Job Responsibilities and Duties
Policy:
· Work collaboratively to develop the Coalition’s public policy agenda and advocacy strategy on early childhood issues.
· Support the development and promotion of the Think Babies™ NC prenatal-to-age 3 policy priorities.
· Monitor federal and state early childhood legislative and administrative policy that affects young children’s healthy development and learning.
· Research and help to prepare informational materials, fact sheets, outreach materials, and other content to be used to educate and increase awareness among Coalition membership, public policymakers, early childhood stakeholders and the general public about issues related to early childhood healthy development and early learning.
· Develop effective relationships and meet regularly with state policymakers to advance the Coalition’s early childhood education and Think Babies™ NC policy agendas.
Community Engagement:
· Lead local community engagement and advocacy efforts; this position will be responsible for supporting a minimum of 10 communities across the state to engage in policymaker relationship-building and public education and awareness efforts. This support will involve travel and attendance at in-person events dependent upon current Covid safety recommendations.
· Build relationships with community members, particularly those who are most impacted by early childhood policies, including parents of young children, child care providers and teachers, and BIPOC identifying individuals.
· Develop effective working relationships with state, regional and local early childhood partners and stakeholders
· Provide leadership, guidance, and facilitation for special advisory committees, workgroups and other groups working on infant-toddler child care or family support projects managed by the Coalition or Think Babies™ NC Alliance.
· Present at and participate in national, state and local policy forums, conferences, webinars, and events focused on early childhood issues.
· Maintain a working knowledge of significant developments and trends related to early care and education.
Other Duties as Assigned:
· The Coalition consists of a small but mighty team of dedicated individuals who work collaboratively on most projects. Candidate should be willing, ready and able to collaborate on other duties as assigned.
· Attend and present information at Coalition webinars, events, and board meetings as requested.
· Assist with Coalition outreach events that may be during evenings or weekends.
· Support the Coalition’s fundraising efforts.
· Support the Coalition’s communications and social media campaigns.
Education and Experience Requirements:
· Requires at least a Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education, Social Work, Public Policy, Public Administration or related field; Master’s degree preferred.
· At least five years of experience working on public policy and community engagement, including project management, policy development, stakeholder engagement, and advocacy.
· Prior experience working in policy development and advocacy at the state or federal level, managing multiple early childhood projects, and building effective relationships with early childhood stakeholders is essential to be effective in this position.
· Proof of vaccination against COVID-19 and/or proof of medical exemption with weekly testing.
Required Skills:
· Significant understanding and prior experience in early childhood public policy, research and programs.
· A broad understanding of federal and North Carolina-specific early childhood policy
· Prior experience in working effectively with national, state, or local early childhood stakeholders.
· Ability to conduct policy analysis, research, and data analysis related to early childhood programs, policies and budgets.
· Excellent communication and presentation skills and ability to bring early childhood information to policymakers, partners and the public in ways that are understandable and compelling.
· Demonstrates a strong commitment to racial equity, diversity and inclusion.
· Experience working with people from diverse racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds and incorporating the perspectives of multiple communities, including communities of color.
· Collaborative team member committed to effective relationships and communications with Board, staff, partners and early childhood stakeholders.
· Attention to detail and ability to manage multiple project components and timelines.
· Strong initiative and personal organization skills.
· Knowledge of MS Office, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, as well as experience with social media and internet research.
Position Description:
Requires travel to meetings and events. Work hours are flexible to meet the requirements of the position. Requires North Carolina residency and ability to work virtually. All team members are home-based with a co-working space available in the Raleigh-Durham area.
Salary Range:
The NC Early Education Coalition offers a competitive salary and benefits package. The salary range for this position is: $58,000 to 65,000. Salary to be negotiated based on education, skills and previous experience.
About the NC Early Education Coalition:
The NC Early Education Coalition is a statewide advocacy organization that works to ensure that all children – regardless of race, family income, or zip code – have access to high-quality early care and learning experiences. The Coalition is an equal opportunity employer. We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply for this position.