Through University of Maine Cooperative Extension’s Maine Families Program, the Parent Education Professional delivers the Parent as Teachers™ evidence-based home visiting model to affect real change for families. This model is based on respected research findings with numerous studies demonstrating the following positive outcomes: increased parent knowledge of development, early detection of developmental delays, increased school readiness and prevention of child abuse and neglect as a basis. Parent Education Professionals also build protective factors that serve as buffers to reduce risk to young children, prenatal to age three, and families. These protective factors include parental resilience, knowledge of child development and parenting skills, social connections, and social-emotional competence of children. This model is designed to be delivered in the homes of parents or virtually through Zoom. This position works with families in Cumberland County in the towns of Falmouth, Cumberland, Yarmouth, Freeport, Brunswick, Harpswell, Topsham as assigned. The Parent Education Professional will work remotely and in the field with a homebase in the Knox Lincoln County Extension Office at 377 Manktown Road, Waldoboro. Travel within Cumberland County is required. Typical hiring range for this soft-money funded position is $46,000 - $47,000 commensurate with experience and qualifications.

Complete Job Description

The University of Maine is a community of more than 11,900 undergraduate and graduate students, and 2,500 employees located on the Orono campus, the regional campus in Machias, and throughout the state. UMaine is a land, sea and space grant university, and maintains a leadership role as the University of Maine System's flagship institution. UMaine is the state's public research university and a Carnegie R1 top-tier research institution, dedicated to providing excellent teaching, research and service for Maine, the nation and the world. More information about UMaine is at umaine.edu. 

The University of Maine offers a wide range of benefits for employees including, but not limited to, tuition benefits (employee and dependent), comprehensive insurance coverage including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and short and long term disability as well as retirement plan options. As a former NSF ADVANCE institution, the University of Maine is committed to diversity in our workforce and to dual-career couples.

Required: 

• Bachelor’s degree in child development, early education, social work, or related field and a minimum of one year paid experience working with children birth to age 6. 
• Exemplary communication skills; effectively using oral, auditory, written and electronic methods.
• Demonstrated skills in engaging parents in being their child’s first teacher. 
• Demonstrated skills in establishing rapport and assessing the needs of parents and young children, prenatal to age three. 
• Proven skills in delivering parent education regarding developing positive parenting skills, providing intricate knowledge of child development and strengthening complex parent-child relationships. 
• Demonstrated skills in maintaining confidentiality. 
• Accuracy and completeness in keeping electronic data/records of work with each family to meet the obligations of current grant. 
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple tasks in an autonomous work environment as well work effectively as part of a team, and able to achieve and document measurable results.
• Ability to acquire and maintain yearly renewal of Parents as Teachers & Maine Roads to Quality certificates. 
• Ability to travel with personal vehicle (travel reimbursed at the current grant rate) usually requiring valid driver’s license.
• Demonstrated computer skills including word processing in Microsoft Word and basic e-mail skills. Ability to process personal correspondence.  

Preferred: 

• Experience in referring families by having up-to-date knowledge of other local agencies and organizations serving families. 
• Experience serving families from diverse cultural backgrounds. 
• Participate in County UMaine Extension staff and Extension Association meetings and events as appropriate. 
• Knowledge of University of Maine Cooperative Extension and its educational programs.
• Proficiency with computer programs such as Microsoft Excel, Word and PowerPoint, as well as Google Drive and document management software. 
• Experience working with diverse audiences; knowledge of diversity, equity and inclusion; and understanding of equal opportunity, affirmative action and civil rights policies. 

Materials must be submitted via "Apply For Position" below. You will need to create a profile and application; upload:

1.) a cover letter which describes your experience, interests, and suitability for the position
2.) a resume/curriculum vitae
3.) contact information for three professional references

You will also need to submit the affirmative action survey, the self-identification of disability form, and the self-identification of veteran status forms. Incomplete application materials cannot be considered. Materials received after the initial review date will be reviewed at the discretion of the University.

Search Timeline is as follows: Updated May 16, 2023
Review of applications to begin: June 21, 2023
Screening interviews to begin no earlier than: June 22, 2023
On-site interviews to begin no earlier than: July 10, 2023
Tentative start date: August 1, 2023

For questions about the search, please contact search committee chair: Jennifer Doherty (jennifer.d.doherty@maine.edu).

Appropriate background checks are required.

In complying with the letter and spirit of applicable laws and pursuing its own goals of diversity, the University of Maine System does not discriminate on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, transgender status, gender, gender identity or expression, ethnicity, national origin, citizenship status, familial status, ancestry, age, disability physical or mental, genetic information, or veterans or military status in employment, education, and all other programs and activities. The University provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding nondiscrimination policies: Director of Equal Opportunity, 5748 Boudreau Hall, Room 101, Orono, ME 04469-5754, 207-581-1226, TTY 711 (Maine Relay System).