PACER Careers

Brief Description

The Director of Parent Training & Advocacy is a member of PACER’s Senior Leadership Team and leads the staff, strategy, and operations for the department. This team helps light the path for families of children with disabilities to navigate through complex systems to get their children what they need to thrive. They do that by providing training, information, individual assistance, and advocacy.

Key Responsibilities:

• Leadership & Program Management:

  • Oversee the development and implementation of training programs and informational resources for families of children with disabilities in areas such as special education, healthcare information, alternative dispute resolution, mental health and services related to transition into adulthood
  • Oversee the delivery of individual assistance to families of children with disabilities
  • Stay informed about special education law and other disability services, trends, and best practices
  • Ensure the department’s activities align with PACER’s mission and requirements of grantors, including federal and state government and private organizations
  • Ensure there are activities developed and implemented to reach underserved and underrepresented families of children with disabilities
  • Collaborate with other PACER departments to maximize impact of PACER activities

• Financial & Administrative Oversight:

  • Manage the PTA department's budget, track expenditures, and handle grant management
  • Develop quarterly reports and analyses on activities and outcomes.
  • Prepare grant reports for federal and state parent training and information center (PTI) grants
  • Lead the creation of grant applications for PTI grants
  • Oversee the creation of other government grant applications
  • Collaborate with the Development team to support applications for grants from corporations and private foundations

• Staff & Resource Management:

  • Supervise two managers
  • Ensure consistent, accurate, and high-quality delivery of services across entire PTA team by overseeing hiring and onboarding processes, training and team coordination
  • Lead process improvement efforts across the PTA program and develop best practices that apply across all of the PTA teams
  • Provide professional development for department staff and volunteers
  • Foster a collaborative and respectful work environment

• Outreach, Marketing and Development:

  • Coordinate with Marketing & Communications Department to develop and execute marketing and community outreach plans to reach families in need of services
  • Represent PACER at committee meetings, conferences, and community events
  • Collaborate with the Development team to identify funding needs and support proposals to donors

• Other responsibilities as assigned

Required Qualifications:

• Demonstrated leadership and management skills
• Experience with change management and problem solving
• Experience overseeing a department or organization budget
• Ability to make data-driven decisions
• Proven self-starter with ability to work with others
• Ability to work with diverse families
• Ability to travel on occasion
• Excellent organizational skills, accuracy and attention to detail
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Proficient with Microsoft Office suite

Preferred Qualifications:

• Knowledge of the special education system and federal, state laws
• Experience in working with families of children with disabilities

Physical Requirements

• Prolonged periods working on a computer

Additional Information

• Parents of children and young adults with disabilities, as well as individuals with disabilities, are encouraged to apply.
• PACER staff are currently working in a hybrid model (remote and in-office).
• Salary will be based on experience and qualifications.

To apply, send resume and cover letter via

• Email: [email protected], or
• Mail:
  
  Recruitment Director
  PACER Center
  8161 Normandale Blvd
  Minneapolis, MN 55437