Director Community Engagement And Special Projects

Salary: $64,134.16 - $86,309.47- Commensurate with education and experience.

Job Code:  GSP115

Pay Grade:  0

Location:  Headquarters based - This position will require the incumbent to work from the Capital Hill Office a minimum of two days per week.

Job Description:

This position, housed in DECAL's Quality Innovations and Partnerships (QIP) division, oversees initiatives, projects, and services that focus on community partnerships, 2Gen activities, communication and stakeholder engagement strategies, and various duties that support other programs in QIP and other DECAL divisions.  The position works closely with other QIP leaders to develop collaborative strategies and build ongoing partnerships and collaborations within QIP, DECAL, and community-level partners.

This position, which oversees a variety of projects and initiatives, requires skills in critical thinking, attention to detail, problem solving, flexibility, and initiative are crucial attributes. The position also requires strong communication skills geared for a variety of audiences using multiple media.

This position reports directly to the Deputy Commissioner for Quality Innovations and Partnerships.

Job Responsibilities:

The QIP Director of Community Engagement and Special Projects will work closely with and report to the Deputy Commissioner for QIP. This person in this position:

• Oversees a wide range of community-level grants. Currently, these grants include: 1) Community Transformation Grants; 2) 2Gen Innovation Grants; and 3) Trauma Responsive Care Grants. This oversight includes:
  • Overseeing the application and awarding process, developing needed reporting strategies, obtaining needed professional development for grantees, ensuring compliance with federal or state regulations, and creating or maintaining existing evaluation and communication strategies.
  • Creating, as needed, new community level grants that align with DECAL's Strategic Plan or other initiatives.

• Works with Quality Rated, Early Head Start, and/or other DECAL programs to develop and strengthen stakeholder engagement, communication, and partnership strategies.
  • Managing marketing activities for Quality Rated, overseeing Quality Rated social media, and developing communication strategies for different populations (providers, families, public, etc.)
  • Working with Quality Rated leaders on the upcoming 2023-2024 Quality Rated revision process.
  • Working with Quality Rated leaders on updates to www.qualityrated.org.
  • Working with Quality Rated leaders to maintain current endorsements (such as the QR Language and Literacy) and develop new endorsements.
  • Reinstating the Quality Rated Advisory Committee. This includes conducting regular meetings, overseeing the committee selection process, and ensuring appropriate communication strategies.
  • Supporting DECAL's Early Head Start - Child Care Partnership grant with activities related to the Community Needs and Self-Assessment, recruiting new partners, and partner feedback sessions.
  • Creating a DECAL Early Head Start - Child Care Partnership Advisory Committee.
  • Developing communication processes with DECAL's Research and Policy Analysis Team on key research activities, publications, and community-level data gathering.
  • Creating stakeholder engagement or partnership strategies for other DECAL departments as requested by DECAL leaders.

• Directs DECAL's Early Education Community Partnership Coordinator Team, composed of one manager and six Early Education Community Partnership Coordinators, and includes:
  • Reviewing and updating (as needed) current job requirements for the Early Education Community Partnership Coordinator Team and creating metrics to gauge the impact of their activities.  
  • Ensuring that the Early Education Community Partnership Coordinators have the tools necessary to provide comprehensive overviews of DECAL's programs and iniatives, Strategic Plan, and other elements of Georgia's early education system.
  • Supporting Early Education Community Partnership Coordinators with external partnerships, such as serving on local committees or Birth to 8 teams.
  • Creating and overseeing activities for Early Education Community Partnership Coordinators to support grantees awarded community level grants.
  • Providing guidance related to regional Child Care Engagement Networks (CCEN).  These networks were created by the Early Education Community Partnership Coordinator Team during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

• Oversees and manages contracts related to DECAL's Call Center.  This includes:
  • Ensuring that all deliverables are met, invoices are processed and paid, and attending monthly update meetings.
  • Developing strategies to implement with existing contractees to ensure that the Call Center is maximizing opportunities to serve communities.
  • Identifying needs and supporting efforts to improve the Call Center and better modernize Call Center operations.

• Leads 2Gen activities within the QIP division such as:
  • Collaborating with other DECAL divisions and external agencies/organizations to strengthen DECAL's 2Gen approaches and strategies.
  • Working with DECAL's Research and Policy Analysis Team to develop 2Gen evaluation strategies.
  • Overseeing 2Gen grants.
  • Working with other DECAL divisions, including CAPS, to expand a 2Gen network. This will require engaging partners, especially at the community level, in DECAL's 2Gen activities.

• Manages current Business Support Services contract.
  • Ensuring alignment with other DECAL business support activities.
  • This includes ensuring that all deliverables are met, invoices are processed and paid, and attending monthly update meetings.
  • Identifying additional business supports needs that this project could address.

• Provides communication support to DECAL departments and oversees projects/workload for DECAL's Departmental Writer and Editor position.
  • Reviewing and, as needed, revising processes when DECAL departments request writing and editing support.
  • Reviewing and updating job requirements for this position and creating metrics to gauge the impact of their activities. 
  • Maintaining and updating DECAL Style Guide.

• Serves as a lead for current projects and initiatives related to federal Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA) and American Rescue Plan (ARP) funding.
  • Maintaining and updating progress on CRRSA and ARP funded projects housed in the QIP division.
  • Coordinating with other DECAL divisions regarding CRRSA and ARP projects. 
• Works with QIP Leaders to provide divisional business supports as needed.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Technical Competencies:

• Excellent oral and written communication.
• Excellent organizational skills.
• Demonstrated ability to manage the delivery of services and processes with accuracy and within federal and state requirements.
• Ability to instill exemplary customer service as a program foundational value and priority.
• Proficient with Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and SharePoint.
• Ability to manage own time, set priorities, meet deadlines, work without direct supervision, and contribute to team atmosphere.
• Experience working with diverse communities and sensitivity to needs and concerns of various participants.

Physical Requirements and Performance Aptitudes:

• Requires close visual acuity to perform activities such as preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing; viewing a computer terminal; extensive reading and visual inspection.
• Requires the ability to review, classify, categorize, prioritize, and/or analyze data. Includes exercising discretion in determining data classification.
• Requires the ability to receive detailed information through oral communication.
• Requires the ability to exercise judgment, decisiveness, and creativity in situations involving the evaluation of information against sensory, judgmental, or subjective criteria, as opposed to that which is clearly measurable or verifiable.
• Must possesses reliable transportation.
• Must have a valid driver's license.
• Statewide, out-of-state, and overnight travel may be required to host events and/or attend trainings up to 20% of the time.

Required Minimum Qualification:

Bachelor's degree in a related area from an accredited college or university AND Eight years of related experience OR Ten years of related experience.

Preferred Qualifications:

Master's degree in education, public administration, communications, business, or related field or a related administrative field from an accredited college or university AND seven years of related experience.
 

Bright from the Start:  Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning is a family-friendly employer, offering flexible work schedules (at supervisory discretion) and a comprehensive compensation package, that includes retirement, 401K match, and elective options for health, life, dental, and vision insurance. Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning is an equal opportunity employer. A background check will be completed upon hire, which may consist of any of the following: criminal history, credit history, employment history, educational records, IRS records, and driving records.

"If you are an individual with a disability who may require assistance or other reasonable accommodation in order to participate in the selection process for this position, you may contact our HR department at 404-656-3922. Due to the volume of submissions received by this office, information concerning application or interview status cannot be provided in writing, over the phone, or in person. Only qualified candidates who are selected for an interview will be notified when this vacancy is filled. All applicants who submit a complete application package will be considered but may not necessarily receive notification or an interview. The job posting may be closed at any time without notice.