Clerk IV; Assistant to Director Rudd Adoption Research Program

Overview

Title: Clerk IV (Assistant to the Director Rudd Adoption Research Program)

Executive Area: Academic Affairs

College/School/MBU: College of Natural Sciences

Department: Psychology and Brain Sci

Work Location: Amherst

Schedule: Part Time

Work Arrangement: Hybrid

The Assistant to the Director is a part-time, temporary benefited position which works directly with the Rudd Director in coordinating the Rudd program, assisting the director with community facing events, communications, and general organizational tasks.

• Works with the director to recruit people with lived experience of adoption and foster care for our consultation groups. This includes advertising opportunities, responding to inquiries, offering advice and information about the role/function of group members, helping people make an informed decision about participating in the group, and considering the need for representation of different groups.
• Responsible for keeping records of group members’ details and managing this data securely. Reviews requirements with group members to ensure they make informed decisions and give consent for any public engagement activities e.g. speaking at events or in videos.
• Serves as the central point of contact/communication for consultancy group members and bridge between the Director and group members.
• Offers individual and group support to consultancy group members to enable their participation in Rudd Program events and consultations, including managing the payment and expense reimbursement of group members and supporting them with the potential emotional impact of the role.
• Organizes and facilitates online consultation events with lived experience and professional groups, alongside the other Rudd program staff.
• Keeps records of consultancy meetings to clearly capture the views, suggestions and experiences of group members. Preparing clear feedback to group members summarizing their suggestions and showing how the Rudd program responds to these.
• Contributes suggestions and ideas about community engagement activities of the program.
• Aids in the organization and running of other Rudd Program community engagement events (including webinars, conferences and training programs), including coordinating input and communication among team members and supporting students who may assist with events.
• Works alongside the director and program manager to help develop and maintain excellent connections with foster care and adoption community organizations regionally and nationally.
• Works with the director and program manager on other practical and organizational matters related to the operation of the Rudd program as needed e.g. liaising with colleagues in finance, purchasing and expenses, making arrangements for refreshments and venues for community events, liaising with academic advisory group, assisting with preparation of reports.
• Serves as back up for program manager as needed.

Work collaboratively and effectively to promote teamwork, equality and inclusiveness.

Work in partnership with colleagues within the CNS community and across the campus to support the Dean’s strategic priorities.

Perform other duties as assigned in support of the mission and goals of the College of Natural Sciences.

• Three (3) years of experience in a support role in the human services field.
• High school diploma.
• Two (2) years or more experience in a community/social care, health or educational setting.
• Excellent interpersonal and relationship building skills.
• Maintain a highly professional and welcoming presence.
• Ability to work with a wide range of people, including marginalized groups.
• Passionate about supporting people with lived experience to contribute to service and program development.
• General understanding of adoption and foster care systems and families.
• Excellent organizational and communication skills, including competence in email and word processing, spreadsheets, file storage systems, and communications software.

• Previous experience of involvement/consultation work with people with lived experience, including group facilitation skills.
• Professional…