Collaborative Design Specialist

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WHO WE ARE

Foster America envisions a society in which all children and families thrive. In partnership with communities across the country, we are working towards a future in which resources for children and families are expanded, the child welfare system as we know it today is smaller, and the national model for child and family well-being systems equitably and compassionately serves children and families. Our mission is to transform systems that serve children, youth and families by catalyzing changemakers, amplifying knowledge, and innovating for a more just, equitable future. We aim to bring capacity, knowledge, and resources to power innovations, strengthen families, and transform our country’s approach to child welfare and child protection.

Our work spans three pillars:

• Changemakers: We seek out, support and build a network of talent — both in and beyond the child welfare field — with the determination and imagination to drive transformational change.
• Knowledge: Working within and across communities, we actively listen and learn so we can share and scale knowledge – serving as a hub for ideas, relationship-building, technical know-how and alignment of efforts.
• Innovation: Together, we’re generating and amplifying innovative ideas and equitable solutions that center community and cross-sector engagement, advance financial and policy reform, and build continuous learning — advancing well-being for all children and families..

To learn more about Foster America, please visit https://www.foster-america.org/

THE OPPORTUNITY

Foster America seeks a Collaborative Design Specialist to support our next chapter of impact in child welfare sector transformation. Foster America embraces a place-based approach to transformational change, partnering closely with change-ready jurisdictions through multi-year engagements. These begin with a discovery phase to understand the local context and identify opportunities to support community-led, family well-being initiatives. Reporting to the Director of Discovery and Engagement within the program team, the Collaborative Design Specialist will work collaboratively with members of the Foster America team to implement co-design and system-mapping frameworks to build services that increase child and family well-being and decrease community members’ interactions with child welfare services.

Key Responsibilities:

Collaborative Design (30%)

• Design replicable models, as well as custom tools, for capturing cross-sector partnerships in each Discovery site, responsive to each Discovery site’s needs
• Prioritize and build internal facilitation and cross-system collaboration discovery protocols and toolkits that capture partnerships, collaborations, and cross-sector contributions and possibilities
• Partner with Foster America team members and jurisdiction partners to scope discovery sprints and co-design needs of partners
• Lead and organize projects that require team decision making, delegation of tasks, development of tracking and implementation tools
• Facilitate the creation of advisory groups, incorporating individuals with lived experience to ensure our designs reflect real-world insights
• Work with jurisdictions to identify individuals with lived experience who can provide voice and context within jurisdictions to effectively co-design lived experience advisory groups
• Bring knowledge of data-informed practices to assist in the co-design of baseline measures that effectively track the impact of interventions

Jurisdiction Discovery (40%)

• Implement readiness assessment and system-mapping tools with jurisdiction Discovery Sites.
• Lead collaboration and cross-sector analysis throughout the discovery process, building our knowledge of the local context
• Use tools and protocols to engage in qualitative methods and facilitated sessions in sites
• Plan and organize events that require multi-day agendas and engagement of various stakeholders.
• Lead a regular cadence of preparation and planning meetings.
• Utilize tools and resources to track qualitative and quantitative data and effectively utilize this information to define current and future states, generate recommendations and compile a roadmap report

Team Management and Collaboration (20%)

• Participate in region- and organization-wide initiatives and events such as fellow selection, staff learning and development days, and other program events
• Directly contribute expertise and develop capacity of other Discovery team members to ensure we capture sites’ opportunities to collaborate across sectors
• Build capacity of others to engage in stakeholder mapping, analysis of partnerships, and approaches that enhance collaboration, contributing to the development and delivery of learning sessions and training modules
• Engage in self-reflection and/or facilitated learning related to concepts of anti-racism, equity, inclusion, and racial justice
• Center in all decision-making the perspectives of those who would be most impacted, including children and families in the communities we serve
• Meet deadlines for multiple projects within various jurisdictions by effectively utilizing project management and tracking tools, as well as internal partnerships
• Engage in timely and thorough research regarding jurisdictions, including by reviewing materials drafted by other team members and effectively integrating that information into work products
  
  

Knowledge Management (10%)

