KinnectU Director

KinnectU Director / Director of Training

Overview of Kinnect:

Kinnect is an Ohio-based non-profit organization dedicated to developing KinFirst strategies and delivering programs that build and strengthen kinship connections and inclusive support networks for families, young people, and children. With a vision to ensure young people and families have a sense of belonging, the essential resources, and relationships to thrive, Kinnect has been partnering with families, public agencies, and private providers for almost 20 years. Through collaborative efforts, Kinnect aims to improve permanency outcomes, build networks of support, and create innovative strategies that align with a KinFirst culture mindset and approach. Building a KinFirst culture requires equitable investments, training, coaching, policy, practices, and partnerships that prioritize family and kin and support stability, culture, and community. Kinnect is proud to be a nationally recognized leader and pioneer in the field, which led to the development of KinnectU, a training, consulting, and replication branch of Kinnect, to provide these services to all child- and family-serving organizations. Kinnect delivers programs and services across the state of Ohio, and through KinnectU has been providing training and consulting services nationally. Our programs include the Ohio Kinship and Adoption Navigator (OhioKAN), Kinnect to Family (KTF), Youth Centered Permanency Roundtables (YCPRT), and Youth Navigator Network (YNN). Our Search, Explore, Engage, Kinnect (SEEK) training is offered throughout Ohio and other states, and we have a series of trainings as part of our Safe Affirmed Youth (S.A.Y) priorities that include Family Finding strategies for youth who identify as LGBTQ+. Kinnect is grateful to receive support from a variety of sources, including contracts with government entities, partnerships with nonprofits, generous grants, and invaluable donations from foundations and private donors.

Position Summary:

Reporting to the Chief Program Officer, the KinnectU Director focuses on developing and delivering training programs for individuals and groups inside and outside the organization, often to build capacity or address specific needs within a community or sector. This Director may be responsible for developing training materials, finding and using effective training methodologies, and measuring the impact of their programs. They also need strong communication, collaboration, and leadership skills. The KinnectU Director is a key leader responsible for developing, implementing, and overseeing all aspects of staff and volunteer training and development, aligned with the organization's mission and goals. This role will supervise a team of trainers and a trainer/replication manager.

Essential Functions:

• Designs and executes strategic plans for KinnectU, including KPIs to measure effectiveness and innovative adaptions
• Assesses overall KinnectU effectiveness through the lens of quality and trends then develops and executes on opportunities for desirable and feasible adjustments
• Cultivates external partnerships, stakeholders, and professional relationships to support the successful development and delivery of training content and curriculum development
• Ensures fiscal and budget management through oversight of all program related expenses and strives for diversity in funding for the sustainability of the program
• Supports hiring and directly supervises all Knowledge Development staff
• Active participation in Kinnect's organization and leadership team
• Identify new content required to support staff needs and meet external requests
• Participate in state/national groups to ensure innovation in field
• Oversees curriculum development and updates
• Identifies needed platform to support in-person, virtual, and other training offerings
• Develops and manages CQI and evaluation process
• Conduct yearly performance evaluations of all training staff
• Oversee creation of training materials, such as manuals, online tutorials, and handbooks.

Strategic Planning and Program Development:

• Assess training needs across all levels of the organization through surveys, interviews, and consultations.
• Develop and implement training programs that align with the organization's strategic priorities and goals.
• Oversee the creation of training materials, such as manuals, online tutorials, and handbooks.

Program Implementation and Management:

• Oversee the delivery of training programs, ensuring they are carried out effectively and efficiently.
• Coordinate training sessions and workshops.
• Manage and maintain training records and equipment.
• Stay updated on industry trends and incorporate best practices into training initiatives.

Evaluation and Improvement:

• Evaluate the effectiveness of training programs through feedback and performance metrics, and make adjustments as needed.
• Promote a culture of continuous learning and professional development within the organization.

Team Leadership and Collaboration:

• Supervise and support training staff and volunteers.
• Provide guidance and feedback to team members.
• Collaborate with other departments to ensure training initiatives are aligned with the organization's overall objectives.

Financial Management:

• Monitor KinnectU training budgets and manage expenses.
• Collaborate with management teams to determine the training budget and potentially organize fundraising activities to support training programs.

Compliance and Reporting:

• Ensure all programs comply with relevant laws, regulations, and standards.
• Prepare reports on completed training sessions and provide insights to senior management.

Strategic Leadership:

• Exemplifies the mission, vision, and values of Kinnect and the OhioKAN program.
• Sets the tone that inspires a shared sense of purpose among key stakeholders, including, families served, state partners, public and private human service organizations, community leaders, and Kinnect's team members.
• Contributes to the success of the organization's programs as well as the effective and successful leadership of the operations team by actively sharing ideas and information, and contributing personal creativity and critical thinking to the ongoing refinement and success of the organization.
• In collaboration with the Executive Leadership team participate in and support the strategic planning process. This work includes devising strategies, policies, and practices that meet the emerging needs and demands of Kinnect as well as the evaluation and implementation of expansion and growth opportunities.
• In partnership with the Chief Strategy Officer, establish operational plans to support the execution of the strategic plan. Facilitate implementation and monitor progress. Track and resolve issues across departments. Provide regular status reports.

