ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT:

The Department of Human Service Programs (DHSP) creates and coordinates services that enhance the quality of life for Cambridge residents. Driven by the needs of residents, DHSP’s extensive services and programs touch almost every sector in the city: from newborns to senior citizens, from school-aged children to homeless families, from non-profit organizations to local employers.

ABOUT THE ROLE:

The Center for Families (CFF) is a part of the Community Engagement and Family Support Division under the Department of Human Service Programs for the City of Cambridge. CFF is a City-wide family support program serving families with children from birth to eight years old. The Center provides Baby University (an intensive family support program), Cambridge Dads (programming and supports just for dads/male caregivers), parenting education workshops, parent support programs, early literacy playgroups, gross-motor playgroups, short-term case management, information and referral services, community building events, parent/child activities, one-on-one support, and concrete support in times of need. All Center activities and services are welcoming and respectful of participants' racial, cultural, family structures, and socio-economic backgrounds. The Division is comprised of 19 full-time and 20-25 part-time staff. The Center for Families values diverse, flexible, creative teamwork-oriented staff members who are committed to serving all families, especially those traditionally marginalized, isolated, and under-served.

The Parent Education Specialist is responsible for planning, organizing, and facilitating parent education programming that promotes family well-being, addresses parental stress, fosters community connections, and provides evidenced-based, evidence-informed, and promising-practices that supports the social, emotional, physical and intellectual development of children.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

•          Develop and implement parenting education that meet the needs of families from all socio-economic and cultural backgrounds.

•          Research existing curricula for parent education workshops and series and train in new materials. Pilot and evaluate new parent education series.

•          Plan, organize and implement between 7-10 evidenced-based, evidence-informed, and promising-practices parent education group-based series annually

•          Oversee, with other staff members, recruitment, retention, and involvement of families in parenting education.

•          Develop and implement retention strategies to ensure families regularly attend groups.

•          Collaborate with and support the Family Services Coordinator to

  o      Plan, organize and lead between 3-5 citywide community-building family events.

  o      Plan, organize and lead 4-8 parent-child activities that promotes intergenerational learning

•          Prepare evaluation data for quarterly reports.

•          Connect families to both Center for Families and community partners’ programming and supports as needed.

•          Full participation in the Department of Human Service Programs mission to eliminate racism within our department.

•          Participate in staff meetings, supervision meetings, and professional development.

•          Process all data through data management system

•          All other duties that may be necessary.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

Education and Experience

•          At least three years’ experience working in family support or parent education, home visiting, early childhood, or community outreach, including the development of programs

•          Experience working and collaborating in a multicultural environment with diverse families

•          Minimum of one year experience supervising staff

•          Bachelors’ degree preferred

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

•          Strong knowledge of family support principles

•          Demonstrated ability to work as part of a strong team in a fast-paced environment

•          Strong interpersonal and communication skills

•          Strong writing skills required

•          Bilingual/bicultural candidates preferred

•          Able to work evening and weekend hours

•          Trained, or will be trained within six months of hire in at least one evidence-based group curricula

•          The City of Cambridge's workforce, like the community it serves, is diverse. Applicants must have the ability to work and interact effectively with individuals and groups with a variety of identities, cultures, backgrounds, and ideologies.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS, WORKING CONDITIONS, WORK FLEXIBILITY AND ACCOMODATIONS

•          While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to be agile in their movements; moving quickly from sitting on the floor to standing, to kneeling so as to be able to interact with parents and children and be able to lift and move supplies as needed, up to 30 pounds.

•          Standard office environment. Fluorescent lighting, carpeted floors, and air conditioning. Moderate to loud noise level.

•          Moderately to very noisy classroom or gym setting with florescent lighting.

Position may be eligible for hybrid work under the City’s Telework Policy, depending on operational needs

SUMMARY OF BENEFITS:

• Competitive health, dental, and vision insurance
• Vacation and Sick leave eligible
• Paid parental leave
• Sick Incentive Pay Eligible
• 3 Personal days
• 14 Paid Holidays
• Management Allowance, $2,700/year    
• City employee commuter benefits (T-Pass reimbursement Bluebikes membership, EZRide Shuttle membership)

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS:

Please upload the below documents to complete your application:

• Resume
• Cover letter