Head Start Family Engagement Specialist - Region VI

ICF seeks a Family Engagement Specialist (FES) to support the Region VI office of Head Start Training and Technical Assistance contract. The Family Engagement Specialist (FES) position provides training/technical assistance and subject matter expertise on a broad variety of topics related to Parent Family and Community Engagement (PFCE).  FES’s provide support and consultation both internally and externally, to TTA team members, grantees, Regional Offices and State and regional partners.  FES serve on the National PFCE Content Implementation Team (CIT), as well as other national and local committees based on need and expertise.  FESs in each Region are the liaison with the National Center on Parent Family and Community Engagement.  

This position is home-based in one of the Region VI states (Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas). Travel will be required to fulfill the requirements of the position in any of the regional states, Washington DC and other locations as required.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide training and technical assistance services in-person or virtually to Head Start and Early Head Start grant recipients as directed by the regional office.
• Serve as a liaison between the OHS and the National Center responsible for parent, family and community engagement. 
• Provide subject matter expertise, strategies, and resources to Regional Office and TTA staff on comprehensive parent, family, and community engagement, including strategies for engaging families. 
• Serve as a member of a national peer group of Family Engagement Specialists from each of the twelve regions. 
• Develop and implement strategies for connecting with grant recipient PFCE managers and/or coordinators in the Region. 
• Aggregate, analyze, and disseminate regional and grantee data from existing government systems to identify emerging trends impacting Head Start grant recipients. 
• Develop and provide presentations and training on topics related to family engagement. 
• Provide training to groups of grantees at regional and state events, as directed by the Regional Office. 
• Support emerging OHS initiatives and priorities. 

Basic Qualifications:

The Family Engagement Specialist shall have: 

• A minimum of a BA or BS from an accredited university or college in social work, human services, family services, counseling or a related field. 
• If the highest degree was awarded more than ten years ago, the resume should specifically detail courses, conferences, seminars attended or relevant work experience.  
• A minimum of three years’ experience providing training and technical assistance to management teams and program staff related to parent, family and community engagement. 
• 1 + years of experience working within programs and services for families with children birth to five. 
• 1 + years of experience analyzing data and helping programs make data driven decisions related to providing services to families with young children. 
• 1 + years of experience in facilitating group discussions and presenting to range of audiences. 
• 1 + years of experience working with diverse children, families, staff and communities and training and facilitating groups of learners. 
• 1 + years of experience communicating, both orally and in writing, to various audiences. 

Preferred Experience/Skills:

• Knowledge of the Head Start Program Performance Standards and all applicable federal, state and local laws, rules and regulations.
• Experience working within a Head Start Program.

Professional Skills:

• Experience with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel and PowerPoint) required.
• Experience using virtual platforms and technologies, i.e., Zoom, Teams, Adobe, etc.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving and decision-making capabilities.
• Team player with the ability to work in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to work with all levels of internal staff, as well as outside clients and vendors.

Working at ICF

ICF is a global advisory and technology services provider, but we’re not your typical consultants. We combine unmatched expertise with cutting-edge technology to help clients solve their most complex challenges, navigate change, and shape the future.

We can only solve the world's toughest challenges by building an inclusive workplace that allows everyone to thrive. We are an equal opportunity employer, committed to hiring regardless of any protected characteristic, such as race, ethnicity, national origin, color, sex, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability status, or military/vet