Director, Community Systems Statewide Supports (CS3)
6 days ago
Chicago
Job Description JOB SUMMARY: Illinois Action for Children developed a high-quality teaching and learning system in partnership with the Illinois State Board of Education and the Governor’s Office of Early Childhood Development. The goal is to enhance the capacity of early care and education professionals and their cross-sector partners to build strong community systems that ensure more children from priority populations begin kindergarten safe, healthy, eager to succeed, and ready to learn. Illinois Action for Children is looking for a driven, outgoing professional motivated to impact systems through collaborative work and innovative thinking. Ideal candidates will enjoy taking initiative in presenting new ideas and bring an eagerness to understand complex systems. Candidates should possess a positive attitude and strive to see the best in children and families, especially those from priority populations. The Director of Community Systems Statewide Supports will lead the effort and successfully implement a training and technical assistance system for local collaborations and regional community systems. Working with the Vice President of Community Impact, the Director will create the systems necessary to build and manage professional development training, technical assistance, and coaching supports for early childhood community collaborations and regions across the state. The Director will work in collaboration with a small team to support community collaborations as they strengthen local community systems, enhance local collaboration, and build effective strategies that enhance outcomes for young children and families. They will guide communities in using intentional feedback loops driven by data and Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) learning cycles. The Director will serve as the main point of contact for ISBE and other state partners regarding the design and implementation of statewide supports for community systems building, and is responsible for delivering on-time, accurate reports to the state regarding the projects. ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include but are not limited to the following. The organization reserves the right to add to, delete, change, or modify the essential duties and responsibilities at any time. • Provide leadership for the implementation of the Community Systems Statewide Supports (CSSS) and Regional and Community systems projects., • Provide strategic direction, oversight, development, and delivery of supports to local collaborations and regions and stakeholders to deepen their skills and knowledge of community systems, in collaboration with the Vice President of Community Impact., • Collaborate with IAFC CSD team, Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), the Governor’s Office of Early Childhood Development (OECD), Birth to Five Illinois, consultants, and other stakeholders to identify trainings, concepts, and resources needed to build the capacity of local collaborations and regions., • Collaborate with the Community Impact Data Analytics Manager, ISBE, Birth to Five Illinois, the Illinois Network of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (INCCRRA), local early childhood collaborations, and subject matter experts using data to identify topics, trends, needs, gaps, and development needs etc. for statewide training., • Develop and manage strong relationships with IAFC departments, including External Relations, Provider Resources and Early Learning, to ensure that the statewide supports are aligned with other IAFC work., • Ensure training opportunities and resources provided to collaborations align with Gateways to Opportunity and ISBE Standards for Professional Learning., • Maintain working relationships with key state agencies and actively participate in advisory councils and committees, including but not limited to IDEC, ISBE, and administrators of statewide community systems initiatives such as AOK Networks, Early Intervention, StarNet, Head Start, Healthy Start, and IDHS Home Visiting., • Work with CSD team and the IAFC Research Department to conduct annual surveys to inform the development of foundational supports including online modules, in-person training, and annual in-person conference, technical assistance and coaching to develop content., • Provide training, technical assistance, and coaching to community collaborations and regional staff as appropriate within team structure., • Manage team of Trainer/Coaches and contractual consultants to provide supports to communities and regional staff. Work with selected communities to identify needed supports and identify best-fit staff and consultants to work with communities in coordination with team., • Assist in the development of tools and resources to enhance implementation of CSD activities by field staff based on best practices in implementation science and CSD frameworks., • Design application process for targeted communities to seek more intensive technical assistance in collaboration with ISBE, and other state partners. Design menu of supports for communities and regional staff that are foundational, targeted, and intensive., • Work with CSD team and IAFC Research Department to create written procedures and manage ongoing action learning cycles for program improvement and reporting of obstacles to state partners., • Develop and maintain expertise on system-building and collective impact strategies by staying on top