SUMMARY:

Illinois Action for Children developed a high-quality teaching and learning system in partnership with the Illinois State Board of Education. 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, innovative thinking, and racial equity lens. 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 Assistant Director, Community Systems Statewide Supports (CS3), will create, implement, and track the scope of work for IAFC’s contract with ISBE for Community Systems Development Training and Technical Assistance and other related projects. Working with the Director of Community Systems Statewide Supports (CS3), the Assistant Director will ensure that the CS3 team delivers timely and excellent services by overseeing day-to-day operations and project management. The Assistant 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. All work is 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.

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.

1. Support successful development, delivery, and implementation of training and technical assistance to local collaborations and stakeholders to deepen their skills and knowledge of community systems, in collaboration with the Director of Community Systems Statewide Support.
2. Support collaboration with IAFC Community Systems team, Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), other state agencies, consultants, and other stakeholders to identify trainings, concepts, and resources needed to build the capacity of collaborations.
3. Support Community Impact Data and Knowledge Manager, ISBE, 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.
4. Maintain relationships with IAFC departments, including External Relations, Provider Resources and Early Learning, to coordinate alignment of statewide supports with other IAFC work.
5. Implement process for identifying communities seeking more intensive technical assistance and choose (in collaboration with ISBE and other state partners) communities that will receive more intensive supports. Support the design of menu of supports.
6. Provide training, technical assistance, and coaching to community collaborations as appropriate within team structure.
7. 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.
8. Support coordinating menu of supports for communities that are foundational, targeted, and intensive.
9. Actively work with early childhood community collaborations on enhancing collaborations and building early childhood pipelines for families using asset-based community development with human-centered design models to strengthen cross-agency outcomes, build collaboration leadership, and improve system effectiveness.
10. Work with CSD team and IAFC Research Department to monitor ongoing action learning cycles for program improvement and reporting of obstacles to state partners.
11. 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.
12. Manage and support the MIECHV Community Readiness project, Integrated Referral and Intake System implementation, and other projects as needed.
13. Manage planning for Partner Plan Act conference and external training and event logistics
14. Support 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 CS3 Project to state, local, and other external audiences.
15. Track progress towards meeting identified grant deliverables, complete ongoing reporting, monitor budget and expenses.
16. Manage subcontracts and purchase-of-service agreements in partnership with Director and Program Manager, including ensuring that all work is completed satisfactorily. Keep records and prepare reports as required.
17. 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.
18. Commit to applying a culturally responsive and racial equity lens to all work.
19. 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 to, delete, change, or modify the essential duties and responsibilities at any time.

• Project Manager

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

This position is hybrid as the employee may need to come to the office periodically for meetings and to complete some tasks. The position requires occasional travel throughout the state.

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 preferred.
• Minimum 3 years of relevant and proven professional responsibility for the execution and project management of in early childhood education or social services or related activities.
• Experience in systems thinking, racial equity, meeting facilitation, marketing, communications and change management is strongly preferred.
• Knowledge of the early childhood landscape in Illinois.
• Strong organizational, project management, and problem-solving skills.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS

Valid driver’s license, insurance, and access to reliable personal transportation

OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Must be proactive, highly motivated, and collaborative
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously with an eye for details
• Ability to build trust and credibility quickly with diverse stakeholders with divergent interests and goals
• Demonstrated ability to work independently
• Excellent organizational, time management, and prioritization skills
• Strong problem solving, customer service and analytical skills

• 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, Zoom, WordPress, Salesforce and Smartsheet
• Excellent interpersonal skills, especially with diverse personalities
• Willingness to work and communicate within a collaborative team environment

???Salary: $70,500 (annualized) based on background and experience

Location: Chicago, IL

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.