Early Childhood Investment Corporation Job Posting:

Great Start Parent Coalition Consultant

Posted: July 21, 2008

The Early Childhood Investment Corporation (ECIC) is seeking to fill the position of Great Start Parent Coalition Consultant. The ECIC, a public non-profit corporation, is ensuring a Great Start for Michigan’s children, birth to five, through knowledge development and research, advancing public education and public will, increasing investment and supporting the building of local early childhood systems through Great Start Collaboratives.

Position Summary
The position of Great Start Parent Coalition Consultant, under the supervision of the Director of Great Start Collaborative Development and Assistance , functions as the ECIC consultant to local Great Start Collaboratives and Parent Coalitions on the development, implementation and sustainability of the local Great Start Parent Coalition. The position has significant expertise in the development of parent leadership at the local, state or national level. The position has expertise in forming and maintaining effective, collaborative partnerships with professionals and parents to set and accomplish goals. The position has demonstrated expertise in the inclusion and leadership development of parents from traditionally underserved, vulnerable and marginalized populations.

Education and Experience Required
Masters degree from a discipline related to the field of early childhood, with 3 to 5 years of related experience or a Bachelors degree from a discipline related to the field of early childhood with 7 to 10 years of relevant experience.

Compensation
The position includes a highly competitive salary commensurate with education and expertise and a competitive benefits package.

The ECIC is an Equal Opportunity Employer which is committed to equal employment opportunity for all persons without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, or sexual orientation; and seeks to recruit, hire and retain a diverse workforce with employees whose knowledge, skills and abilities support the ECIC’s standards of excellence.

For a detailed position description visit the ECIC website at www.ecic4kids.org under “Opportunities at ECIC”.

Send letters of interest and resumes by August 4, 2008 to:
Early Childhood Investment Corporation
221 N. Pine St.
Lansing, MI 48933
Attn: Human Resources

Supervision Received and Exercised:
Receives direction from the Director of Great Start Collaborative Development and Assistance

Responsibilities and Duties:
This list is not all-inclusive. Incumbent(s) may be expected to perform job-related duties other than those contained in this document and may be required to have specific job-related knowledge and skills.

A. The Local Great Start Parent Coalition
1. Plan, coordinate, oversee and evaluate the provision of information, peer-to-peer mentoring, consultation and training that enables each Great Start Parent Coalition to:

• Serve as a referent and constituency group for parents on the Great Start Collaborative, giving them a means to better understand the desires and needs of parents in the community;
• Assist in building public support and will for early childhood investment through advocacy and education activities at the local and state level;
• Support and be engaged in supporting the work of the Great Start Collaborative;
• Strengthen the civic engagement of parents in the community on behalf of young children and;
• Educate policy-makers on the importance of investing in the first five years of life and the essential role that parents and families play in the lives of young children.

2. Required Activities

• Develop a document that defines what it means (and does not mean) to serve as a referent and constituency group for use by each Parent Coalition.
• Develop a self-assessment tool that each Parent Coalition can use to assess the current status of their efforts in each of the above described areas.
• Work with each Parent Liaison/Coordinator to oversee the annual completion of the self-assessment with his/her coalition.
• Work with each Parent Liaison/Coordinator to write a “learning plan”.
• Communicate, plan and coordinate with ECIC consultants, contractors and staff to address needs indentified in the learning plans.
• Assure each educational activity is evaluated by the recipient.
• Prepare summary reports for discussion at technical assistance office meetings.
• Incorporate any lessons learned as a part of continuous quality improvement process.
• Keep an up-to-date record for each Parent Coalition that displays contacts made, learning plans, communications, etc. for review by supervisor.

B. The Great Start Collaborative Coordinator/Director and Parent Liaison

1. Provide information, technical assistance and consultation to the Great Start Collaborative Coordinator/Director and Parent Liaison to assure that these positions work harmoniously to:

• Support and sustain the parent members of the Great Start Collaborative;
• Effectively engage Parent Coalition members in Great Start Collaborative activities;
• Formally share the successes and activities of the Great Start Parent Coalition with the Great Start Collaborative at least six times per year.

