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Specialist, Early Childhood

This job is no longer available

Jackson, MS, USA
Full-time

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 5 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 oversees and supports Early Steps program implementation, monitoring, and evaluation at assigned partner sites. Specific duties and responsibilities are outlined below.

Areas of Responsibility: 
  • 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.
  • Willingness and ability to travel up to 50%
Educational Background: 
High School diploma and/or certification in early childhood development.
Skills/Experience: 
  • Minimum 3-5 years’ experience in early childhood development and education.
  • 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.
  • 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 regularly in the state and out of state is 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 who are economically challenged.
  • Experience working with diverse children and families.
  • Experience in training, coaching, and mentoring.
  • Experience developing and implementing training, including distance learning.
  • Builds effective relationships within their immediate or peer workgroup.
  • Assist in developing short term plans and organizes resources to get things done
  • Bilingual in Spanish

Organization Info

Save the Children US

Overview
Headquarters: 
Fairfield, CT, United States
Annual Budget : 
More than $500M
Founded: 
1964
About Us
Mission: 

Save the Children is the world's leading independent organization for children in need, with programs in nearly 120 countries, including the United States. We aim to inspire breakthroughs in the way the world treats children, and to create immediate and lasting change in their lives by improving their health, education and economic opportunities. in times of acute crisis, we mobilize rapid assistance to help children recover from the effects of war, conflict and natural disasters. Save the Children is a member of the International Save the Children Alliance, a global network of 30 independent Save the Children organizations working to ensure the well-being and protection of children in more than 120 countries.

Listing Stats

Post Date: 
Nov 5 2019
Active Until: 
Dec 5 2019
Hiring Organization: 
Save the Children US
industry: 
Nonprofit