• Contribute to overall implementation of Foster America’s national impact by capturing and sharing insights on coalitions, collaborations, and changemaking innovations from across the country
• Craft compelling visualizations and narratives that uplift findings from sites
• Adapt findings for sharing across varied audiences, internally and externally
• Analyze, synthesize, and present findings through stakeholder maps, identifying relevant coalitions, power dynamics, and priorities
• Operationalize and prioritize racial equity in Discovery tool development (e.g., disaggregating data by race, engaging perspectives of impacted communities, decentering whiteness in research methods)
• Document methods for future iteration and replication
  

FIRST YEAR SUCCESS IN THIS ROLE

• 8-10 jurisdictions will complete the Discovery Site Process
• 100% of Discovery Processes will be completed with codified Readiness Assessments and System Mapping processes.
• 100% of Discovery Processes will be documented through a "Roadmap Report" that outlines activities undertaken, analysis of findings, and recommended next steps.

START DATE

This role will begin on May 13, 2024.

REPORTING

This role will report to the Director of Discovery and Engagement, and will not have direct reports.

WORK LOCATION

This is a fully remote position. It requires prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer. When public health conditions permit, the role may include up to 40% travel.

Requirements

WHO YOU ARE

• A committed change-maker, working to achieve Foster America’s vision, mission, and values. You are motivated and inspired to build a movement to transform the systems that touch the lives of children and families. You thrive in a start-up, fast-paced environment that values relationships, feedback, continuous learning, and a deep commitment to social justice and racial equity. You can communicate a primary understanding of Child Welfare services, accompanying activities and desired outcomes, and a curiosity and ability to grow in this understanding. You demonstrate a working knowledge across the domains listed below with an expertise in one or more of the following areas:
• Race Equity in Child Welfare
• Co-Design Frameworks
• System Mapping Frameworks
• Child Welfare Fiscal and Data Structures
• A leader for justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion. You use equity-conscious approaches and language, understand the impact of your behaviors, and work to interrupt oppressive structures and power dynamics. You understand subtle and complex diversity and inclusion matters as they relate specifically to groups who are marginalized and understand how identity, power, white conditioning, and privilege impacts your life, others’ lived experience, and our structures and institutions. You are able to effectively interact with and respect diverse personalities, to build strong, positive working relationships across members of the Foster America Team. Ability to seamlessly Incorporate the vision and viewpoints of others and exercise the ability to compromise and be adaptable.
• A great storyteller and skilled communicator, with strong writing, editing, presenting, and facilitating ability. You are an active listener, translating complex topics to varied audiences and situations to have the greatest impact. You are clear, proactive, and consistent in articulating ideas and building a compelling identity for Foster America that others can connect with. You center the voices of those most impacted by our work and advance social and racial justice in what we say and how we say it.
• A highly-collaborative colleague who fosters a sense of trust and community. You communicate with transparency and authenticity, differentiating communication style based on the audience and situation to have the greatest impact. You connect with others and seek input, respecting the expertise of those engaged, and working in iterative loops to build off of that input. You break down silos internally and externally, navigating complex ideas and dynamics to co-create compelling content.

• An innovator, contributing to and helping drive organizational change. You embrace and lead through times of ambiguity, modeling adaptability and a high level of awareness of how change impacts others. You organize the work, lean on context, proactively plan for interdependencies, assess risk, and take into account contingencies to inform decisions. You approach new ideas, changes in work, or challenges with a sense of possibility and solutions-based attitude.

EDUCATION AND WORK EXPERIENCE

This is an extraordinary opportunity for a mature leader with five to seven years of knowledge of race equity in child welfare, co-design frameworks, system mapping frameworks, and child welfare fiscal and data structures. You will ideally have experience in a complex nonprofit that serves multiple programs. Minimum of a BA/BS.

Foster America is an equal opportunity employer that values diversity in backgrounds and professional experience. Frequently cited statistics show that underrepresented groups apply to jobs only if they meet 100% of the qualifications. Foster America encourages you to break that statistic and apply. No one ever meets 100% of the qualifications.

We look forward to reviewing your application.

Benefits

BENEFITS & COMPENSATION

This position offers a competitive salary range of $106,000 to $115,000. Final salaries are determined based on the metrics established to assess candidate criteria throughout the interview process.

Foster America offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, paid vacation, paid parental leave, paid holidays, commuter benefits, participation in a retirement plan, paid sick time, and professional development opportunities. More details can be provided upon request.