of current research and resources and issues across the early childhood development system., • Develop and implement systems, in partnership with the IAFC Research Department, to track and monitor process and outcomes measures for the project to inform ISBE using ActionForce (IAFC’s Customer Relation Management system) and Smartsheet., • Manage the work of the data team to coordinate the collection of qualitative and quantitative data for use in assessment, planning, and improvement., • Prepare and present reports for ISBE, and other state partners as well as create policy recommendations to improve systems as needed., • Implement broad marketing efforts, in partnership with External Relations, to increase external awareness of CSD T/TA events, project goals, lesson learned, and impacts of the CSSS Project to state, local, and other external audiences., • Understand the work of the agency and contract deliverables outlined in project scope of work and ensure alignment with organization’s mission. Oversee progress towards meeting identified grant deliverables, manage ongoing reporting, manage budget., • Manage and approve all subcontracts and purchase-of-service agreements with Project Manager, including ensuring that all work is completed satisfactorily. Keep records and prepare reports as required., • Must be willing to travel and participate in local collaborations and external meetings, as needed, statewide. Occasional out of state travel to national conferences and meetings is also required., • Commit to applying a culturally responsive and racial equity lens to all work, • Other Functions: The organization may assign other functions to the job at its discretion. SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: include but are not limited to the following. The company reserves the right to add, delete, change, or modify the essential duties and responsibilities at any time. • Program Manager, • Data Analytics Manager, • Training and Coaching Manager, • Project Manager QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE: • BA/BS or higher in public policy, education, organizational psychology, association management, business, human resources, or a related field directly applicable to this role. Master’s degree strongly preferred., • Minimum 5 years of relevant and proven professional responsibility for the execution and project management of collaboration/systems building initiatives, adult professional development programs or related activities., • Experience in systems thinking, meeting facilitation, marketing, communications and change management is strongly preferred., • Strong knowledge of the early childhood landscape in Illinois., • Experience managing and reporting on federal and/or state grants, including managing budgets and expenditures. CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS: Valid driver’s license, insurance, and access to reliable personal transportation OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES: • Proven ability to facilitate and coach diverse leaders individually and in large groups, in-person, and distance learning, and maintaining collaborative partnerships, • Ability to build trust and credibility quickly with diverse stakeholders with divergent interests and goals, • Must be proactive, highly motivated, and collaborative, • Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously with an eye for details, • Exceptional organizational, time management, and prioritization skills, • Strong problem solving, customer service and analytical skills, • Knowledge of action learning, continuous quality improvement, design thinking, and systems change approaches, • Excellent writing, editing, speaking and presentation skills, • Statewide travel is required, • Knowledge of the early care and education landscape in Illinois, • Advanced Microsoft Office skills; intermediate skills in software including GotoWebinar, Zoom, WordPress, Salesforce and Smartsheet, • Exceptional interpersonal skills, especially with diverse personalities, • Friendly and professional demeanor, • Willingness to work and communicate within a collaborative team environment Benefits of Working at IAFC: • Working with passionate team members that are driven by our Mission: Illinois Action for Children is a catalyst for organizing, developing, and supporting strong families and powerful communities where children matter most., • We strive to foster and implement a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion across our organization. We know it is not only critical to the success of diversity initiatives - but instrumental in creating an unbiased and inclusive workplace! It not only relates to the diverse clients we serve but also creates a positive employee experience., • We offer an extensive benefits package that adds value to your total compensation. Our benefits include:, • Health, dental, and vision insurance plans with company contribution of 95% for single coverage, • 401 (k) with company match, • Generous PTO – first year-23 days, the second year-28 days, the third year and on-35 days, • 11 Paid Holidays and 1 Floating Holiday, • Tuition Reimbursement, • Flexible Spending Account, • STD & LTD insurance, • Company-paid Life Insurance Location: Chicago, Illinois - Hybrid IL Action for Children is EEO/M/F/V/D employer While we desire for this job posting to be comprehensive, all aspects of the position may be amended at any time at the discretion of IAFC including job duties, work location and/or work schedule.