Workforce Coordinator, Preschool Development Grant Birth - Five

Summary

The Oklahoma Partnership for School Readiness Foundation (OPSRF) will work in collaboration with Oklahoma Department of Human Services (OKDHS) to implement the Federal Preschool Development Grant Birth through Five (PDG B-5) project that builds upon Oklahoma’s ongoing Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) systems work. By aligning state and local efforts, engaging stakeholders and partners across sectors, Oklahoma’s PDGB5 project will strengthen the state’s mixed-delivery system so all children and their families thrive.

The PDG B-5 Workforce Coordinator, a 3-year position, will support efforts and identify strategies to recruit and retain a qualified ECCE workforce, such as increasing compensation (salaries/wages and benefits) and strengthening professional development opportunities and career pathways for providers across the mixed delivery system. They will participate in the Administration for Children and Families’ Early Childhood Workforce Technical Assistance Peer Learning Initiative and Community of Practice. They will convene a workgroup of service providers, policy makers and families in Oklahoma to support this work.

Duties

Essential Functions:

• The Workforce Coordinator will manage the workforce development policy and projects related to early childhood professionals.
• Develop, direct, and execute workforce recruitment and retention strategies across the early childhood system that is aligned to the Preschool Development Grant Birth through Five (PDG B-5) Strategic Plan and other relevant strategic efforts.
• Manage workforce development projects within the State’s PDG B-5 Renewal grant, including the management of contracts and the development of sustainability and scale-up strategies.
• Manage policy and legislative work and data analysis related to the above responsibilities.
• Research or direct the research of national promising practices and legislative efforts relevant to early childhood workforce development.
• Support early childhood workforce development components of system centralization or other state initiatives.
• Collaborate with community agencies and stakeholders to develop a robust annual training calendar for child care providers.
• Provide and coordinate logistical support for virtual and face to face trainings.
• Create and/or acquire training procedure manuals, guides, and course materials, develop and teach workshops.
• Research and implement innovative training strategies.
• Ensure training opportunities contribute to the growth of the local workforce and child care slots, track and report on statistics, apply feedback & analysis to improve.
• Support the Child Care Resource & Referral Network to include workforce data, training and resources for their quarterly newsletters to the ECCE field.
• Maintain knowledge of the latest trends in training and development for the early childhood workforce.
• Understand other workforce barriers outside of ECCE that impact young children and families; such as early intervention, infant and early childhood mental health.
• Other duties as required and assigned by the PDG Project Manager.

Complexity of Skills and Abilities:

• Demonstrated problem-solving skills, communications, adaptability, good judgment; works well under pressure.
• Attention to detail, prioritization skills, and time management skills necessary to meet deadlines.
• Proficiency with Word, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, calendar management, and Virtual meeting platforms.
• Thrives in a collaborative, interdisciplinary team environment.
• Ability to deal effectively and courteously with people.
• Successful management of complex projects involving multiple organizations
• Familiarity with project management tools to track tasks, communicate with all team members, and compile and manage project plans
• Knowledge of current economic and social problems; of human relations; of community and social service providers; of the principles of interviewing; of social assistance requirements and of applicable laws, rules and policies. 
• Deep appreciation for and passionate commitment to birth to five policy and system-building

Requirements

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college in public policy, social science, business, education, child development. or a related Field.
• Three or more years of experience working within governmental systems, organizations, or other applicable area, ideally with at least two years of direct project management experience.
• Significant experience with data-driven decision making, and strategy development.
• Experience with policy, legislative, data, and stakeholder analysis.

 

Physical and Travel Requirements:

• Must be willing to travel occasionally within state and at least twice annually to out-of-state conferences.
• Must have valid driver’s license, valid automobile insurance and own vehicle to use for work.
• Occasional travel required during evenings and weekends.
• Occasional lifting up to 25 lbs., bending, and kneeling throughout the day.
• Prolonged standing, sitting, and walking.

Nice To Haves

Benefits

OPSRF offers an excellent benefits package to all employees. This includes 100% health insurance (low deductible), dental, vision, life insurance, long-term disability, and 3% of your annual salary into a 401K (w no match). There is an option to purchase health, dental vision and life insurance for dependents and/or spouse/partner.