Early Intervention Professional Development Specialist

About Us

North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is one of the largest, most complex agencies in the state, and has approximately 17,000 employees. It is responsible for ensuring the health, safety, and well‑being of all North Carolinians, providing human service needs for special populations including individuals who are deaf, blind, developmentally disabled, and mentally ill, and helping poor North Carolinians achieve economic independence.

Dept of Health and Human Services

J. Iverson Riddle Developmental Center

Social Research Specialist I (NS)

NC13

$50,088.00 – $87,654.00

Monday – Friday, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm

The FIPP Early Intervention Professional Development Specialist is responsible for developing resources (implementation tools, courses, and publications) to improve early intervention practitioners’ use of evidence‑based practices. Developing implementation tools includes working with a team of researchers and practitioners to conceptualize, design, and test the efficacy of the resources. Implementation tools and materials can include paper‑based or electronic media such as booklets, guides, infographics, layout projects, web‑based courses, web‑pages, webinars, training videos, etc.

The FIPP Early Intervention Professional Development Specialist is responsible for working in partnership with other members of the research and service delivery team to develop, implement, and evaluate innovative model demonstration projects based on theoretical and conceptual knowledge and research‑based evidence. This position is responsible for coordinating projects including development of goals, activities, timelines, staff assignments and responsibilities, and identification of necessary resources to carry out the projects.

The Professional Development Specialist is responsible for monitoring timelines and data associated with their projects.

The Early Intervention Professional Development Specialist may also conduct trainings and presentations to disseminate resources, provide professional development to assist with practitioner utilization of practices or innovations and conduct presentations and trainings at local or national conferences and/or meetings. The Early Intervention Professional Development Specialist provides technical assistance to professionals and FIPP and in early childhood and family support programs outside of FIPP that are adopting evidence‑based practices related to early childhood education and early childhood special education.

Applicants who possess the following skills are preferred:

• Knowledge and skills in qualitative or quantitative research design, program development, program evaluation, infant and family development, infant and family assessment, infant and family intervention, and/or early intervention.
• Writing grant proposals and manuscripts for publication experience.
• Experience in one or more product development software or platform, such as (but not limited to) Adobe Illustrator or Photoshop, Canva or other digital media authoring software, Articulate Storyline or other course authoring software, Adobe InDesign, website authoring software, learning management systems, Excel Macros, video editing software.

The Family, Infant and Preschool Program (FIPP) is a community‑based component of the J. Iverson Riddle Developmental Center. FIPP is an early childhood intervention and family support program that has been producing research and providing supports and services in western North Carolina since 1972. The overall mission of the program is to (1) promote optimal health and development of young children, especially those with or at risk for disabilities, through supporting and strengthening families in ways that enhance their growth and well‑being;

and (2) promote the dissemination of research, resources and professional development opportunities to improve the delivery of services to families and children.