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Project Evaluator Contractor, 11-month Position - Remote/Silver Spring, Maryland

Posted: Tuesday, June 23, 2020

Association of University Centers on Disabilities logo. Text: The Leadership, Education, Advocacy, and Research Network

-Position Announcement-

Project Evaluator Contractor

for

Enhancing Support for Early Childhood Systems through Act Early Ambassador Program to Support COVID19 Recovery

 

Reports to: Program Manager, AUCD's National Center on Disability in Public Health

 

The Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) promotes and supports a national network of interdisciplinary centers on disabilities. Its member centers represent every US state and territory and include 67 University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD), 52 Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND) Programs, and 14 Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Centers (IDDRC). Together, these organizations advance policy and practice through research, education, leadership, and services for and with individuals with developmental and other disabilities, their families, and communities.

During the current pandemic, this position will be remote as all AUCD staff are teleworking until COVID-19 restrictions start to lift. If necessary, this can become an in-office position once AUCD begins a phased return to the office. At this time, we do not know when that phased return will occur. The AUCD office is in downtown Silver Spring, MD, one block from the red line Silver Spring Metro station and next to a county-maintained parking garage.

 

Job Responsibilities

In response to emerging needs resulting in part from COVID-19, a nationwide Act Early State/Territorial Team initiative focused on building resilience among families with young children served by early childhood systems is under development. These state/territorial teams will focus on parent-engaged developmental monitoring, screening, and referral initiatives to ensure that children with developmental delays are identified early and connected with services that can help them as early as possible. This work will be performed through an existing cooperative agreement between AUCD and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities (NCBDDD).  

AUCD's National Center on Disability in Public Health seeks to engage a temporary full-time contractor to manage the evaluation design and synthesis of a 11-month multi-state/territory project. This project will enhance support for early childhood systems through the Act Early Ambassador Program to Support COVID-19 Recovery. This temporary full-time contractor position is federally supported by an existing cooperative agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities (NCBDDD). 

The primary deliverables include:

  • Collaborating with AUCD, NCBDDD/CDC, and Act Early state/territorial team leadership to develop a comprehensive strategic evaluation plan that identifies and prioritizes evaluation activities to be completed during the funding period.
  • Working with stakeholders to develop and implement individual evaluation plans for prioritized program areas.
  • Establishing and maintaining regular technical assistance and ongoing communication with AUCD, NCBDDD/CDC, and Act Early state/territorial team leadership as needed.
  • Monitoring and promoting best practices and uniformity with data collection.
  • Aggregating and synthesizing data from state/territorial teams.
  • Providing recommendations for quality improvement and future evaluation.

 

Required Qualifications

 Completion of a graduate program (MPH, MS, MSW, MA, etc.) in the social or health sciences (e.g., public health, public policy, psychology, social work, education, allied health) or completion of a bachelor's degree with 5-8 years of experience in human services performing similar evaluation functions.

 

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

  • Experience with synthesizing information generated through an evaluation to produce findings that are clearly linked to the data collected.
  • Commitment to ensuring that evaluation activities are done in a culturally competent manner.

  • Willingness to work with stakeholders to create and implement an action plan based on evaluation findings.

  • Knowledge of or familiarity with the American Evaluation Association's Guiding Principles for Evaluators.

  • Knowledge in the development of evaluation plans.

  • Knowledge of methods for designing evaluations to increase the likelihood that the findings will be usable

  • Knowledge of various evaluation designs (e.g., non-experimental, experimental, quasi-experimental).

  • Knowledge of the distinctions between evaluation and research.

  • Knowledge of approaches for generating, revising, and prioritizing evaluation questions.

  • Knowledge of appropriate quantitative and qualitative data analysis methods.

  • Skill in developing and articulating program goals and objectives in a structure supporting evaluation.

  • Skill in working with stakeholders to develop feasible recommendations.

  • Ability to engage with, listen to, and learn from a broad range of stakeholders, encouraging their meaningful participation.

  • Ability to identify limitations of one's evaluation expertise and devise methods for acquiring additional evaluation knowledge when necessary.

  • Ability to educate program staff and partners about evaluation concepts and methods.

  • Ability to engage stakeholders in an evaluation process based on shared priorities, including meeting facilitation, presentation, conflict resolution, and negotiation skills.

  • Ability to work as part of an interdisciplinary team to plan and conduct evaluations.

  • Ability to organize and summarize information in a clear and concise manner.

  • Ability to understand the context of a program and how it affects program planning, implementation, outcomes, and even the evaluation.

  • Ability or experience in the development and use of logic models to describe complex programs.

  • Ability to provide leadership in a team setting, move members forward and build consensus.

  • Ability to identify and assess existing data sources for their potential use in program evaluation.

  • Ability to gather data using qualitative and quantitative approaches such as interviews, group processes, participant observation, surveys, electronic data files, or other methods.

  • Ability to manage databases, construct data files, conduct and supervise data entry, and perform data edits/cleaning.

  • Ability to develop criteria and standards reflective of the values held by key evaluation stakeholders.

  • Ability to prepare and present evaluation results in a manner that increases the likelihood that they will be used and accepted by a diverse group of stakeholders.

  • Ability to develop action plans and systems to facilitate and track implementation of evaluation findings and recommendations.

  • Ability to work with stakeholders to present analyses, find common themes, and identify relevant and actionable findings from evaluations.

 

Desired Qualifications

  • Demonstrated history of success in an evaluation role on multi-state/multi-site systems change projects.
  • Experience working with grants or subcontracts at federal or state/territorial levels
  • Familiarity with Learn the Signs, Act Early, and/or the AUCD Network.
  • Personal or professional experience with individuals with disabilities.

 

Benefits

This temporary contractor position is available to be performed remotely and compensated at a rage of $70,000-$75,000 for an 11-month period. AUCD provides a family-friendly work environment and competitive compensation based on education and experience. This temporary contractor position provides a unique opportunity to exercise your expertise, creativity, and initiative in a fast-paced yet relaxed office atmosphere. AUCD is committed to an inclusive culture that values all types of diversity, and as such has experience accommodating a wide range of disability and related workplace needs.


Application Procedures

Interested applicants should submit: (1) a letter of interest, (2) a resume of relevant experience, (3) names and contact information of at least three professional references, and (4) any accommodations needed for the application and interview process to Danielle Webber at [email protected]. Letters of interest should concisely present relevant knowledge, skills, and ability to perform the duties of this contract. Ideally, references would reflect the perspectives of a supervisor, a colleague, and a supervisee. Applications are due July 6, 2020.

For more information about AUCD, visit: www.aucd.org. 

Questions can be directed to Danielle Webber at [email protected]

Applications will be accepted immediately and will remain open until the position is filled. The position is supported by federal funds.

 

AUCD is an equal opportunity employer. Persons from traditionally underrepresented or unrepresented cultural backgrounds and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.