Director of Data-Informed Practice

Director of Data-Informed Practice

Remote | $95,000-$120,000 | Contingent upon final funding approval

Join a team that makes a difference in the lives of children and teens in the US foster care system!

The National Adoption Association (NAA) is seeking a Director of Data-Informed Practice to lead an anticipated area of national child welfare work focused on helping agencies turn data and evidence into practical improvements. This is a hands‑on Director I role for an experienced child welfare leader who can guide strategy, facilitate virtual technical assistance, strengthen workforce practice, supervise a Data‑Informed Practice Advisor, and keep complex work moving from planning through implementation.

Reporting to the Chief Program Officer, the Director will work directly with participating child welfare agencies on improvements related to foster and kinship family recruitment, licensing, training, support, retention, placement, and matching. The Director will also coordinate workplans, deliverables, budgets, reporting, and relationships with the stakeholders supporting the work.

About NAA

The National Adoption Association (NAA) is the national leader in advancing best practices in adoption from foster care. We work to strengthen practice, remove barriers, and support the professionals, families, and systems serving children and youth who wait for permanency. This role will help NAA expand its capacity to support data‑informed practice and sustainable implementation in child welfare systems.

What You'll Lead

• Hands‑on virtual technical assistance, learning sessions, implementation planning, touchpoints, and follow‑up with participating sites
• Workforce development for managers, supervisors, and staff across the foster family lifecycle
• Translation of research and data into practical strategies, tools, workflows, policies, and program improvements
• Readiness assessment, process mapping, implementation support, and continuous improvement
• Supervision and coaching of a Data‑Informed Practice Advisor
• Project workplans, budgets, deliverables, documentation, quality, and reporting
• Coordination with participating agencies, external stakeholders, NAA leaders, and internal subject‑matter experts
• The translation of complex gold standard research evidence into practical application for middle managers of child welfare systems.
• The ability to generate and report on new research evidence from constituents who are affected by the child welfare system
• Collaboration with existing NAA staff so family and community perspectives inform implementation and learning

This role is well suited for a leader who enjoys both strategy and direct practice: someone who can see the larger system, facilitate meaningful conversations, help teams make sense of evidence, and stay close enough to the work to help implementation succeed.

What You'll Bring

• Master's degree in social work, public administration, public policy, nonprofit management, organizational development, child welfare, or a closely related field; an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience may be considered
• At least 8 years of progressively responsible experience in public or private child welfare, including experience related to foster and kinship family recruitment, licensing, training, support, retention, placement, or matching
• At least 3 years of experience leading programs, systems‑change initiatives, or technical assistance and coordinating work across multiple partners or jurisdictions
• Experience supervising professional staff and managing project workplans, budgets, deliverables, performance expectations, and partner relationships
• Demonstrated experience translating research, data, and analytic findings into practical program, workflow, policy, or practice improvements; advanced statistical analysis is not required
• Experience designing and facilitating virtual technical assistance, workforce development, adult learning, or structured improvement processes with varied audiences
• Experience with federal grants or cooperative agreements and national child welfare initiatives is preferred

Why Join NAA

At NAA, your work will directly support a mission that changes lives. You will join a dedicated team committed to improving outcomes for children, youth, and families. In addition to a meaningful role and competitive salary, NAA offers a generous benefits package that includes a gold health plan, dental and vision insurance that is 100% employer-paid for employees, employer retirement contributions, and professional development opportunities.

Additional Information

This is a remote position with occasional evening or weekend work and periodic travel, expected approximately two times per year, for organizational and partner meetings. Employment is contingent upon successful completion of required background checks. NAA is recruiting in anticipation of final funding approval; the position, any offer of employment, and the anticipated start date are contingent upon final funding approval and organizational needs.