Family and Community Engagement Specialist (Adams, Brown, Cass, Morgan, Pike, Scott)

Job Description

Job Description

INCCRRA (Illinois Network Child Care Resource and Referral Agency) is excited to be able to add to our team! Our vision is to provide quality care and education that creates a lifetime of equitable opportunities for all children. INCCRRA is excited to offer position as hybrid positions.

SUMMARY

Birth to Five Illinois is helping transform Illinois' early childhood system so every child from birth to age five has equitable access to high-quality early childhood education and care. Through 39 regional Councils, we bring communities together to identify needs, address inequities, and strengthen resources for young children and families. Join us in building a stronger, more equitable early childhood system across Illinois.

The Regional Family & Community Engagement Specialist will play a vital role in establishing and nurturing the foundation of support for the Early Childhood Regional and Community System within their Region. Key to success is a candidate who brings experience working in the community as a conduit for family voice with a belief in the value of the collective impact model. This position will support the Regional Council Manager by engaging parent/caregiver leadership, family decision-making, and the co-creation of solutions in the local ECEC landscape. Understanding the principles of collective impact, community-driven change; and community organizing are preferred.

What's in it for you?

At INCCRRA we offer a teamwork environment with great benefits.

Some of those great benefits include:

• Competitive employee wages
• Tuition Reimbursement up to $2,500 per fiscal year.
  • An additional $1,000 per fiscal year offered for employees wanting to learn a new language
• Healthy work-life balance with flexible work hours.
• Hybrid work environment.
• Paid time off summary:
  • 13 days of PTO & 12 sick days within first full year of employment.
  • 40 hours of PLFA workers act time every calendar year in addition to your accrued time.
  • 10 paid holidays off per year as well as employee birthday off.
• Medical/Dental/Vision/Life/Disability/Competitive 403(b) + Match

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Work in collaboration with the Regional Council Manager and the State Team to ensure family voice is at the center of all decisions.
• Build and support critical connections to expand and align with other partners in the community that are supporting children and families.
• Actively work with parent and community engagement efforts across institutions and sectors to drive alignment and improve coordination with Department activities and objectives.
• Facilitate consistent feedback mechanisms between parents, families, the community, and the entire Early Childhood Regional Community System network.
• Ensure all work is delivered on time, within scope, and within budget; provide regular reports on progress against goals and indicators.
• Submit monthly reports on Family Council activities (i.e., challenges and deliverables) to the Central Office Family & Community Engagement Team.
• Coordinate and facilitate focus groups, individual meetings, and large groups, as needed.
• Implement creative thinking around ways to engage families.
• Support and participate in regional events throughout the community (may take place during evenings or weekends).
• Perform other job-related duties as assigned.
• Travel within the State as needed, up to 50%.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor's degree or beyond in Early Childhood Education, Child and Family Development, Social Work, or related discipline.
• Must possess four-plus years direct experience working with children and families; specifically engaging family members in advisory committees or like activities is preferred.
• Must know how to meet the needs of the diverse population of the State of Illinois, including those with disabilities and English Language Learners.
• Must maintain knowledge of culturally and racially responsive practices.
• Must be able to build effective relationships with a range of diverse stakeholders.
• Experience in community organizing and relationship building is preferred.
• Must be able to simplify complex information and communicate it to a general audience.
• Must be willing to work flexible hours, including some evenings and weekends, as needed.
• Must live or have experience in the boundaries of the Region.
• Must hold a valid Illinois State Driver's License.
• Must meet minimum vehicle insurance from the Illinois State insurance requirement for personal vehicle; $100,000 Bodily Injury per accident (single person) / $300,000 Bodily Injury per accident max (multiple persons) / $25,000 Property damage.

EQUIPMENT/SOFTWARE REQUIRED

Use of computer, phone, printer and basic office equipment. Operating systems include/but not limited to: Outlook, email, SLACK, Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Docs etc; Microsoft Office software; specific training provided on INCCRRA's Data Tracking Program.

**We are actively recruiting for this role and will not wait for the closing date of this posting before interviewing or identifying a candidate in which to make an offer to. Therefore, the posting may close prior to the date listed.