2. Required Activities

• Convene focus groups of GSC Directors/Coordinators to gain their perspectives on progress to date with the partnership.
• Convene focus groups of Parent Liaisons/Coordinators to gain their perspective on progress to date with partnership.
• Prepare report for VP for Programs on findings with recommendations re: Next steps to support and improve these partnerships.
• Prepare educational materials on the partnership findings that provide “best practices” for use by GSCs.
• Incorporate information to address the partnership in joint meeting of GSC Directors/Coordinators and Parent Liaisons/Coordinators each June.

C. The Great Start Parent Liaison/Coordinator

1. Provide information, peer-to-peer mentoring, consultation and training to the Parent Liaison/Coordinator so that he/she:

• Knows how to convene and effectively facilitate the Great Start Parent Coalition meetings;
• Acts as a facilitative leader in the development of a vision and annual plan of work for Great Start Parent Coalition activities;
• Oversees the annual plan of work for the Great Start Parent Coalition. The annual plan may include: learning opportunities, education of policy-makers, parent meetings or focus groups to gain/share information about Great Start, public speaking and community outreach;
• Arranges for the Great Start Parent Coalition to receive training and participate in technical assistance provided under the auspices of ECIC;
• Arranges for Great Start Parent Coalition members to participate in leadership training or other early childhood system building training that the Parent Coalition membership determines it is interest in;
• Speak publicly about the achievements and activities of the Great Start Collaborative, the Parent Coalition and the needs of young children in the community;
• Organizes community outreach events that provide an opportunity to invite other parents to become engaged in the Parent Coalition.

2. Required Activities

• Prepare a self-assessment toll that Parent Liaisons/Coordinators can use to assess skills, as outlined above. Tool to include ranking of skill development needs.
• Meet with each Parent Liaison/Coordinator to discuss self-assessment tool results and develop a learning plan.
• Prepare a report that analyzes learning plans of each Parent Liaison/Coordinator and identifies shared learning needs.
• Prepare a plan to meet those needs that brings Parent Liaisons/Coordinators together for learning either through technology or through face-to-face regional or state-wide meetings.
• Communicate, plan and coordinate with ECIC consultants, contractors and staff to implement and evaluate the plan.
• Assure each educational activity is evaluated by the recipients.
• Prepare summary reports for discussion at technical assistance office meetings.
• Incorporate any lessons learned as a part of continuous quality improvement process.

Qualifications and Required Skills:
Masters degree from a discipline related to the field of early childhood with 3 to 5 years related experience or a Bachelors degree from a discipline related to the field of early childhood with 7 to 10 years related experience
Comfortable with work involving confrontation and negotiation
Detailed oriented with a multi-tasking aptitude
Self- motivated
Professional, discreet and tactful
Cooperative in maintaining working relationships with those contacted in the performance of the position
Comfortable working as a member of a team and maintaining multiple responsibilities
Comfortable working under deadline pressure
Creative, resourceful and forward thinking
Relate well with others and promote a positive professional demeanor

Knowledge of:
Effective group consultation and meeting facilitation skills
Understanding of how to create and sustain a collaborative approach in the community
Broad range of group process, planning and development principles
Models of parent coalition and leadership development and sustainability
Proficient in Microsoft Word and Excel software usage
Strong problem solving, leadership and analytical skills

Ability to:
Effectively serve as a consultant to local Great Start Collaboratives and local Great Start Parent Coalition
Develop and conduct relevant and effective individual and group learning opportunities
Navigate through local and regional issues to support local Great Start Parent Coalitions in their efforts while always using good judgment in recognizing one’s scope of authority
Deal effectively with individuals at all business levels and variety of situations requiring tact, judgment and composure
Organize tasks and time to ensure timely completion of all projects and responsibilities
Maintain strict confidentiality in all matters pertaining to the management and operations of local Great Start Collaborative
Communicate clearly and concisely both orally and in writing
Perform efficient and accurate applications using spreadsheet software, independently prepare word processing reports, creating finished documents which meet ECIC requirements and are professional in appearance
Maintain accurate and detailed files and records for local Great Start Coalitions in accordance with ECIC guidelines
Work efficiently and accurately, while projecting a customer-oriented image, in an atmosphere of a high intensity work environment
Plan own work under supervision of the Director of Great Start Collaborative Development and Assistance
Exercise excellent judgment in recognizing one’s scope of authority within the ECIC
Adapt to and support a changing work environment
Periodically work an extended work day
Ability and willingness to travel, including overnight travel
Ability to operate an automobile, possession of a valid driver’s license and insurance