Child Welfare and Adoption SpecialistJob no: 504186
Work type: Regular Full-Time
Location: Chicago - 300 E Randolph St, Remote
Capability Area: Economics, Justice and Society
JOB SUMMARY:
NORC is currently seeking a full-time Child Welfare and Adoption Specialist to join our child, youth, and family portfolio. This staff member will contribute to a child welfare project by (1) supporting states as they use technology to improve adoption processes; and (2) supporting the NORC research team in building evidence for the broader adoption and child welfare field. Travel (multiple trips per year) throughout the Central US will be required.
Location: This is a Hybrid role based in either our Chicago Loop or Washington, DC office, with a minimum of six days per month in the office. We are also open to applicants working remotely.
Qualified applicants must be eligible to work in the U.S. We regret that we are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this position now or in the future.
DEPARTMENT:
Economics, Justice & Society DepartmentRESPONSIBILITIES:
- Coach and support state agency caseworkers and supervisors on the improvement of adoption processes and the use of adoption recruitment and matching technology.
- Develop and deliver project-specific, standards, and related practices training to states participating in improvement processes for adoption practice.
- Provide ongoing individualized and group-based technical assistance, logistics support, and monitoring of state implementation, assessment, and improvement activities and progress.
- Serve as liaison and subject matter expert to state agencies, facilitating communication and delivering technical expertise.
- Support integration guidance, data collection, analysis, reporting, and evaluation of each pilot-site's performance on outcomes.
- Contribute to research and evidence creation on the implications of implementation of technology enhancements in state child welfare agency adoption practices.
- Consistently develop, update, and deliver tailored trainings, instruments, resources, reports, summaries, presentations and documentation of best practices regarding state performance and assessment findings.
- Travel for onsite activities, including trainings, stakeholder interviews, and technical assistance (TA) and monitoring.
- Manage and develop interactive TA tracking systems and dashboards as necessary.
- Contribute to business development activities, including generating ideas and responding to requests for proposals (RFPs).
REQUIRED SKILLS:
- Minimum of a bachelor's degree with 5+ years of relevant experience or master's degree with 3+ years of experience.
- Significant experience working directly for, or closely with, a state child welfare agency preferably in an adoption unit or job closely related to adoption processes.
- Knowledge and professional experience in child welfare with a focus on adoption, with expertise in child welfare policy and practice at the local, state, or federal level.
- Experience with child welfare data and data systems, data analysis, and interpretation of qualitative and quantitative data.
- Experience supporting technology implementation or practice change within a human services or child welfare setting (e.g., coaching, training, change management).
- Project management experience.
- Experience developing training materials and delivering training.
- Strong, effective written communication skills.
- Excellent oral communication skills.
- Ability to work effectively as an individual as well as part of a team.
- Strong organizational skills and high level of attention to detail; flexibility to manage multiple priorities, sometimes simultaneously, under deadlines.
- Commitment to confidentiality.
- Available for travel (multiple trips per year) throughout the Central US for several days at a time.
- Qualified applicants must be eligible to work in the U.S. We regret that we are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this position now or in the future.
SALARY AND BENEFITS:
The pay range for this position is $85,000 to $100,000.
This position is classified as regular. Regular staff are eligible for NORC's comprehensive benefits program. Benefits include, but are not limited to:
- Generously subsidized health insurance, effective on the first day of employment
- Dental and vision insurance
- A defined contribution retirement program, along with a separate voluntary 403(b) retirement program
- Group life insurance, long-term and short-term disability insurance
- Benefits that promote work/life balance, including generous paid time off, holidays; paid parental leave, bereavement leave, tuition assistance, and an Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
NORC is committed to equity and transparency in its pay practices. We publish salary ranges and benefit information for every job. The listed hiring range reflects what we, in good faith, expect to pay at the time of posting, though actual compensation may vary and may be adjusted over time. A candidate's placement within the range depends on factors such as competencies, education, qualifications, experience, skills, performance, and organizational needs.
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Advertised: November 10, 2026 Central Standard Time
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