The Early Childhood Program Specialist is the on-the-ground Save the Children staff member who assists Save the Children and school district staff in implementing the Early Steps to School Success™ Program. Early Steps is a prenatal to age five early childhood program that provides education and family support through home visits for families with infants and toddlers, group meetings, home/school connections, a book exchange, transition-to-school activities, community collaborations and intensive staff training and support. Under the supervision of the State Director/Deputy Program Director and working as a member of the state team in collaboration with the national Early Childhood Management team, the Early Childhood Program Specialist provides field-based leadership and support for Early Steps staff connected to participating school sites, and supports Early Steps program implementation, monitoring, and evaluation at assigned partner sites.
- Coordinate with the State Director/Deputy Director and the Early Childhood Management team to lead new site start-up and ongoing management of Early Steps to School Success™ programs connected to assigned school sites implementing this prenatal to kindergarten intergenerational model.
- Coordinate with the Early Childhood Management team to ensure fidelity in the implementation of the Early Steps to School Success™, providing orientation, training, technical assistance and coaching consistent with the model.
- Visit each participating site on a regular basis (four to six hours per month), to support Early Childhood Coordinators as they implement Early Steps to School Success™. This involves providing training, coaching, reflective supervision and technical assistance to the Early Childhood Coordinators on early development, supporting responsive parent-child relationships and parenting education. It also includes building a professional learning community among Early Childhood Coordinators.
- Assist Early Childhood Coordinators to collect and report data required for progress monitoring and project evaluation, and oversee the quality of data collection.
- Provide consultation to school leaders to assist with supervising of Early Childhood Coordinators and to support the implementation and monitoring of the Early Steps program.
- Assist the Early Childhood Management team in designing and delivering pertinent, timely professional development and support to ensure fidelity of program implementation; including timely, accurate data collection, responsive communication, and other needs that arise during Early Steps implementation.
- Lead partner management activities related to Early Steps, including but not limited to annual partner planning, sub-award budget and spending, grant budgets and reports, annual district/site stakeholder meetings, partnership performance management, sponsorship, and emergency/disaster communication and reporting.
- Identify and consult with the State Director/Deputy Director and/or the Early Childhood Management team to resolve complex issues and problems.
- Assist State Director/Deputy Director with VIP visits and other duties as assigned.
- Minimum 3-5 years' experience in area of expertise
- Professional level of specialized knowledge to manage complex tasks, programs or projects.
- Knowledge of infant/toddler development and early language and literacy.
- Home visiting experience with families with infants and toddlers.
- Experience working in communities with limited resources.
- Professional level of specialized knowledge to manage complex tasks, programs or projects.
- Ability to exercise independent judgment and discretion on significant matters related to functional area.
- Accountable for setting clear objectives and measures for self.
- Ability to use MS Word, Excel, PPT and on-line technologies proficiently.
- This position is remote, willingness to travel 50% regularly in the state and out of state is required.
- Valid driver's licensed required.
Preferred Qualifications
- A Bachelor’s degree in a field related to early childhood development and education with an emphasis on infant/toddler development.
- Experience working in rural communities with limited resources and with families facing economic/financial challenges.
- Experience working in communities with a variety of populations.
- Experience in training, coaching, and mentoring.
- Experience developing and implementing training, including distance learning.
- Demonstrated experience in building effective relationships within their immediate or peer workgroup.
- Bilingual in Spanish