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 addressing the critical issues of equity, diversity, and inclusion as well as the ways that educational inequality and barriers to inclusion 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 Implementation Specialist contributes to the provision of implementation support on funded implementation science project(s) at the Frank Porter Graham ( FPG) Child Development Institute at UNC-Chapel Hill. As a member of dedicated project teams, the Implementation Specialist:
(1) plans, administers, and reports the results of mixed methods assessment activities with project partners to determine strengths and developmental opportunities, contribute to case conceptualization and identify support goals, facilitate partnership agreements, and monitor and drive performance improvement;
(2) delivers tailored implementation supports - involving strategies for both individual/group behavior change and organization/system improvement - to community coalitions and/or child and family-serving agencies to support their effective implementation of evidence-based or evidence-informed programs and practices;
(3) assists with the development of learning and application tools, measures, and communications resources that may be useful to community and state partners or to other team members providing implementation support; and
(4) contributes to data monitoring, evaluation, and improvement activities as related to the provision of implementation support/technical assistance.

The position will also become a member of The Impact Center at FPG (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 coalitions. Projects involve close collaboration with state agency, support, and funding partners.

In addition to membership in this FPG workgroup, the position is expected to be a member of the community of FPG Investigators. Expectations include 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.

Advanced knowledge of implementation science theories, models, frameworks, and strategies. Advanced knowledge of mixed methods data collection, management, analysis, and reporting in relation to implementation practice projects.

Demonstrated experience, commensurate with years of experience:
* planning, administering, and reporting the results of mixed methods assessment activities within implementation practice projects;
* using implementation practice approaches with local, community, or regional partners to support individual/team behavior change and organization/system learning and improvement;
* supporting individuals or teams through a range of emotional experiences related to change and skill development;
* facilitating professional or community teams towards collective goals and actions;
* working with evidence-based prevention, intervention, education, and/or other wellbeing strategies for children, families, and communities;
* using data and feedback for evaluation or quality improvement of implementation support activities; 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:
* planning, analyzing, and reporting the results of mixed methods assessment activities in practice-based environments;
* formal assessment of individual, team, and/or organizational attitudes, resources, skills, and behaviors;
* using data and feedback for evaluation or quality improvement of implementation support activities;
* the development of collaborative working relationships with leaders and community partners;
* application of equitable and inclusive practices with team members and community partners, including power sharing;
* case conceptualization;
* 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;
* identifying and accepting complex realities and committing to intended change processes;
* organizational thinking and conceptualization;
* systems thinking and conceptualization;
* adaptive leadership and/or transformational leadership;
* strong written communication; and
* strong public speaking and presentation.

Preference for a Ph.D. in an area of psychology, social work, public health, or closely related fields of study. A Master's degree and three or more years of relevant experience also will be considered. Supervised training in the delivery of evidence-based interventions involving behavior change (e.g., prevention or treatment programs, counseling interventions, behaviorally-based technical assistance, community intervention, practice facilitation).

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.