Early Childhood Education Program Officer; F5CC

Posted on May 19, 2020

Reports to:

Deputy Director

Department:

Early Childhood Education

Employment Status and Work Schedule

Exempt, full-time position, 40 hours per work week. Some evening and weekend hours required.

The Early Childhood Education Program Officer holds the overall responsibility for implementing and supporting activities to promote the professional development of early childhood education (ECE) providers and the quality of early childhood education programs. In collaboration with the Deputy Director, other First 5 Program Officers and other staff as necessary, the ECE Program Officer will lead the planning and implementation of early childhood school readiness projects and initiatives, and particularly projects that promote collaboration between the early learning programs and the K-3 grades.

The ECE Program Officer will have expertise in early childhood and a strong base of program design, implementation, budget management, project management, evaluation experience and technical skills. They must demonstrate the ability to effectively manage relationships, communicate professionally, develop community partnerships, build consensus and facilitate collective problem solving, and understand the unique responsibilities and accountabilities of representing a funding agency. The ECE Program Officer holds a leadership role and requires a person who works with flexibility, efficiency, and diplomacy both individually and as part of a complex team effort.

The ECE Program Officer ensures programs reflect First 5’s core values of diversity & inclusion, equity, cultural humility, and community partnership.

First 5 Contra Costa helps young children grow up healthy and ready to learn during the most important time in their development. We have nearly 20 years of experience funding innovative programs and advocating for policies that produce better futures for our children. Since our inception, First 5 Contra Costa has invested more than $140 million in Prop. 10 revenues to programs and services that help Contra Costa’s children get the best start in life.

Vision:
Contra Costa’s young children will be healthy, ready to learn, and supported in safe, nurturing families and communities.

Mission:
To foster the optimal development of our children, prenatal through 5 years of age.

Core Values:
Our everyday work is grounded in our commitment to diversity & inclusion, equity, cultural humility, and community partnerships.

• Implement and support a variety of activities to promote the professional development of early childhood education providers and the quality of early childhood programs, including the Contra Costa Professional Development Program, Quality Counts California, Contra Costa Quality Matters, First 5 California IMPACT Program, HUB IMPACT, Ready Kids East County Project, and other related early childhood workforce initiatives.
• Oversee one or more strategies, programs, or grantees, requiring capacity building, technical assistance and grant management skills.
• Lead the planning and coordination of early childhood school readiness projects and initiatives, especially projects that promote collaboration and alignment between the preschool and early learning system and the K-3 grades.
• Partner with contractors and grantees, including school districts, County departments, community-based organizations, and grassroots efforts, to develop projects, identify needed resources, and define key outcomes and milestones, ensuring that appropriate monitoring and evaluation processes are established to support learning and produce focused evaluation of outcomes.
• Support the fund allocation process as requested, to include review and feedback on Request for Proposal (RFP) submissions related to feasibility of program components, implementation approach, and proposed outcomes.
• Work closely with contractors to achieve desired impact of grants by conducting site visits, providing technical guidance, convening meetings of key stakeholders, and by applying and monitoring milestone-based…