Implementation Support Specialist - University of Florida

The University of Florida Lastinger Center for Learning’s mission is to improve the quality of teaching, learning, and childcare. We research, develop, and scale equitable educational innovations for adults and children that put all learners on trajectories for lifelong success. Specifically, the Center targets kindergarten readiness, 3rd grade reading proficiency, and algebra proficiency as critical milestones in children's educational trajectory that are predictive of success in school and life. The Center works at the nexus of research, practice, and policy to develop sustainable systems that leverage educational technologies and improve the implementation of research-based practices. Housed in one of the nation's elite public research universities, the Center operates as a dynamic, entrepreneurial workplace focused on executing UF's service mission to strengthen the human condition and improve the quality of life. The Lastinger Center is committed to attracting, hiring, and retaining top talent by valuing diversity of thought, skill, and experience. As an equal opportunity employer, we believe in fostering environments where team members feel included, valued for their differences, and empowered to do their best work.

Responsibilities will include:

Facilitation & Implementation

• Facilitate face-to-face, virtual, and online professional learning experiences for early learning, literacy, and/or PK through grade 12 educators. including literacy coaching, instructional coaching, and early learning coaching.
• Support team members in facilitating face-to-face and virtual professional learning experiences.
• Assist in evaluation of professional learning experiences (e.g., courses, virtual, and face-to-face PL), including scoring portfolios, examining pre-test and post-test results, and other related data.
• Instruct courses within a virtual professional learning management system, as needed.
• Coordinate with field staff of projects to ensure consistency in implementation and effective communication structures.
• Serve as project support on implementation contracts.

Content Development

• Design early learning, literacy, and instructional coaching professional learning experiences (F2F and online) in partnership with the Implementation Design and Content Development teams.
• Assess ongoing needs of participants to inform design changes in training content.
• Supplement professional learning experiences with the collection, creation, and curation of early learning, literacy, and instructional coaching online resources.

Collaboration

• Collaborate with all Lastinger Center teams to design and promote high-quality instructional practices and project implementation success.
• Maintain communication with external clients to assist the Client Management team with expansion and renewal efforts to ensure long-term partnerships.
• Engage in work groups and project design as deemed necessary by leadership.

Logistical Support

• Recruit and enroll participants.
• Distribute and collect documentation from participants, such as applications, surveys, questionnaires, focus groups, etc. and other data needed to support evaluation of projects.
• Manage data collection and generate reports for relevant qualitative data collection in collaboration with the Research and Evaluation Team and the Learning Experience Team.
• Track project performance to monitor progress toward meeting goals and satisfying contract deliverables in collaboration with the Product Team.
• Locate and set up locations, supplies, equipment and refreshments for professional learning events, site visits, workshops, and meetings.
• Troubleshoot challenges and provide technical assistance as needed to participants.
• Work collaboratively with Gainesville-based administrative supports when appropriate to assure streamline coordination and successful execution of administrative activities.

Partnership Building with Existing and Potential Participants

• Engage with instructors, coaches, and literacy facilitators to support the implementation of high-quality content and resources based on current research and best practices.
• Serve as a liaison between participants and tech support to resolve technology and/or platform issues.
• Assess and respond to the ongoing needs of participants to provide continuous improvement in the project or initiative.
• Cultivate relationships with local community and business partners to provide additional support to ensure project success.
• Schedule and facilitate conversations with educators around classroom observations and child/student outcome data.

Other tasks as assigned

Hybrid work location policy:

Lastinger Center for Learning supports and promotes a healthy work-life balance. To achieve this, the Lastinger Center offers a flexible, hybrid work schedule that aligns with the university’s Flexibility in the Workplace Policy.  Allowing employees to stagger arrival and departure times as necessary and to vary the number of workdays in the office so long as an employee’s FTE commitment is fulfilled within the university workweek. This policy also allows for occasional, incidental remote work based on individual circumstances.

$65,000-$70,000

Bachelor's degree in an appropriate area and four years of relevant experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Master’s degree in early childhood, reading, elementary, special education, or related field
• Experience providing professional learning experiences for adult learners.
• Expertise in child development birth through age 8, including early language and literacy
• Knowledge of early learning content across domains of development: Language,
• Cognitive, Physical, and Social Emotional
• Experience in coaching educators

In order to be considered, you must upload your cover letter and resume.

Application must be submitted by 11:55 p.m. (ET) of the posting end date.