Description

Position Information

Posting Detail Information

Working Position Title
Associate Director of NIU Child Protection Training Academy (CPTA) (1285)

Classification
Program Coordinator - CUSTOM CLASSIFICATION

Position Number
00001285

Open Date
09/30/2025

Close Date
10/15/2025

Priority Review Date

Employee Class
Staff

Full-Time/Part Time
Full-Time

FTE
1.0

Position Status
Regular

FLSA
Exempt

Job code
5002

Union Representation
Union

Union Code
AFC - AFSCME C, Local #1890

Unit/Department
Family & Consumer Sciences

College/Unit
College-Hlth & Human Sci Dean

Division
Academic Division

Location
WZ 118

Link to Department Website or Custom Search Page
https://www.chhs.niu.edu/facs/index.shtml

Position Summary, Requirements, and Qualifications

Position Summary, Requirements, and Qualifications

Overview

The position is housed in the area of Human Development and Family Sciences in the School of Family and Consumer Sciences. The School has 14 full-time faculty members and three supportive professional staff and offers two undergraduate degrees and one Master's degree ( https://www.chhs.niu.edu/facs/index.shtml ) with specializations in Marriage and Family Therapy and Leadership in Aging Studies.The School also houses a Couple and Family Therapy Clinic and a Child Development and Family Center. Northern Illinois University is a Doctoral/Research extensive university with a diverse student body of over 17,000, located 65 miles west of Chicago.

Position Summary

The Associate Director of NIU CPTA is responsible for providing coaching, support and training before and during the simulation experience to child welfare staff, inclusive of new and veteran investigators, placement workers, and intact workers. This will include facilitating debriefing for simulations, as well as providing and orientation to roles. Will serve as coordinator of all scheduled simulation activities and oversee activities of simulation facilitators (x2). Assist simulation director as necessary.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Lead Trainer for Child Protection Training Academy ( CPTA )

Provide coaching, support, and debriefs with learning participants during residential, mock medical/multi-purpose lab, and courtroom simulations, such as:

• Modeling examples of strengths-based feedback
• Ensuring learning participants' skills are reflected on in a safe learning environment
• Reviewing learning participants' concerns and discussing organic questions in the moment
• Ensure learning participants utilize and adhere to rules and procedures
• Modeling examples of suggested phrases to complete investigative or case work process
• Modeling examples of how to address safety concerns and how to mitigate
• Provide coaching and support to trainers and actors as needed during simulation week.

Provide training for trainers in areas of need:

• Training of the Trainers, Onboarding and Delivery of Foundations material
• Classroom Management and Skills Building
• Specific investigative, intact and permanency foundational topics
• Support trainers in the classroom as needed, modeling classroom management and delivery of content.

Coordination of simulation activities

• Provide training to support the preparation of DCFS Investigators and DCFS and private sector Intact and Permanency staff in the classroom for the simulation education experience and work collaboratively with DCFS and University Foundations training facilitators to synthesize information learned in classroom as into skill based experiential learning.
• Assist the Director of NIU CPTA with day-to-day programmatic operations during times of vacation or absence.

Evaluation of Curricula and Content

• Research, review, and report on latest laws, procedure changes, professional information, and literature as it applies to curriculum needs.
• Assist in development and design of new curricula needs and integrating supporting research into content, training manuals, handouts, PowerPoints, etc.
• Assist the NISTC Simulation Logistics Coordinator, NISTC Simulation Facilitators, OLPD and other university partners to develop new character profiles for new simulation trainings.

Miscellaneous responsibilities

• Prepare/stage residential labs, mock court room, and mock medical/multi-purpose lab for simulations; organizes and collaborates with Logistics Coordinator and Director to ensure actors are in place and learning participants complete all simulation experience tasks.
• Work collaboratively with university partners, DCFS , and stakeholders in providing input as it pertains to the relevance and mission of the NIU CPTA and the Department's ongoing use of simulations.
• Endorse and educate the community and outside interests on the mission and goals of the workforce development partnership with DCFS and the mission of the University.
• Attend other DCFS trainings as identified by the Office for Learning and Professional Development.
• Teach child welfare foundations related course(s) in Human Development and Family Sciences.
• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Required Qualifications (Civil Service)

Note: Please see required Specialty Factors in the Specialty Factors (Civil Service) field below.

1. Bachelor's degree.
2. A total of one (1) year (12 months) in education, training and/or work experience in the area of specialization inherent to the position. (Note: Master's Degree in an area consistent with the duties of the position may be substituted for one (1) year of work experience.)
3. Based on position requirements, additional education, training, and/or work experience in the area of specialization inherent to the position, may be required.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) (Civil Service)

1. Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
2. Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
3. Skill in analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
4. Skill in scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
5. Skill in oral and written communication.
6. Ability to adjust actions in relation to others' actions.
7. Ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
8. Ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
9. Ability to develop specific goals, plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish tasks.
10. Ability to work effectively with staff, the public, and outside constituency groups.
11. Ability to effectively plan, delegate, and supervise the work of others.
12. Ability to utilize various computer software packages, such as Accounting Software, query, etc.
13. Ability to work independently and exercise judgment in order to be able to analyze and investigate a variety of questions or problems.
14. Ability to analyze and develop guidelines, procedures, and systems.

Specialty Factors (Civil Service)

1. Masters Degree in social work or related field
2. Two (2) years of university teaching experience, or previous trainer/facilitation experience
3. Four (4) or more years combined Illinois direct service experience in child protection investigations and/or child welfare.

