Job Specification Details

Supervisory, Managerial. administrative, program development and coordinating work at a professional level involving the development and support of state wide quality systems in early childhood development and learning and afterschool services for the Child Development Division of the Department for Children and Families. These programs include: child care and preschool; support for local collaboration across sectors, agencies and community partners; quality enhancement activities under the Child Care and Development Block Grant; workforce development for early care and learning and afterschool professionals; contract and grant management and oversight; budget and expenditure monitoring; implementation of continuous quality improvement and quality assurance; Supervision is exercised over professional, technical and clerical employees. Work is performed under the general direction of the Child Development Division Policy Director. The work impacts over 150 staff in community agencies working under CDD contracts and grants, over 1600 regulated early care and learning and afterschool service providers, over 4500 practitioners in the workforce, over 35,000 children enrolled in early care and learning and afterschool programs and their families, and thousands of other Vermont children and families receiving funded services through community partners. Duties include budgetary monitoring, technology, and programmatic responsibilities to ensure compliance with federal and state legislative mandates and other regulations and directives.

All employees of the Agency of Human Services perform their respective functions adhering to four key practices: customer service, holistic service, strengths-based relationships and results orientation.

Collaborate with the CDD Management Team in strategic planning, integration across units and developing programmatic and policy directions.

Manage and oversee statewide quality systems administered by CDD including the Head Start State Collaboration Office, Northern Lights @ CCV, the Step Ahead Recognition System (STARS), and publicly funded prekindergarten education and other quality enhancement activities related to child care and early development Collaboratively develop indicators of success and performance measures. Monitor data and prepare written reports related to identified targeted outcomes. Assess actual or potential impact of current or proposed policies and practices and recommend changes or improvements as necessary and/or indicated by known or emerging evidence in the field.

Manage and monitor grants and contract processes related to statewide early learning and development and after school services and quality systems based on Results Based Accountability (RBA) practices.

Monitor state and federal appropriations and investments related to statewide early learning and development and afterschool services and systems. This includes oversight for contract and grant payments and quality expenditures.

Provide direction and supervision to the Quality Systems Team to ensure that it Is well coordinated and effectively managed. focused on improving the quality of early learning and development services for Vermont children and families, effectively integrated with other teams and units, and provides good customer service.

Develop and advance positive relationships with internal and external stakeholders and community partners including early learning and development and afterschool programs and practitioners. Provide leadership, expertise, information and technical assistance to department and agency staff, community partners. early learning. and development and afterschool programs and practitioners and the general public on quality systems and relevant services that CDD administers or oversees.

Perform related duties as required.

Duties are typically performed in a standard office setting based at the Child Development Division in DCF, Central Office. Work related travel may require private means of transportation. Duties may include representing the department at public meetings and legislative hearings. Duties, responsibilities and certain assignments may require work outside of the normal work schedule.

Knowledge of science related to early childhood development and evidence informed practices that support high quality early childhood and afterschool services and systems.

Knowledge of systems theory, implementation science and change management.

Knowledge of evaluation methods and practices including Results Based Accountability.

Considerable knowledge of grants and contract management procedures including procurement and monitoring for compliance and budgetary and financial accounting principles/practices.

Interpersonal skills to motivate staff, colleagues and community partners to innovate, communicate consistently, collaborate and sustain a high level of continuous quality improvement across sectors to achieve shared goals. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and work cooperatively and effectively in a team environment.

Supervisory ability and working knowledge of supervisory principles and practices.

Ability to plan, integrate, organize, coordinate and direct major program activities.

Ability to use data effectively, study and analyze issues and problems and recommend system changes.

Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing.

Ability to manage time and resources effectively.

Ability to manage and oversee complex state and federal policies and programs.

Ability to prepare clear and comprehensive reports analyses and recommendations.

Ability to manage change constructively.

Ability to perform job duties and supervise others within the framework of the four key practices of the Agency of Human Services: customer service, holistic service, strengths-based relationships and results orientation.

Bachelor's degree or higher in early childhood development, early education or in a related human service field AND two (2) years or more of professional level experience in public administration, human services administration, or early childhood program administration.

Note: Early childhood programs is defined as licensed or registered community-based child care programs, Head Start (center based) programs, parent/child centers or other facilities, whose major focus is developmentally beneficial early care and education services.

supervisory experience

Candidates must pass any level of background investigation applicable to the position. AHS Policy 4.02, Hiring Standards, pursuant to 20 V.S.A 2056c or other applicable statutory authority, requires criminal record checks for all AHS positions, including motor vehicle driving record checks and national record checks where appropriate.