Early Childhood Social Emotional Health Specialist (Hybrid Opportunity)

Apply now Job no:522610
Work type:Staff Part Time
Location:UMass Amherst
Department: UMDI - Connected Beginnings
Union: PSU
Categories:Donahue Institute, Early Childhood Development, PSU A

About UMass Amherst

UMass Amherst, the Commonwealth's flagship campus, is a nationally ranked public research university offering a full range of undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. The University sits on nearly 1,450-acres in the scenic Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts and offers a rich cultural environment in a bucolic setting close to major urban centers. In addition, the University is part of the Five Colleges (including Amherst College, Hampshire College, Mount Holyoke College, and Smith College), which adds to the intellectual energy of the region.

Job Summary

The University of Massachusetts Donahue Institute (UMDI) Connected Beginnings (CB) Early Childhood Social Emotional Health Specialist provides guidance, training, and consultation using the Pyramid Model approach in early childhood social emotional wellness across Connected Beginnings projects. The Specialist supports all aspects of the implementation of strategies to promote social emotional health and development in settings serving very young children and their families.

Essential Functions

• Provides leadership in the successful implementation of the Pyramid Model approach in Massachusetts, in settings serving children birth through 8 years old, and their families.
• Provides supervision to coaches, regionally and statewide as appropriate, focused on behavioral health in early childhood settings.
• Creates and modifies trainings, resources, and educational materials for professionals in the early childhood mixed delivery system on issues related to social emotional health, including all aspects of the nationally used Pyramid Model approach.
• Facilitates training on issues related to social emotional health including the training of trainers, coaches, and in the data collection tools.
• Contributes as a representative and team member of CB to relationship-building and collaboration with Massachusetts early childhood mental health organizations, grantees, and initiatives.
• Provides documentation and reporting as required by the sponsor.
• Provides ongoing mentoring and supervision to staff, including feedback relative to staff capabilities, completing formal annual performance reviews, and collaboratively developing annual goals.

Other Functions

• Contributes to the development and creation of proposals for continued CB work addressing aspects of social emotional health as appropriate.
• Participates in business unit and UMDI meetings and initiatives as requested.
• Other duties as assigned.

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

• Master’s degree.
• Five (5) years of experience working in and/or with early childhood education settings.
• Fully trained in all levels of the Pyramid Model approach, including all aspects of implementation.
• Proficiency with common business software applications such as Microsoft Office.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Demonstrated experience in:
• Providing effective training and coaching to adult learners
• Collecting, analyzing, and reporting data
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Strong ability to work independently and as a member of a team with varying levels of support.

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

• Academic discipline: Clinical Psychology or related disciplines.
• An understanding of current Massachusetts Department of Early Care and Education regulations, guidelines, and procedures as they relate to social emotional health of very young children and their families.
• Fluent in bilingual speech English/Spanish or English/Portuguese.

Physical Demands/Working Conditions

• Multiple hours in a stationary position using office equipment and computers.
• In-office environment is a busy, collegial area resulting in multiple interruptions and requests for assistance.
• Must be able to work both independently and as a team member and with varying amounts of support, as project assignments may require.
• Must have the flexibility to travel within Massachusetts on an as-needed basis and occasionally outside of the Commonwealth to attend conferences.
• Some transporting of supplies up to 20 pounds.
• 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 part-time, benefited position.
• This position may be funded by grants and/or contracts and is contingent upon funding.
• Any job offer is specifically conditioned upon the potential candidate consenting to and successfully completing a background review.
• For more information about the Donahue Institute, please visit: https://www.youtube.com/@umassdonahueinstitute2556/videos .

Work Schedule

• Part-time work schedule consisting of 28 hours (0.70 FTE) each workweek. Work performed in addition to the regular work hours may be necessary and may require a change in availability at specific times, to accommodate for variations in work demands.
• This position has the opportunity for a hybrid work schedule, which is defined by the University as an arrangement where an employee’s work is regularly performed at a location other than the campus workspace for a portion of the week. 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 29

Exempt 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.

UMass Amherst is committed to a policy of equal opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, caste, creed, sex, age, marital status, national origin, disability, political belief or affiliation, pregnancy and pregnancy-related condition(s), veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, genetic information, natural and protective hairstyle and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination in employment, admission to and participation in academic programs, activities, and services, and the selection of vendors who provide services or products to the University.  To fulfill that policy, UMass Amherst is further committed to a program of affirmative action to eliminate or mitigate artificial barriers and to increase opportunities for the recruitment and advancement of qualified minorities, women, persons with disabilities, and covered veterans.  It is the policy of UMass Amherst to comply with the applicable federal and state statutes, rules, and regulations concerning equal opportunity and affirmative action.

Advertised:Mar 6 2024 Eastern Standard Time
Applications close:Jun 5 2024 Eastern Daylight Time