Evaluation and Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI):

• In partnership with the Chief Program Officer, Chief Strategy Officer, and the Executive Leadership team ensures that data is collected, monitored and understands data integrity, program fidelity, and CQI practices.
• Work in partnership with Kinnect's Leadership team to ensure that all Programmatic data is embedded in the overall Organizational Evaluation as it relates to Kinnect's Strategic Plan.
• Makes recommendations for improvement and identifies best practices for ongoing enhancement of organizational practices
• Identifies opportunities to build and change systems to enhance organizational effectiveness. Provides leadership for planning and executing on change initiatives.
• Continuously improve the infrastructure (organization design, workforce alignment/organization structure, operating protocols) to enhance Kinnect's performance.
• Establish protocols for documenting business processes to ensure continuity and knowledge transfer.

Partnering with Sites and Stakeholders:

• Works collaboratively with the Chief Program Officer, Executive Director, Program Directors, and Chief Strategy Officer to achieve all deliverables and requirements for the programs and the organization.
• Is aware of and can inform and advocate for organizational training policy and procedure changes in partnership with internal and external stakeholders as areas of needs are identified.

Kinnect Organizational Responsibilities:

• Active participation with Kinnect's Executive Leadership team and Senior Management team.
• Develop high quality relationships with Kinnect team members to effectively achieve high quality work products.
• Actively participate in organization and team meetings as well as organizational trainings.
• Attend external meetings as requested.
• Work collaboratively across teams and cross-functionally to foster the integration of programs to ensure successful and seamless service delivery for families, young people and children.
• Engage in special projects, as needed.

Leadership Teaming Expectations:

• Works collaboratively with peers to create and sustain goal alignment. Openly shares information; seeks and gives constructive feedback.
• Maintains open communications to ensure inclusion, transparency, and accountability.
• Regularly meets with peers and training team individually and as a group to share updates and offer support.
• Shares resources to help teams accomplish their goals.
• Presents a united voice with peers and demonstrates advocacy for their work.
• Continuously seeks ways to create connectivity and integration across the organization. Leads efforts to actualize opportunities.
• Celebrates peers' successes.

Performance Management:

• Create and maintain operational framework for performance reporting across the organization. Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure operational effectiveness and efficiency.
• Support the Executive Leadership Team in improving, developing, documenting and tracking performance metrics for the organization.

Culture and Talent Management:

• In partnership with peers, build and maintain a high performance, team-oriented culture through effective policies, practices, performance management and support, and implementation of recognition as well as coaching practices that align with professional and organizational goals.
• Lead organization wide activities that support team building and contribute to a culture of partnership, integrity, outcome focused, innovation and IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access)

Minimum Requirements:

• Education: A Bachelor's degree in Education, Business Administration, Human Resource Management, or a related field. Master's degree in Social Work or Public Administration preferred.
• Experience: Proven experience in instructional design, supervisory role with accountability for developing training curriculum, evaluating methodology, and content delivery, and training content development and delivery utilizing multiple techniques and platforms.
• Leadership and Management: Strong leadership skills, the ability to motivate and manage teams, and experience in performance management.
• Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Strategic Thinking: The ability to develop and execute strategic plans.
• Problem-Solving: The ability to analyze problems and recommend solutions.
• Technical Skills: Familiarity with learning management systems and various training techniques.
• Nonprofit Sector Knowledge: Understanding of nonprofit operations, challenges, and relevant laws/regulations.
• Adaptability and Resilience: The ability to navigate challenges and quickly adapt to changes in the nonprofit landscape.
• Integrity and Ethical Conduct: Upholding high ethical standards and fostering a culture of integrity and accountability.

Preferred Skills / Qualifications:

• Strong Communication Skills: Ability to clearly explain training content and interact effectively with diverse audiences.
• Instructional Design Skills: Understanding of adult learning principles and how to design effective training programs.
• Collaboration Skills: Ability to work effectively with diverse teams and stakeholders.
• Leadership Skills: Ability to motivate and lead training sessions and manage training programs.
• Project Management Skills: Ability to manage multiple training projects simultaneously and meet deadlines.
• Problem-Solving Skills: Ability to identify and address challenges that arise during training program development or delivery.

Working Conditions:

• Hybrid, with expectations to work at the Cleveland office or other locations, as requested
• Travel required, as needed. Must have access to own transportation.
• This job requires occasional overnight travel
• Kinnect as an organization has a Hybrid Work Model that combines remote and on-site work at Kinnect, as well as routine on-site or in-person work with team members, partner sites, community events, and direct service in the field.
• This role will utilize standard office equipment that will be provided by Kinnect

Equal Opportunity Employment

Kinnect maintains a policy of nondiscrimination toward all employees and applicants for employment. All aspects of employment with us will be governed on the basis of competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, or gender identity or expression, age, sexual orientation, sexual expression or identity, national origin, physical, intellectual or emotional ability, marital or partnership status, parental or family status, medical or genetic status, veteran's or disabled veteran status, in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. Employment Posters stating current regulatory and legal requirements are posted in Kinnect's main office and on the intranet.

Kinnect maintains a policy of nondiscrimination toward all employees and applicants for employment. All employment decisions at Kinnect are based on organizational needs, job requirements and individual qualifications, and will be governed on the basis of competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, or gender identity or expression, age, sexual orientation, sexual expression or identity, national origin, physical, intellectual or emotional ability, marital or partnership status, parental or family status, medical or genetic status, veteran's or disabled veteran status, in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. Employment Posters stating current regulatory and legal requirements are posted in Kinnect's main office and on the intranet.