Preferred Qualifications (Civil Service)

1. Cultural and linguistic competence

Minimum Required Qualifications (SPS)

N/A

Additional Requirements (SPS)

N/A

Preferred Qualifications (SPS)

N/A

Physical demands/requirements

1. Regular office related duties
2. Sitting for extended periods of time
3. Using computer/electronic equipment for extended periods of time
4. Occasional lifting and moving items weighing up to 25 lbs.

Appointment and Compensation Details

Appointment and Compensation Details

Anticipated Appointment Start Date
November 1, 2025

Anticipated Appointment End Date

Percent of Staff Year
1.00

Standard Hours Per Week
37.50

Working Hours
Monday-Friday, 8 am-4:30 pm, one-hour lunch

Salary
$62,000.16 - $82,239.12/Annually; NIU offers a robust benefits package.

Hourly or Semi-monthly Pay Rate/Range
$2,583.34 - $3,426.63/Semi-monthly

Earn Type
Salary

Application Procedure

Application Procedure

Application Procedure

Application Procedures:

1. Fully complete the Education and Work History sections of the application. Be specific on your entire work history, including employment dates and duties for all positions held. Applicable part-time work experience will be considered toward qualifying for this position; however, it will be converted to a full-time equivalency to determine combined length of experience. Important: Please upload any unofficial transcript(s) and/or documentation that verifies any education, experience, and/or training you have received.
   • If eligible for Veteran's Preference Points, DD214/DD215/NGB22/DD256 paperwork reflecting an Honorable Discharge MUST be uploaded to this application to receive the maximum eligible points on the Civil Service examination.
2. After the posting has closed, your submission will be reviewed to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications for the classification, including any specialty factors associated with this position. If you meet the minimum required qualifications for this position, you will receive a score based on your education and experience, and your name will be placed on the active employment register.
3. Please monitor your e-mail for further information regarding your application. Emails will be generated from jobs@niu.edu and CivilServiceTesting@niu.edu . Please add these emails to your address book to ensure timely delivery of any future communication.
4. Illinois residency required within 180 days of the hire date.

Credentials Assessment Examination:

• The examination for this position is a Credentials Assessment and is based on your application materials as submitted for this posting. A Credential Assessment is a rating by the Human Resources Office of an applicant's/employee's education, experience, and special credentials/qualifications (licenses, etc.). Applicants are required to upload documentation to verify the minimum qualifications for this position has been met.
• Required documentation noted in the posting, such as a driver's license, licensures, or certifications MUST be uploaded with your application materials.
• After assessment of all qualified applicants has been completed for this position, the names with the top three (3) scores will be referred to the hiring department for interview.

Additional Details:

• Click on Program Coordinator for more information including salary ranges, typical duties, minimum acceptable qualifications, and testing requirements.
• Please click on Human Resource Services - Benefits for detailed information about Northern Illinois University's benefits package.
• Employment is contingent upon your passing a criminal background investigation. You may not begin work until the criminal background investigation results have been received and cleared by Human Resources.

Special Instructions

Quick Link to Applicant
https://employment.niu.edu/postings/87027

Is Background Check Required?
Yes

EEO Statement Summary

In accordance with applicable statutes and regulations, NIU is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, religion, age, disability (physical and mental), marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender (identity and expression), political affiliation, or any other factor unrelated to professional qualifications, and will comply with all applicable federal and state statutes, regulations and orders pertaining to nondiscrimination, equal opportunity and affirmative action.

The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies:

Ethics and Compliance Officer, Title IX Coordinator
Health Services Building Room 230
TitleIXCoordinator@niu.edu
815-753-5560

Visa Policy

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification document form upon hire.

ADA Accommodation

NIU remains committed to ensuring that its recruitment and application procedures include full opportunities for applicants with disabilities. Employment opportunities will not be denied to anyone because of the need to make accommodations for a person's disability during either the application or interview process. An applicant who believes they require an accommodation to participate in the employment process due to a disability may request that accommodation through the Accommodation Request Form . For further assistance, please contact the office of Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity ( AAEO ) at ada@niu.edu .

Safety Information

NIU provides annual reports on campus security and fire safety.
Read the Annual Security and Fire Safety Report .
Contact the Ethics and Compliance Office at 815-753-9364 for a hard copy.

Applicant Documents

Required Documents

1. Resume/Curriculum Vitae
2. Cover Letter
3. Transcripts (unofficial with official required at hire)
4. List of at least 3 Professional References

Optional Documents

1. Military Discharge Documents ONLY (DD214/DD215/NGB22/DD256)
2. Other

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

1. * What is the highest level of education attained?
   • GED
   • High School Diploma
   • Associates Degree
   • Bachelors Degree
   • Masters Degree
   • PHD
2. * Have you attached all transcripts to support the degrees you are submitting for consideration?
   • Yes
   • No
3. * How many years of experience do you have in this type of position?
   • 0-1
   • 1-3
   • 3-5
   • 5-7
   • 7+
4. * Please provide the name of the employer and the dates of employment where you gained this experience. Please note that this information must be verified on an NIU application and/or résumé. ("See Résumé" is not an acceptable response.)
   (Open Ended Question)
5. * If applicable, have you attached a copy of your DD214, DD215, NGB22, or DD256 for consideration of Veterans Preference Points? The copy submitted should reflect the status of discharge in order to be considered.
   • Yes
   • No
   • Not Applicable