ABOUT US:

Illinois Action for Children (“IAFC”), a local, state, and national leader in the early childhood care and education sector for over 50 years. IAFC programs, services, and advocacy improve learning and life outcomes for children and families, including reducing the effects of poverty. IAFC works to ensure that every child in Illinois – particularly those in need – have access to the necessary resources to succeed in school and in life.

Along with our mission, IAFC is committed to building and maintaining a diverse, equitable, inclusive, and anti-racist culture. We are dedicated to this pledge through our hiring practices and our focus on creating a culture and environment where diverse perspectives, ideas, and identities are valued and integrated into our way of working and servicing our staff and clients. IAFC staff represent a wide diversity of racial, socio-economic, gender, religious, and national identities. We welcome all applicants who share our mission and vision to join us in our essential work.

SUMMARY:

Under the direction of the Director of Referrals and Outreach, the Assistant Director of Chicago Early Learning coordinates and oversees all aspects of Illinois Action for Children’s Chicago Early Learning programs and partnerships. The Assistant Director will lead work that supports the enrollment and retention of young children in Chicago Early Learning programs. This person will ensure the implementation of the Chicago Early Learning scope of work, ensuring coordination of CEL Community Collaborations, CEL Hotline and CEL Outreach teams, and other Chicago Early Learning programs as developed. All work to be completed with minimum supervision and in accordance with organizational standards.

This position will be expected to promote and adhere to the workplace core capabilities of: accountability, customer focus, continuous quality improvement, communication, competent people and clear priorities. All work to be completed with minimum supervision and in accordance with Organizational standards.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include but are not limited to the following. The company reserves the right to add to, delete, change or modify the essential duties and responsibilities at any time.

1. Implement and direct the scope of work for Chicago Early Learning and seek to align all existing Chicago Early Learning efforts into one coherent and aligned strategy and team.
2. In coordination with the Director, partners with Mayor’s Office, CPS, and DFSS to support Chicago Early Learning and Universal Pre-K implementation.
3. Monitor and analyze CPS and DFSS application and enrollment data, IAFC collected data, and community level to create coordinate Chicago Early Learning strategies to engage and support families through CEL enrollment and to inform policy and advocacy opportunities within the City of Chicago.
4. Create and implement CQI process for internal teams and external partners to ensure real time feedback on current training supports, recruitment strategies and barriers to application to and enrollment in early learning programs.
5. Partner with Marketing team and other IAFC programs to ensure that Chicago Early Learning programs are promoted externally and internally at IAFC, including social media posts, presentations, and updated information regarding application launch and existing supports for families.
6. Assist the Director in managing the Chicago Early Learning program budget, facilities, material and equipment and other assets to ensure responsible controls over and utilization of Illinois Action for Children resources. Ensure management of budgets and financial records of subcontracts to maintain compliance.
7. Responsible for internal and external reporting and assessing the effectiveness of programs and implementing improvements to sustain program’s overall success.
8. Provide supervision to Chicago Early Learning management team (CEL Outreach, CEL Community Collaborations, CEL Hotline). Support their professional development and build their capacity to support children, families, and partners in their respective programs.
9. Manage Salesforce and Smartsheet project management software and systems across Chicago Early Learning teams.
10. Execute our workplace core capabilities of: accountability, customer focus, continuous quality improvement (CQI), communication, competent people and clear priorities.
11. Other Functions: The Organization may assign other functions to the job at its discretion.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

Supervises the Chicago Early Learning management team. Formal responsibility for planning, directing and coordinating the work of the Chicago Early Learning scope of work. Performs employee evaluations and makes pay and/or hiring decisions.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:

Bachelor’s degree in Social Services, Early Education or related field with at least 18 credit hours of child development. Expansive knowledge of Chicago Early Learning, Head Start and other early learning funding streams. Previous supervisory experience is required. Previous experience leading multiple programs preferred.

OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Ability to travel locally
• Strong communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills.

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 a company contribution of 95% for single coverage
• 401k 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

Salary: $77,600 (annualized) based on background and experience

Location: Chicago, Chatham

Illinois 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.