Education Development Center (EDC) is a global nonprofit that advances lasting solutions to improve education promote health and expand economic opportunity. EDC designs, implements, and evaluates programs to improve education, health, and economic opportunity worldwide. Collaborating with both public and private partners, we strive for a world where all people are empowered to live healthy, productive lives. Since 1958, we have been a leader in designing, implementing, and evaluating powerful and innovative programs to improve education and health in more than 80 countries around the world.

EDC promotes equity and access to high quality education and health services and products that contribute to thriving communities where people from diverse backgrounds learn, live, and work together. We support an inclusive workplace culture that embraces many perspectives and broadens our understanding of the communities we serve, enhancing and enriching our work.

EDC is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. Women, minorities, people with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply.

The Health Promotion, Practice, and Innovation (HPPI) Portfolio, within EDC’s US Division has an opening for a Training & Technical Assistance Associate (I).

The HPPI portfolio includes projects related to trauma, violence and injury prevention, substance misuse prevention, and suicide prevention. This position has a specific focus on the intersection of early childhood and substance misuse prevention, an EDC priority area of expertise. The Training & Technical Assistance Associate (I) is expected to collaborate across teams, particularly within the Center for Strategic Prevention Support, HPPI, and the Early Childhood Portfolio. The individual in this role will report to the Director of the Center for Strategic Prevention Support (CSPS) and work closely with the CSPS’ Technical Advisor for Early Childhood. The Center for Strategic Prevention Support (www.csps-ma.org) provides technical assistance, support and capacity-building to communities funded by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s Bureau of Substance Addiction Services (BSAS) Prevention Unit under their State Opioid Response-Prevention in Early Childhood (SOR-PEC) Initiative. This initiative focuses on building community supports for children impacted by familial substance use disorder, within a racial and health equity frame. BSAS strives to promote racial equity and eliminate unfair disparities among populations in Massachusetts. Funded communities are expected to focus on the social determinants of health, incorporating cultural relevance, actively addressing structural racism, and being accountable to improving outcomes for marginalized populations.

This position is for a part-time (50-80% FTE), contingent upon funding. The candidate must live in or near Massachusetts, and be able to travel across the Commonwealth, and may telecommute for the majority of the time.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

The person in this position is expected to communicate clearly and courteously; to develop and maintain positive relationships with clients, consultants, collaborators, co-workers, field sites, and funders; and to work respectfully with EDC colleagues. The job requires adherence to EDC policies & procedures.

Under general guidance, the Training & Technical Assistance Associate (I) participates in complex projects to provide professional development training and technical assistance, including:

• Serving as the point of contact and providing consultation and support for Prevention in Early Childhood grantees across Massachusetts
• Developing or adapting virtual learning and training tools that incorporate adult learning principles for diverse audiences on early childhood, substance misuse prevention and the intersection of the two
• Leading, assisting and contributing to live virtual group training events for the team’s audiences, including webinars, peer-to-peer learning, and other presentations
• Supporting other discrete team projects and coordinating this work with other teams, the CSPS funder, and other partners as appropriate
• Understand translating research into practice, with expertise in early childhood, impacts of familial substance use disorder on young children, and the systems of care in communities that serve caregivers and their children
• Advising on, developing, and supporting team workplans, processes, and systems
• Conceptualizing and overseeing product testing & evaluation
• Documenting & cataloguing
• Maintaining records, including financial
• Disseminating information
• Assisting with project workplan, budget development and project implementation

The Training & Technical Assistance Associate (I):

• Builds knowledge and capacity of organizations and staff
• Facilitates project teamwork and feedback exchanges
• Coordinates contract and quality adherence
• Coordinates administrative and logistical tasks
• Troubleshoots complex problems, proposing initiatives and recommending or negotiating solutions
• Provides training and guidance or administrative direction to junior staff; may supervise support staff
• May lead parts of a project or coordinate sections of larger projects
• May travel within Massachusetts, approximately twice a month

This position requires excellent communication, problem solving, and active listening skills; initiative, creativity, and adaptability; the ability to work independently and effectively in groups; strong relationship building skills; an understanding of the social determinants of health and a commitment to racial and health equity. The ideal candidate will have the curiosity and ability to learn new things and an interest in public health. Ongoing training and professional development opportunities are provided. Specific requirements include:

• Content Knowledge: A strong understanding of public health and/or early childhood, and the impacts of familial substance use disorder on young children. An understanding of the social determinants of health and a commitment to social justice, racial and health equity is preferred;
• Training Experience: Experience providing virtual or in-person trainings that meet the needs of adult learners.
• Relationship Building: Demonstrated ability to develop collaborative relationships with clients, colleagues, partners, and funders in a virtual working environment.
• Project Management Experience: Experience managing parts of projects and processes to ensure that high quality deliverables are produced on time. Experience coordinating across teams and deliverables.
• Communications: Strong written and verbal communication skills. Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with community members, in supervisory relationships, with colleagues, and with project partners and funders. Experience developing and reviewing written materials for outside audiences is preferred.
• Collaboration: Ability to work both independently without close oversight, but also a team player who will productively engage with others.

Specific Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree required; Candidates with an Associates or AB degree and 10 or more years of experience will be considered
• With Bachelor’s degree, 5-8 years related experience in the disciplinary area, social science or public health, early childhood services, education, or organizational development , including experience with computer applications, instructional design, and Internet research
• Master’s degree or teacher certification or equivalent combination of training and education in a related field preferred
• With Master’s degree, 3-5 years related experience (as above)
• Ability to educate and inspire others
• Ability to work with diverse communities and offer culturally and linguistically appropriate services
• The ability to be flexible and adapt to the needs and learning styles of clients/communities
• Comfortable with technology
• Ability to work independently and as a part of a team, both in-person and virtually, and take personal initiative
• Availability to attend occasional community meetings outside of regular business hours

The preferred candidate should also have:

• Knowledge of current practices and issues in the field of community health, early childhood education, public health, and substance misuse prevention
• Experience designing and facilitating training, both in-person and virtually
• Be familiar with a public health planning process, such as the Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF)

Applications should be submitted directly via our website (www.edc.org/careers-edc). Applicants are required to submit both a cover letter and a resume. Applicants are advised to combine their cover letter and resume into a single file for submission. The cover letter should be a succinct statement of interest to include highlights of relevant qualifications and experience for the role desired, and should not exceed two pages. The resume should not exceed five pages. Applications without requested items will not be considered. Candidates selected for an interview may be asked to provide writing samples and/or participate in exercises to demonstrate skills and experience as part of the interview process. 

As an EOE/AA employer, EDC does not discriminate in its employment practices due to an applicant’s race, color, religion, sex, national origin, and veteran or disability status. EDC is a smoke-free workplace.