes decisions on resource allocations (time, personnel and financial); approves project expenditures and monitors budget; acts as liaison with state contract officers using knowledge of project management in order to direct large and complex projects.
  • Develops and maintains high-level contacts (including policy makers) in state and national agencies and organizations.
  • Identifies, contributes, and coordinates initiatives for competitive and renewal proposals; writes proposals and cooperative agreements in areas of responsibility; identifies new contract and grant opportunities; and forms strategic alliances leading to funding opportunities.
  • Assists in developing the strategic direction and priorities for the program unit; actively participates in cross program strategic planning and management; forms strategic alliances with other groups and funding agencies.
  • Actively participates in project work teams and internal committees; assists committees with setting and reaching strategic outcomes in order to contribute to the effective functioning of the Institute.
  • Makes recommendations for hiring, salary negotiations, and disciplinary actions. Participates in staff planning and position authorizations.
  • Initiates staff development activities to support staff performance goals and project development.
  • Attends and participates in Muskie School and Institute workgroups in order to ensure smooth functioning of workgroups.

SPECIALESSENTIALFUNCTIONS/RESPONSIBILITIES*:

(Eliminateanythatdo notapply)

Workonprojects funded by state, federal government and private philanthropy.

SUPERVISORYRESPONSIBILITIES:

Supervises and provides orientation and support to staff; completes timely performance evaluations; encourages and supports professional development; serves as search chair for hiring; recommends people for hire.

BUDGETRESPONSIBILITIES:

Authorizes expenditures, and develops and manages project budgets in accordance with Institute and USM policy.

PUBLIC AND PROFESSIONALACTIVITIESRELATEDTOJOBPERFORMANCE:

  1. Prepares articles, reports and publications in order to disseminate information and knowledge about the career development network on a state, regional and national basis.
  2. Delivers presentations regarding best practice around building Maine’s professional development initiative.
  3. Actively involved in and maintains professional and association with peers in the field through membership in national organizations, representation on boards and presentations at conferences.

INTERNALANDEXTERNALCONTACTS:

Internal: Works regularly with Institute, Muskie School and University faculty and staff to advance the work of the Metropolitan University.

External: state policy-makers and staff and peers in other states.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS,ANDABILITIES:

  • Demonstrated administrative experience including the ability to coordinate, monitor and manage significant public/private contracts, programs and research
  • Demonstrated knowledge of federal and state policies affecting children, youth and families
  • Strong track-record of developing and conducting research and policy analysis in a Public sector or similar setting.
  • Demonstrated ability to apply practical or technical knowledge and experience to policy issues.
  • Demonstrated ability to design complex research proposals and write grant applications that are responsive to funders’ goals and requirements.
  • Excellent writing and presentation skills.
  • Knowledge and experience with complex policy issues including state-federal policy interaction
  • Demonstrated administrative experience including the ability to coordinate, monitor and manage program activities and/or projects.
  • Demonstrated experience in training and program development.
  • Demonstrated experience in working with young adults in the foster care and juvenile justice systems.
  • Knowledge and experience in youth leadership/development, child welfare, ACES, adolescent brain development and trauma informed services.
  • Demonstrated understanding of community organizing models and methods
  • Understands and utilizes adaptive leadership, collective impact and social network building into daily work

QUALIFICATIONS:

Required:

  • Master’s Degree and 6 years of experience
  • Minimum of 5 years of experience in working on state or national foster care issue
  • Minimum of 5 years of experience in running youth leadership programs for youth in foster care

Preferred:

  • Familiar with post-secondary education strategies and support models for youth in foster care
  • Understands most recent adolescent brain development literature and research
  • Familiar and experience in working with the Maine Child-Welfare (Foster Care) system

License/Certifications:

None

*NOTE:Allindividualswhoare recommendedtofill andsubsequentlyoffereda position withspecialessentialresponsibilities as checkedabove,or other licensureor certification, shallhavethefollowing additional applicablebackgroundscreening completed(in additiontoregularandstandardbackgroundscreening)basedonthe responsibilitiesof theposition: Credit history screening,and/orSexoffenderregistryscreening,and/or Federalcriminal history screeningand/orLicense/certification verification.

Date Approved: 2/2016

Date Revised:

JobFamily: 5

SalaryBand: 06

Unit:UMPSA

CUPAcode:470430

Employee:

Position#:00023140