Senior Implementation Specialist

A global higher education leader in innovative teaching, research and public service, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill consistently ranks as one of the nation's top public universities. Known for its beautiful campus, world-class medical care, commitment to the arts and top athletic programs, Carolina is an ideal place to teach, work and learn.

One of the best college towns and best places to live in the United States, Chapel Hill has diverse social, cultural, recreation and professional opportunities that span the campus and community.

University employees can choose from a wide range of professional training opportunities for career growth, skill development and lifelong learning and enjoy exclusive perks that include numerous retail and restaurant discounts, savings on local child care centers and special rates for performing arts events.

The UNC Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute ( FPG) is one of the nation's oldest and largest multidisciplinary centers devoted to the study of children and their families. As one of the nation's leading child development research centers, we generate scientific evidence, inform policies, and support practices to promote positive developmental and educational outcomes for children of all backgrounds and abilities from infancy to adolescence.

FPG has a particular focus on the study of vulnerable populations and those who have special needs. In addition, FPG is committed to creating a place where everyone is welcome, supported, and has the resources they need to grow and thrive regardless of identity, origin, or difference in circumstances as well as engaging in work that addresses critical issues related to educational inequality and barriers to inclusion that impact children's wellbeing.

Approximately 280 researchers, implementation and technical assistance specialists, staff, and students work on more than 75 projects related to developmental disabilities; physical, social, and emotional health; early care and education; early intervention and special education, prevention science, and more to address important issues facing all children and families. Our work spans across disciplines from education and psychology to social work and public health.

We collaborate with researchers across campus and throughout the nation. At FPG, transdisciplinary collaboration is a way to leverage collective expertise for comprehensive and relevant research and outreach, and is embodied in our motto: Advancing knowledge to transform children's lives.

This position may be eligible for a hybrid work arrangement that may include a partially remote work location, consistent with System Office policy. UNC Chapel Hill employees are generally required to reside within a reasonable commuting distance of their assigned duty station.

The Senior Implementation Specialist serves as a leader of funded implementation science project(s) at the Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute ( FPG) at UNC-Chapel Hill. The Senior Implementation Specialist:
(1) directs or co-directs major implementation science projects or projects with complex characteristics.
(2) delivers a broad range of implementation supports to state, national, or global partners, including their community coalitions or child and family-serving agencies, to support the effective implementation and scale-up of evidence-based or evidence-informed programs and practices.
(3) leads the development of theories, models, learning resources, and measures that may be useful to implementation support practitioners and system partners engaged in implementation and scaling activities; and
(4) engages in implementation evaluation or research.

The Senior Implementation Specialist will also become a leadership team member of The Impact Center at FPG workgroup (http://impact.fpg.unc.edu). The mission of The Impact Center at FPG is to catalyze social impact through effective implementation practice, primarily by building capacity in systems and communities to scale effective child-, family-, or community-support strategies for population-level or system-wide benefits. The Impact Center at FPG is a workgroup at FPG that includes implementation specialists, evaluation and improvement specialists, communications specialists, and learning and design specialists. Guided by this workgroup's theoretically grounded and empirically informed model of implementation support practice, tailored support is delivered primarily to leaders and teams within community service organizations and community coalitions. Projects involve close collaboration with state agencies, funding partners, and other support partners.

As a member of The Impact Center at FPG's Leadership Team, the position will contribute to scientific leadership and functional management closely aligned with FPG and the broader field of implementation science. This includes supporting the Impact Center at FPG team within FPG and broader field directions and activities; ensuring team members have meaningful roles supporting collective, institutional, and their own personal development; and facilitating bi-directional communication about workgroup and institutional mission, goals, and activities internally within the workgroup and FPG and externally with broader scientific and professional partners.

In addition to membership in this FPG workgroup, the position is expected to be a senior member of the FPG community of Investigators. Expectations include supporting FPG and UNC strategic directions; serving as a direct supervisor to FPG staff; providing emerging leadership in the field of implementation science through innovative research, practice, and/or policy contributions; providing regular service to professional groups in the field of implementation science; mentoring staff and students; engagement in institutional activities within FPG; and evaluation of professional performance.

Relevant post-Baccalaureate degree required (or foreign degree equivalent); for candidates demonstrating comparable independent research productivity, will accept a relevant Bachelor's degree (or foreign degree equivalent) and 3 or more years of relevant experience in substitution. May require terminal degree and licensure.

Working knowledge of leadership strategies and typical administrative systems.

Mastery of implementation science theories, models, frameworks, and strategies. Mastery of behavior change theories, models, and strategies, especially as related to implementation practice, technical assistance, and/or practice facilitation.

Demonstrated experience, commensurate with required years of experience:
* using implementation practice approaches with state, national, or global partners - including their community coalitions or child and family-serving agencies - to support individual/team behavior change and organization/system learning and improvement;
* facilitating professional or community teams towards collective goals and actions;
* supporting individuals or teams through a range of emotional experiences related to change and skill development;
* working with evidence-based prevention, intervention, and/or other wellbeing strategies for children, families, and communities;
* using data and information for research, evaluation, or quality improvement activities related to the implementation or scale-up of innovative practices;
* leading scientific contributions to the design and operation of projects related to the implementation or scale-up of evidence-based programs and practices;
* making innovative scientific, professional, or applied contributions within the field of implementation science;
* providing leadership for projects and professional teams, including accountability for project budgets and deliverables and supervision of staff; and
* participating in activities that create a sense of safety, well-being, and belonging in community and academic settings.

The following skill sets are required:
* the development of collaborative working relationships with leaders and other professionals;
* formal assessment of individual, team, and/or organizational attitudes, resources, skills, and behaviors;
* case conceptualization;
* application of equitable and inclusive practices with team members and community partners, including power sharing;
* identifying and accepting complex realities and committing to intended change processes;
* providing individual or group-based facilitation, including with a co-facilitator;
* the development and delivery of learning to adults using best practices;
* synthesizing and translating scientific concepts and terminology to practice and policy audiences;
* supportive behavioral coaching for adults;
* supervision and mentoring for staff and students;
* organizational thinking and conceptualization;
* systems thinking and conceptualization;
* adaptive leadership and/or transformational leadership;
* navigating administrative systems related to human resources and sponsored research;
* strong written communication;
* strong public speaking and presentation;
* qualitative and quantitative evaluation methodologies; and
* using data for quality improvement.

Preference for a Ph.D. in Psychology, Social Work, Public Health, Prevention Science, Implementation Science, or closely related fields of study and five or more years of relevant experience. A Master's in Psychology, Social Work, Public Health, Prevention Science, Implementation Science, or closely related fields of study and eight or more years of relevant experience also will be considered. Supervised training in the delivery of evidence-based models of behavior change (e.g., prevention or treatment programs, implementation support, technical assistance, community intervention, consultation, counseling) is especially encouraged.

Not Applicable.

If you experience any problems accessing the system or have questions about the application process, please contact the Office of Human Resources at (919) 843-2300 or send an email to employment@unc.edu
Please note: The Office of Human Resources will not be able to provide specific updates regarding position or application status.

The University is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes all to apply without regard to age, color, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation. We encourage all qualified applicants to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.