Position Profile: UPDATED

Early Childhood Programs Manager

Chatham County Partnership for Children

www.ChathamKids.org

Pittsboro, NC

THE ORGANIZATION

The Chatham County Partnership for Children, established in 1994 as a partner in the Smart Start network, is a group of citizens, parents, teachers, and human service providers who are dedicated to improving lives of the county’s young children. The Partnership promotes opportunities for all our young children to grow up safe, healthy, and able to succeed. In collaboration with our community partners, we plan, fund, and implement quality care and education, health, and family support initiatives.

In 2016, Child Care Networks, Inc. merged with Chatham County Partnership for Children. We are now home to Smart Start, Child Care Resource & Referral, NC Pre-K, the Child and Adult Care Food Program, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, Kaleidoscope Play and Learn, and Raising a Reader. The Partnership oversees Smart Start in Chatham County, providing funding for programs that serve over 50 child care sites and 1500 children annually. We offer Child Care Search services for parents and funding for Child Care Resource & Referral Services in the 5-county region that includes Chatham, Lee, Harnett, Johnston, and Wayne counties. Our Child Care Food Program delivers technical assistance and financial support for improved nutrition in child care centers and family child care homes across 12 counties surrounding Chatham.

With nearly $4million in revenue, the Partnership staff, board of directors, and partners work together to promote opportunities for all our young children to grow up safe, healthy, and able to succeed.

THE CANDIDATE

The Early Childhood Programs Manager (“the Manager”) should be an experienced professional with strong leadership skills, who will work closely with the Program Director and as a representative of the organization in the community. The Manager will act with integrity, communicate openly and clearly, and convey their passion for the mission throughout their work. As a key individual in the organization, the Manager will sustain and enhance the work of the partnership in the community, while maintaining a team focus and embracing the values of the Smart Start network.

The leading vision for Chatham County Partnership for Children comes from and flows through the Smart Start network. As part of the recent Strengthening the Network Project, six Simple Rules—basic principles and understandings to which we all agree—were developed to illustrate how we work and interact with each other. These rules are:

  • Foster a culture of leadership and growth.
  • Stay mission focused.
  • Always assume positive intent.
  • Acknowledge the collective power of our network.
  • Embrace our diversity as a strength.
  • Create space for courageous conversations.

To be successful in this role, the qualities of the Manager include being

  • Perceived as a visionary leader who “sees the big picture” and inspires others toward the mission.
  • Results-oriented with a multi-task aptitude suited for working under deadline pressure.
  • Relates well with others and promotes a positive demeanor.
  • Exhibits cultural competence working with diverse teams.
  • Demonstrates sound judgment.
  • Problem-solver; creative and forward thinking.
  • Self-motivated with demonstrated high maturity level.

THE POSITION

The Early Childhood Programs Manager will provide oversight and direct support/coordination of Program Services to ensure compliance with Smart Start expectations and provide program monitoring to ensure that the NC Pre-K program is fully implemented in Chatham County. This will include on-site technical assistance in all approved and potential NC Pre-K classrooms as well as coordination with state and local agencies associated with the program. The Manager serves as primary Program Contact and liaison with DCDEE for the NC Pre-K program in Chatham County. The Manager will serve as lead staff to the Planning and Evaluation Committee and will also serve as liaison to the Smart Start Program Officer of the NC Partnership for Children for Smart Start reporting, planning, and contracting. The Manager will have lead responsibility for contracting and contract monitoring, including both the programmatic and fiscal monitoring annual site visits.

Essential Responsibilities

The duties of the Early Childhood Programs Manager include but are not limited to:

