Senior Policy Associate - Children, Youth, And Families

The Cutler Institute at the University of Southern Maine is pleased to announce an opening for a full-time Senior Policy Associate within our Children, Youth, and Families program area. 

As the Senior Policy Associate, you will bring leadership and content expertise to state and national child welfare projects. Make a positive impact on the lives of children and Families by conceptualizing and designing cutting-edge work in the area of child welfare, developing new initiatives by cultivating funding sources, and leading and managing existing initiatives and dynamic project teams. Contribute knowledge to the field through writing and disseminating publications and presentations, policy development, training design, and leading change initiatives.

The Children, Youth, and Families (CYF) program area at the Cutler Institute collaborates with a wide variety of partners to advance the well-being of children and Families across the country by improving the public and private systems that serve them. With expertise in child welfare, early childhood education, and youth and community engagement, CYF staff bring knowledge and experience in strategic planning, workforce development, tribal-state relations, youth and parent engagement, evaluation, and community engagement methodologies to their technical assistance and training work. CYF prioritizes the inclusion of the voices of children, youth, and Families and the engagement of the community in our work. The Senior Policy Associate will be a leader within CYF, helping to drive the direction of the work and grow our impact.

This is a grant funded position with a starting annual salary up to $85,000 commensurate with experience. 

For a complete job description click here.

The University of Southern Maine is committed to developing a diverse faculty, staff, and student body. It embraces an inclusive campus community that values the expression of differences in ways that promote excellence in teaching, learning, personal development, and institutional success. Our Office of Equity, Inclusion and Community Impact supports the University of Southern Maine's DEIA and Community Impact focused departments, committees, groups, projects, training, and events. USM encourages women, veterans, individuals with disabilities, and people from diverse racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds to apply.

We live our USM Service Promise: Student Focused Every Day.  We are looking for a team member who understands that promise and supports our values: Respect & Care, Integrity, Equity and Responsiveness.   

The University of Southern Maine provides a highly competitive benefits package that includes holidays, vacation and sick time; health, dental and vision insurance; life insurance; short- and long-term disability insurance; a tuition waiver program for employee and eligible dependents; a 403(b) retirement plan; and more.  Click on our Benefits Information Summary to learn more. 

• Master's degree and seven years of relevant professional experience or Doctorate degree and three years of relevant experience.
• Project management skills and experience.
• Knowledge of proposal writing, funding sources, and project development.
• Demonstrated experience in high level administrative positions involving public policy making.
• Demonstrated skills in supervision, shared decision making, and leadership.
• Knowledge of and direct experience with the development, design, delivery, and quality assurance/program evaluation of training.
• Record of publications and/or presentations with local, state, and regional recognition.

To apply materials must be submitted via "APPLY FOR POSITION" at the bottom of the job posting or at USM Jobs.

You will create an applicant profile and complete an application and upload a cover letter and resume/curriculum vitae.  Finalist candidates will be asked to provide a list of the names and contact information for references. 

We will examine candidate packages on an ongoing basis as they are submitted.

All application materials must be submitted by January 28, 2024.  

We are not able to consider applicants who require Visa sponsorship support.

Appropriate background screening will be conducted for the successful candidate.

In complying with the letter and spirit of applicable laws and pursuing its own goals of diversity, the University of Maine System does not discriminate on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, transgender status, gender, gender identity or expression, ethnicity, national origin, citizenship status, familial status, ancestry, age, disability physical or mental, genetic information, or veterans or military status in employment, education, and all other programs and activities. The University provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request.

The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding nondiscrimination policies: Director of Equal Opportunity, 5748 Boudreau Hall, Room 101, Orono, ME 04469-5754, 207-581-1226, TTY 711 (Maine Relay System).