Child Care Engagement Program Manager

Job Description

Job Description

JOB DESCRIPTION

Position: Child Care Engagement Program Manager

Hiring Salary Range : $65,970.00-$82,462.00

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

Reports To: Early Learning Services Director

AGENCY SUMMARY:

BrightSpark Early Learning Services has been at the forefront of the early learning landscape for over 30 years, ensuring that all children have equitable access to safe, engaging, and positive early learning experiences that promote school readiness and lifetime success. With a staff of over 150 and a $60 million budget (99% publicly funded), BrightSpark Early Learning Services provides a broad array of services to families and childcare providers to support the development and well-being of our children.

OPPORTUNITY:

The Child Care Engagement Program Manager serves as a relationship builder, trainer, facilitator, and connector for childcare providers. This position develops and maintains strong provider relationships, coordinates training and professional learning opportunities, facilitates provider networks and learning communities, and supports technical assistance, business supports, and shared services initiatives. The Program Manager works closely with providers to identify emerging needs, elevate provider perspectives, and connect providers to resources and opportunities that support their success. In partnership with BrightSpark's Advocacy and Mobilization team, this position supports provider engagement in advocacy opportunities and helps ensure provider voices are represented in broader community and policy conversations.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Lead and coordinate provider engagement initiatives that support BrightSpark's mission and strategic priorities throughout Pierce County and surrounding communities.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with licensed child care providers throughout Pierce County and surrounding communities.
• Coordinate outreach and engagement activities that strengthen provider participation and connection to BrightSpark services and initiatives.
• Plan, coordinate, and facilitate training, workshops, professional learning communities, peer learning opportunities, and networking events for providers, in collaboration with BrightSpark PD Dept.
• Support technical assistance, business supports, and shared services initiatives that strengthen provider effectiveness and sustainability, in collaboration with BrightSpark Coaching teams.
• Develop tools, resources, and learning materials that support provider success and professional growth.
• Gather provider feedback, identify emerging trends and needs, and share insights that inform program development and strategic planning.
• Collaborate with BrightSpark teams to ensure providers are connected to relevant services, resources, and opportunities.
• Support provider participation in advocacy and mobilization efforts by sharing opportunities, gathering feedback, and elevating provider perspectives.
• Develop and implement communication strategies that promote provider engagement and participation.
• Collect, analyze, and report quantitative and qualitative data related to provider engagement, training participation, and program outcomes.
• Develop reports, presentations, and stakeholder updates for organizational leadership, funders, and partners.
• Manage grants, contracts, projects, and reporting requirements associated with provider engagement initiatives.
• Represent BrightSpark at provider-focused meetings, conferences, trainings, and community events.
• Collaborate across departments to strengthen provider experiences and advance organizational goals.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education, Public Administration, Community Development, Human Services, Public Policy, Communications, or a related field; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Five years of progressively responsible experience in program management, community engagement, coalition building, collective impact initiatives, early learning, nonprofit leadership, public sector work, or related fields.
• Experience managing complex projects involving multiple stakeholders and competing priorities.
• Experience facilitating meetings, trainings, and collaborative planning processes.
• Demonstrated success building partnerships across diverse sectors and communities.
• Strong written, verbal, facilitation, and presentation skills.
• Experience collecting, analyzing, and utilizing data to support decision-making and program improvement.

Desired Qualifications

• Experience working within childcare, early learning, education, family support, public policy, or related systems.
• Knowledge of childcare licensing, workforce development, provider business supports, and capacity-building initiatives.
• Experience with advocacy, community organizing, policy development, or systems-change efforts.
• Experience managing grants and public funding requirements.
• Experience designing and delivering adult learning opportunities.
• Bilingual or multilingual skills.

Additional Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Qualifications

• Strong project management and organizational skills.
• Ability to build trust and maintain effective relationships with diverse stakeholders.
• Ability to facilitate productive conversations among individuals with varying perspectives and interests.
• Ability to work independently while managing multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Ability to think strategically while implementing day-to-day operational activities.
• Commitment to equitable, culturally responsive, and antiracist practices.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and virtual meeting platforms.

COMPETENCIES:

• Core Competencies -
  • Mission-driven : Demonstrates commitment to the mission and values of the mission.
  • Equity mindset: Demonstrates the values of anti-racism; fosters an inclusive environment that facilitates diversity.
  • Communication: Uses skillful written and oral communication with internal staff, teams, and community served; demonstrates empathy and listening.
  • Adaptability : Adapts and responds to change; proactively seeks opportunities to be supportive of change that serves our mission
  • Ownership and quality of work : Manages own work and work of teams when relevant, ensuring delivery of successful outcomes.
• Leadership Competencies -
  • Decision-making: Structures and facilitates decision-making processes; makes decisions responsibly to improve organizational health and impact; gathers and weighs all sorts of data (qualitative, quantitative, historical, etc.)
  • Supports the development and motivation of others: Actively supports the development and motivation of others to maximize individual, team, and agency impact.
  • Continuous-improvement mindset: Identifies strategies to improve the organization’s impact; sets course and drives implementation.

COMPENSATION:

• Hiring Salary Range: $65,970.00-$82,462.00
• FLSA Status: Non-Exempt
• This is a full-time salaried position requiring work during BrightSpark Early Learning Services Business hours, Monday through Friday from 8:30 am-5 pm, and requiring a willingness to work some evenings and weekends.

BrightSpark will determine the specific salary for the successful candidate based on factors including, but not limited to, the available budget, prior experience, skills, and education as they relate to the position’s qualifications. The posted salary range reflects just one component of our total compensation package.

Other components of the total compensation package may include participation in group life, health, and dental insurance, retirement plan, wellness program(s), paid time off, and paid holidays.

BENEFITS:

BrightSpark Early Learning Services’ benefits package includes employer-paid top-tier medical, dental, and vision insurance plans for employees, 21 days of PTO per year in addition to 11 paid holidays, 3 paid floating holidays, birthday holiday, and one week-long office closure at year-end, Refresh Fridays in July (BrightSpark Early Learning Services Closure Days), flexible work environment, employer-paid life insurance, short-term disability/illness leave accrual, and 401k with 3% employer match.

WORK LOCATION:

• This position is a Hybrid position.
• Hybrid positions at BrightSpark require at least two days in the office per week. These days may vary based on individual positions and departmental needs.
• BrightSpark Early Learning Services employees in all types of work positions (hybrid, community, etc.) must attend training, meetings, events, or other work commitments at various BrightSpark Early Learning Services office locations or off-site locations in Washington State, including the New Employee Orientation in Renton, Washington.

EQUAL EQUITY EMPLOYER:

BrightSpark Early Learning Services is an equal opportunity employer, and we value diversity among our staff. We strongly encourage people of color, immigrants and refugees, people from the LGBTQ community, people with disabilities, and people from other historically marginalized groups to apply.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION & QUESTIONS

• To learn more about BrightSpark Early Learning Services, please visit
• BrightSpark Early Learning Services is a grant-funded nonprofit organization. This and all positions are contingent on grant funding being in place and may end upon its expiration.