  • Coordinates Smart Start Direct Service Provider Technical Assistance (DSP-TA) conferences (bi-annually) and other program support and TA as needed to ensure all program staff and DSP staff are informed and up to date on Smart Start.
  • Supervises two NCPK Coordinators, one Family Literacy Coordinator, one part-time Family Support Specialist, and indirectly supervising one part-time bilingual Program Assistant.
  • Serve as the leadership staff to the NC Pre-K Advisory Committee and the Smart Start Planning & Evaluation Committee, including invitations, logistics, agenda packet development, meals and child care (if needed), and ensuring recording minutes. May also serve on or coordinate other program related committees as assigned
  • Responsible for recruiting and verifying qualified sites throughout Chatham County to serve eligible children in high quality NC Pre-K classrooms as directed by the Site Selection Committee; includes organizing, coordinating, and attending the Site Selection Committee meetings.
  • Provide regular reports to the Executive Director and the NC Pre-K Advisory committee regarding the status of program development compliance and curriculum implementation.
  • Represent Smart Start and the NC Pre-K Program to the greater Chatham County community.
  • Serves on the Chatham County Local Interagency Coordinating Council and Subsidy Planning Committee.
  • Coordinates contract development and processing of all NCPK and Smart Start service contracts for programs and activities funded by the Partnership. Notifies the Executive Director of delinquent contracts, reports, or other response items.
  • Coordinates with ED and other staff to provide contract management of Smart Start and NC Pre-K. Responsible for receiving report items due from service providers, including program and fiscal reports. Reviews program reports and financial status reports for accuracy & completeness and submits them for further processing as required. Also responsible for receiving and reviewing contract amendments and budget revisions and other contract items; submitting them for further review and approval as necessary. Includes immediately notifying contractor of late reports, missing items and assisting ED and Finance Coordinator with all communications with service contractors.
  • Leads the Technical Assistance Collaborative to foster relationships and enhance coordination among all providers of TA in child care (CCHC, CCBC, QI/QM, Environmental Health, Licensing, etc.) and to coordinate child care outreach activities with other staff and other local or state agencies that also visit child care programs.
  • Organize and maintain children’s files with documentation of eligibility and files for teaching staff documenting their professional credentials and qualifications as required in the NC Pre-K Guidelines.
  • Ensure completion of the annual NC Pre-K Site Monitoring process as required by NC Pre-K Guidelines.
  • Responsible for entering the Smart Start quarterly reporting of program counts data , biannual outcomes results, and cash & in-kind match to the North Carolina Partnership for Children (NCPC).
  • Responsible for managing the on-line NC Pre-K Plan: entering all required data; slot allocations and changes to the slot allocations or other plan items as needed.
  • Manage the NC Pre-K Kids On-line Reporting system including all data entry concerning sites and children and submission of monthly attendance reports, including support to sites as needed.
  • Attend all required meetings and webinars for NCPK called by DCDEE including coordinating communication between DCDEE, the Partnership for Children, and the NC Pre-K sites.
  • Oversees child eligibility process based on the criteria established by DCDEE, including support of recruitment of eligible children.
  • Ensures teaching staff with licenses in process maintain compliance with DCDEE Early Educator Support & Licensure, as required.
  • Ensures adequate support and technical assistance is provided to all NC Pre-K sites for maintaining compliance with NC Pre-K Program Regulations and Guidelines.
  • Assist with special projects and events as needed or requested.
  • Perform other duties as assigned or requested.

Qualifications/Requirements

  • Bachelor’s degree, Master’s preferred, in Early Childhood Education or related field AND a minimum of three years of early childhood classroom teaching experience OR related experience in early childhood development, education, or social services fields.
    • Either holds level 11 Early Childhood Education Technical Assistance Endorsement or is eligible for the endorsement.
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including public speaking experience.
  • Knowledge/understanding of Smart Start, NC Pre-K, Head Start, NC Child Care Rules and related programs, and fiscal experience preferred but not required.
  • Strong administrative capabilities, including computer database management, experience in community collaboration, training and marketing skills, leadership/coaching skills, strong initiative, ability to work independently with minimal supervision, analysis and input of data, conflict resolution, and problem-solving abilities.
  • Ability to collaborate and work effectively with people of diverse cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds.

Recruitment and Selection Guidelines

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

  • Bi-lingual preferred but not required; specifically, ability to speak Spanish and English fluently.
  • Working knowledge of issues related to child development, family literacy, and early literacy skills.
  • Demonstrated knowledge and skill in fostering leadership among child care providers and teachers as well as other community partners.
  • Working knowledge of strategic planning, program design and evaluation. Demonstrated skills in conducting training.
  • Demonstrated skills in teamwork, collaboration and facilitation of groups. Demonstrated knowledge and skill in the use of computers.
  • Ability to analyze, to determine appropriate options, and arrive at effective problem resolution.
  • Ability to provide effective leadership to advisory groups in problem identification and strategy development.
  • Ability to organize and manage multiple projects and assignments.
  • Ability to be self-motivated and creative.
  • Ability to plan and organize work group/committee meetings and trainings, including communication and marketing to potential participants, logistics and operation.
  • Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with child care providers and teachers, community medical, health, social, etc. agencies and systems, school officials, law enforcement agencies, businesses, faith communities, families, peers, supervisors, and Board members.
  • Ability to communicate effectively in oral and written forms, and to make presentations.

Physical Requirements

While performing this job, the employee:

  • Must be able to perform the basic life operational skills of climbing, stooping, crouching, reaching, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting, fingering, grasping, talking, hearing and repetitive motions.
  • Must be able to perform light work; exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to move objects.
  • Must possess the visual acuity to prepare and analyze data and figures, to operate a computer terminal and to read extensively.

The target hiring salary for this position is $48,000. The Partnership offers a robust benefits program, including the potential for a salary increase after the initial 6-month probationary period.

TO APPLY

Please send cover letter, resume, and contact information for three to five references (at least 1 personal, 1 supervisor or Board member, and 1 direct report): ChathamKidsManager@CapabilityCompany.com

Applications will be reviewed and processed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.