Professional Development Associate Jobs in Madison, WI

Current Employees: If you are currently employed at any of the Universities of Wisconsin, log in to Workday to apply through the internal application process.
Job Category:
Academic Staff
Employment Type:
Regular
Job Profile:
Outreach Program Associate Director
Job Summary:
The Associate Director works closely with the WCWPDS Director to fulfill the mission of the WCWPDS and provide leadership to the assigned delivery units. Primary position responsibilities include: collaborative development of policy and goals; overseeing the delivery and quality assurance of professional development resources for Wisconsin child welfare professionals; managing personnel related matters; staff supervision and development; assessing training needs; ensuring transfer of learning; and unit/program evaluation. Assists in the development, supervision, and delivery of quality outreach programs with institutional recognition and scope. Maintains strategic partnerships to support growth and execution of programs. Promotes stable and productive relationships between the university and community. Supervises and trains staff. The position will report to the Director of the Wisconsin Child Welfare Professional Development System.
In this role, you can expect to:

• Communicate regularly with county agency administrators and other constituencies regarding professional development and other program needs.
• Direct long-range and short-term planning in response to identified needs and to further the growth of the outreach program.
• Develop organizational and operational policies and procedures and monitors performance to ensure alignment with strategic objectives.
• Prepare and present reports to the WCWPDS Steering Committee on training activities and accomplishments.
• Serve as the representative of the WCWPDS Director, in their absence, in all formal communication to various WCWPDS constituencies as well as a liaison to internal and external stakeholder groups providing organizational information.
• Negotiate and execute contracts with subcontracted trainers and/or facilitators.
• Develop, monitor, and assure the completion of work plan activities related to assigned delivery units.
• Participate in university, partnership, and statewide work teams and committees as appropriate.
• Participate in the development of the WCWPDS annual budget and in ongoing fiscal oversight.
• Participate in the development of the WCWPDS annual report.
• Participate in management and staff meetings. Facilitate staff meetings within the delivery unit.
• Ensure the accurate certification of attendance at trainings and professional development opportunities to assure adequate documentation and record keeping.
• Manage human resources and personnel related matters, including interfacing with the social work department and the College of Letters and Sciences.
• Work with the University purchasing department to facilitate timely procurement of services to assist WCWPDS in meeting annual priorities.
• Other duties as assigned.

Delivery Unit Responsibilities

• Lead the collaborative development of the annual training or special initiative calendar to ensure adequate delivery of professional development resources across Wisconsin.
• Regularly assess the training and/or organizational needs of Wisconsin child welfare professionals.
• Participate in project development, curriculum development and maintenance.
• Collaborate on material preparation.
• Respond to requests for information, training, and assistance.
• Work with partners and trainers in the development of learning objectives and outcomes for requested trainings and special initiatives.
• Monitor the development of project parameters, training sessions and curricula to meet identified competencies and learning objectives and ensure the integration of adult learning techniques.
• Other duties as assigned.

Staff Recruitment, Development, Support and Evaluation

• Identify/acquire and develop personnel and resources to assure adequate WCWPDS staffing to meet the professional development needs of Wisconsin's child welfare workforce.
• Exercises supervisory authority, including hiring, transferring, suspending, promoting, managing conduct and performance, discharging, assigning, rewarding, disciplining, and/or approving hours worked of employees.
• Provide direct supervision to Outreach Specialists, Outreach Program Coordinators, Outreach Program Managers and other WCWPDS staff.
• Oversee Delivery Unit staff evaluation and development and collaborate with other units on evaluation and continuous quality improvement strategies.
• Ensure staff are in compliance with contract requirements.
• Ensure staff have the necessary tools to provide services.
• Provide technical assistance, feedback, and evaluation to staff.
• Other duties as assigned.

Key Job Responsibilities:

• Develops organizational and operational policies and procedures and monitors performance to ensure alignment with strategic objectives

• Directs long-range and short-term strategic plans and initiatives to further the growth of the outreach program

• Assists with developing and monitoring the budget

• Serves as the unit liaison to internal and external stakeholder groups providing organizational information and representing the interests of the unit

• Exercises supervisory authority, including hiring, transferring, suspending, promoting, managing conduct and performance, discharging, assigning, rewarding, disciplining, and/or approving hours worked of at least 2.0 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees

Department:
College of Letters & Sciences, Sandra Rosenbaum School of Social Work - Wisconsin Child Welfare Professional Development System (WCWPDS)
The Wisconsin Child Welfare Professional Development System (WCWPDS) provides a comprehensive, statewide array of professional learning opportunities that supports the enhancement of a competent child welfare workforce and well-prepared caregivers capable of positively impacting safety, permanence and well-being outcomes for children and families in the state of Wisconsin. The WCWPDS collaboratively develops and provides asynchronous, synchronous and blended learning opportunities to county, tribal and state child welfare partners. For more information about the Wisconsin Child Welfare Professional Development System, visit: https://wcwpds.wisc.edu/.
Compensation:
The expected salary range for this position is $100,000 to $135,000 annually for highly experienced candidates. Actual pay within this range will depend on experience and qualifications.
Employees in this position can expect to receive benefits such as generous vacation, holidays, and sick leave; competitive insurances and savings accounts; retirement benefits. Please review the summary of benefits for more information.
Required Qualifications:

• Extensive Public Child Welfare Experience - Minimum of 10 years of experience in public child welfare, including at least 3 years in leadership, administration, management, and staff supervision.
• Child Welfare Expertise - Comprehensive knowledge of Wisconsin child welfare statutes, standards, best practices, safety assessment and intervention models, and familiarity with Federal Title IV-E child welfare training requirements.
• Adult Learning and Training Leadership - Demonstrated success designing and implementing adult learning, workforce development, and staff training strategies, with strong knowledge of adult learning principles and effective group facilitation.
• Leadership and Organizational Effectiveness - Proven ability to work independently, manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, contribute to budget development, and consistently produce high-quality work.
• Communication and Technology Skills - Excellent written, verbal, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills, along with proficiency in Microsoft Office and internet-based applications.
• Travel Requirements - Ability to obtain or possess a valid Wisconsin driver's license and reliable transportation to fulfill required travel responsibilities.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in Wisconsin Child Welfare Services.
• Experience overseeing the development and delivery of resources for child welfare professionals in Wisconsin.
• Experience and/or understanding of challenges faced by county human/social services agencies in providing child welfare services to Wisconsin families.
• Understanding of and/or experience with the Wisconsin Child Welfare Professional Development System and its mission and system structures.

Education:
Master's degree required in the fields of Social Work, Public Administration, Psychology, Counseling, Human Services, Human Ecology, or Education. Social work certification preferred.
How to Apply:
For the best experience completing your application, we recommend using Chrome or Firefox as your web browser.
To apply for this position, select either "I am a current employee" or "I am not a current employee" under Apply Now. You will then be prompted to upload your application materials.
Important: The application has only one attachment field. Upload the following documents in that field, either as a single combined file or as multiple files in the same upload area. All listed application materials must be submitted for your application to be considered. Please submit only the materials specified; additional materials will not be reviewed.
To be considered for this recruitment, you must upload:
-Resume
-Cover Letter
The materials should address your experience relating to the qualifications referenced above. Specifically, applicants should describe why they are interested in this position and how their previous experience makes them qualified.
Please note that successful applicants are responsible for ensuring their eligibility to work in the United States (i.e. a citizen or national of the United States, a lawful permanent resident, a foreign national authorized to work in the United States without need of employer sponsorship) on or before the effective date of appointment.
To ensure consideration: Application must be received by 11:59 p.m. on August 20, 2026
Contact Information:
Darin Smith, Director, WCWPDS, dsmith27@wisc.edu
Relay Access (WTRS): 7-1-1. See RELAY_SERVICE for further information.
Institutional Statement on Diversity:
Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background - people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, including but not limited to, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, or status as a protected veteran and other bases as defined by federal regulations and UW System policies. We promote excellence by acknowledging skills and expertise from all backgrounds and encourage all qualified individuals to apply. For more information regarding applicant and employee rights and to view federal and state required postings, visit the Human Resources Workplace Poster website.
To request a disability or pregnancy-related accommodation for any step in the hiring process (e.g., application, interview, pre-employment testing, etc.), please contact the Divisional Disability Representative (DDR) in the division you are applying to. Please make your request as soon as possible to help the university respond most effectively to you.
Employment may require a criminal background check. It may also require your references to answer questions regarding misconduct, including sexual violence and sexual harassment.
The University of Wisconsin System will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing, except that the identity of the successful candidate will be released. See Wis. Stat. sec. 19.36(7).
The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report contains current campus safety and disciplinary policies, crime statistics for the previous 3 calendar years, and on-campus student housing fire safety policies and fire statistics for the previous 3 calendar years. UW-Madison will provide a paper copy upon request; please contact the University of Wisconsin Police Department.