Careers

About UMass Amherst

The flagship of the Commonwealth, the University of Massachusetts Amherst is a nationally ranked public land-grant research university that seeks to expand educational access, fuel innovation and creativity, and share and use its knowledge for the common good. Founded in 1863, UMass Amherst sits on nearly 1,450-acres in scenic Western Massachusetts and boasts state-of-the-art facilities for teaching, research, scholarship, and creative activity. The institution advances a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community where everyone feels connected and valued—and thrives, and offers a full range of undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees across 10 schools and colleges, and 100 undergraduate majors. We believe every member of our university community can contribute to our ongoing success by striving for the highest level of excellence as we seek breakthrough solutions to mounting environmental, social, economic, and technological challenges in our world. 

Job Summary

The University of Massachusetts Donahue Institute (UMDI) Regional Head Start business unit Family Engagement Specialist provides training, consultation, and technical assistance to Head Start recipients on comprehensive parent, family, and community engagement (PFCE) with an emphasis on strategies that promote family wellbeing. Family Engagement Specialists work at the direction of the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) Regional Office (RO).

Essential Functions

• Provides subject matter expertise, strategies, and resources to RO and training and technical assistance (TTA) staff on comprehensive parent, family, and community engagement (PFCE) with an emphasis on strategies that promote family wellbeing.
• Develops and implements strategies for connecting and supporting recipient PFCE managers, coordinators and other family services staff with implementing systems that include PFCE goals and family workforce development.
• Develops and provides TTA on topics related to family engagement and family wellbeing to individual recipients, RO staff, and state partners, as well as to groups of recipients at regional and state events as directed by the RO.
• Facilitates recipients’ planning and implementing of service strategies to families experiencing homelessness, children in foster care, children with disabilities and/or other special populations.
• Coordinates TTA with Early Childhood, Grantee and Health Specialists to support effective integration of TTA across service areas as directed by the RO. Includes participating in case management conferences on individual recipients.
• Serves as a liaison between OHS, the National Center on PFCE and other agencies relevant to the work of the RO.
• Serves as a member of a national peer group of Family Engagement Specialists from each of the Regional Area offices.
• Aggregates, analyzes and disseminates state and recipient data from existing government systems related to family wellbeing and family and community engagement to identify emerging trends impacting Head Start and Early Head Start recipients.
• Participates in national, regional and state work groups and meetings as directed by OHS, including supporting Family Engagement Specialist events in other regions with Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) approval.
• Supports emerging OHS initiatives and priorities.
• Complies with all national, regional, contract, and UMass planning and reporting requirements.

Other Functions

• Incorporates other tasks specific to family engagement reflective of evolving national priorities as presented by the OHS, National Centers, RO’s, and/or aggregate regional assessment data.
• Performs other special project-related work as required.
• Participates in business unit and UMDI initiatives as required.

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)

• Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science from an accredited university or college in social work, human services, counseling or related field.
• If highest degree was awarded more than ten (10) years ago, the resume should be specific regarding documented continuous learning such as courses, conferences, seminars attended or other relevant work experience within the last 3 – 5 years.
• A minimum of three (3) years of experience related to human services and/or parent, family and community engagement in early childhood programs such as Head Start/Early Head Start and/or community based childcare providers and partners (i.e. Family Child Care (FCC), privately owned).
• Demonstrated experience in facilitating group discussions and presenting to a range of audiences using a variety of formats to include virtual.
• Experience providing TTA related to parent, family and community engagement for children birth to five, with a focus on family well-being including work with family service staff, management teams and the systems that support them.
• Experience analyzing and using data and helping programs make data driven decisions related to providing services to families with young children.
• Experience working within programs and agencies serving children birth to five and families from various backgrounds inclusive of but not limited to children with special needs, children with disabilities, children who are dual language learners, children in family childcare settings, and/or children who are experiencing homelessness.
• Demonstrated experience and/or education in the implementation of effective strategies supporting family engagement and/or family wellbeing.
• Experience communicating, both orally and in writing, with the ability to adapt to different size and type of audiences.
• Proficient in use of Microsoft Applications, including Word, PowerPoint, Excel and Outlook.

Preferred Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)

• Master’s degree.
• Demonstrated experience in providing training and technical assistance using process consultation and virtual platforms.

Physical Demands/Working Conditions

• Must maintain a home office, with high-speed internet access, sufficiently free of distractions to allow work to be done.
• UMDI will supply: laptop computer, printer/copier, LCD projector, computer speakers, cell phone. Other equipment and resources may be provided.  All must be returned to UMDI when leaving UMDI service or upon the conclusion of the contract.
• Ability to travel throughout New England at least 50% of the time. Nationwide travel on occasion.
• Must be able to transport and set up equipment and materials to TTA sessions weighing up to 20 lbs. per item.
• The physical/mental demands and work environment factors described above are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

Additional Details

• This is a full-time benefited position.
• This position is funded by grants and/or contracts, and is contingent upon funding.
• Applicants must be work authorized for employment in the U.S on a full-time basis.
• Successful candidate must live in one of the six New England states: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, or Vermont.
• Job offer is contingent upon the Office of Head Start acceptance and approval.
• Any job offer is specifically conditioned upon the potential candidate consenting to and successfully completing a background review.

Work Schedule

• Standard full-time work schedule consisting of eight-hour days and 40 hours each work week.
• Work may require a change in availability at specific times to accommodate for variations in work demands.
• This position has the opportunity for a remote work schedule, which is defined by the University as an arrangement where the employee’s work location is to work from a site other than the UMass Amherst campus. As this position falls within the Professional Staff Union, it is subject to the terms and conditions of the Professional Staff Union collective bargaining agreement.

Salary Information

Level 30

PSU Hiring Ranges

Special Instructions to Applicants

Along with the application, please submit a resume and cover letter. References will be checked at the finalist stage. Please be prepared to provide contact information for three (3) professional references. Applications will be reviewed on a continuous basis until the position is filled. Early submissions are encouraged.

The University of Massachusetts Amherst welcomes all qualified applicants and complies with all state and federal anti-discrimination laws.