Job Status: Permanent Full-Time

Union: Non-Union

Number of Positions: 1

Hours of Work: 35

Location: Health & Family Services Building

Reason for Vacancy: Replacement

Closing Date: September 16, at 11:59pm EST. Applications received after this deadline will not be accepted.

The Municipality of Chatham-Kent has an opening for a permanent full-time time Early Years Strategy Specialist in the Child Care & Early Years division.

Job description

The Early Years Strategy Specialist is responsible for enhancing the capacity of the early years sector to deliver high-quality programs that meet both local and provincial standards. The Early Years Strategy Specialist works with the Program Manager of Early Learning Supports to prioritize projects, agree on required partners and develop project goals, roles and responsibilities on initiatives. Relying on their education, years of direct experience and understanding of the pressures facing the early learning and child care sector, the Early Years Strategy Specialist works to strengthen the impact that this sector has on Chatham-Kent families and children. The Early Years Strategy Specialist will work with the child care community and other community partner agencies and will provide support, advice, mentorship, guidance, resources, and training. The Early Years Strategy Specialist is responsible for working across disciplines with municipal, provincial and local early years sector organizations and partners to plan, organize and lead a variety of capacity building projects that are designed to improve the capacity and skillset of the early years workforce.

Essential responsibilities

• Demonstrates Chatham-Kent's core values and competencies.
• Establishes and monitors community wide quality standards that promote best practices and communicates these standards to early years sector agencies and practitioners.
• Develops, maintains and promotes the use of quality assurance tools (e.g. ASQ) and ensures programs are delivered in accordance with the How Does Learning Happen framework.
• Supports sector staff in interpreting various regulations, policies and relevant legislation.
• Delivers on site, voluntary capacity building mentorship programs and is responsive to the changing needs of educators across Chatham-Kent.
• Summarizes assessment results and supports providers in establishing improvement plans and promoting best practices.
• Works as a resource to educators and Inclusion Coaches to respond and support the sector in meeting the unique needs of children.
• Works cooperatively with the Program Evaluator and other data experts to evaluate improvement efforts.
• Maintains accurate records to support annual ministry reporting.
• Establishes, manages and operationalizes broad community-wide professional development and mentorship programs to support the early years sector.
• Represents the municipality at various committees.
• Attends and participates in division meetings, staff meetings, training sessions and other meetings as requested by the director.
• Responsible for tracking and monitoring approved spending within allocated budgets.
• Participates as an active member of the divisional team.
• Develops and manages ongoing projects to support recruitment, retention and sustainability for the Early Childhood Education sector.
• Establishes an ongoing dialogue and partnership with post-secondary institutions and other community partners around strategies to support students entering the ECE field, Professional Development and mentorship for students.
• Coordinates community events to promote quality and support community engagement, including professional networking groups, annual awards events, professional development events, and peer review panels.
• In consultation with the program manager, develops plans of action to support systematic changes ensuring program quality in the early years sector. Assists to coordinate initiatives that contribute to and increase quality standards in the early years sector.
• With assistance from the program manager, responsible for the planning and delivery of the system-wide professional development day.
• Provides project management, leads planning tables and workgroups, facilitates sensitive discussions and sharing sensitive information, delivers training and professional development to professionals/frontline staff as required.

Essential qualifications

• University degree (preferably in business, public administration, early years or social science), and/or an Early Childhood Educator Diploma with four (4) to six (6) years of related experience.
• Thorough knowledge, understanding and interpretation of early years legislation and related services/program delivery normally acquired through a community college diploma in Early Childhood education and/or a combination of education and work experience.
• Working knowledge of Child Care and Early Years Act.
• Supervisory or leadership experience, preferably in a municipal or early years environment.
• Strong communication skills, written and verbal.
• Previous experience creating communications, marketing and advertising strategies, including social media posts/replies, letters, and other advertising.
• Experience working in a fast-paced environment, managing multiple projects, programs and priorities.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Knowledge of OneHSN, RBB Database, (or similar programs).
• Demonstrated ability to assess and interpret policies and relevant legislation/regulations.
• Superior report writing, presentation and facilitation skills for a wide array of audiences.
• Experience working with and implementing emergent curriculum and How Does Learning Happen Framework.
• Experienced coach and mentor with proven success in building the capacity, knowledge, and skills of professionals serving children and families. Human relations skills and demonstrated outreach and/or community development experience that involves children, youth and families.
• Experience collaborating with community agencies in the early years and youth sector.
• Experience establishing planning tables or work groups to facilitate projects.
• Excellent observation techniques.
• Strong computer skills including Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, email and internet (or other similar software programs).
• Proficient and current knowledge in social media programs with an ability to capitalize on trends for the purposes of marketing to a target audience.

Other qualifications

• Environmental Rating scale training is an asset.
• Knowledge of Chatham-Kent communities and resources is an asset.
• Functional knowledge and understanding of AODA compliance.
• Demonstrated decision making skills and ability to work independently is an asset.
• Outgoing personality and comfortable in approaching people and beginning conversations is an asset.
• Good time management, problem solving and organizational skills are an asset.
• French language skills would be an asset.
• Familiarity and understanding of the local indigenous language/culture would be an asset.
• Additional training or certification in child development, self-regulation, social-emotional learning, trauma-informed practice, or related evidence-based approaches would be an asset.
• Demonstrated knowledge of child development theories and best practices that support children's learning, well-being, and inclusion would be an asset.

Certifications, memberships, licenses

• Member of the Association of Early Childhood Educators of Ontario / College of ECEs an asset.
• First Aid Certification an asset.
• Health & Safety Competency training is required within 6 months of hire date and will be maintained through refresher training once every 3 years.

Work environment/hours of work

• This position works mostly indoors.
• This position works weekdays with occasional evening and weekend hours.

Working Remotely

This position has been approved for remote working, at the discretion of the supervisor based on the Working Remotely Policy.

This position may be required to attend on-site meetings in order to complete essential responsibilities of the role. As per the Working Remotely Policy, employees scheduled to work remotely on a certain day may occasionally be called to a municipal onsite work location on short notice. Employees must remain flexible to accommodate municipal requirements and be prepared to be called in on short notice.

Driver's licence/vehicle requirements

Because this position would be required to travel, a valid Province of Ontario driver's licence with a reliable motor vehicle is necessary.

Background check requirements

The successful candidate will be required to furnish an original Police Information Search (criminal reference check) (working with vulnerable persons) prior to commencement of employment; you must be 18 years of age or older to obtain a vulnerable police check.

Essential physical and/or safety requirements

• Candidates may be asked to complete a 'physical task analysis' as part of the conditional offer of employment.
• Bending: frequent stooping, twisting, kneeling, crouching, squatting (at children's level, constant motion with children, rearranging classroom furniture for daily routines i.e. nap time, cots, etc.).
• Walking: frequent walking on level surface (outdoor play routine up to 2 hours per day; ground surfaces vary from pea gravel, sand, wood chips and grass).
• Reaching: frequent reaching below shoulder, forward.
• Lifting: frequent lifting floor to waist, carrying (up to 22.75 kgs or 50 lbs) (lifting children; pulling/pushing wagons, carts, swings; lifting cots from rack to floor; room re-arrangements).

Benefits

This permanent full-time position has an annual salary of $90,848 to $102,694 and will receive benefits including: participation in the OMERS pension plan (mandatory) as well as sick and vacation entitlements. Following successful completion of a 3-month waiting period, candidates will also be entitled to a comprehensive group benefits package.