Are you a talented early childhood professional looking to increase access to high-quality early care and education programs across New Haven?

[Kathleen Norwood Crisafi]

Then we have a newly created position you may be interested in!!!!

Who We Are Looking For

Are you a talented early childhood professional looking to increase access to high-quality early care and education programs across New Haven? Are you good at supporting program directors to help them be the best they can be? Do you like finding new ways of engaging families and community members in the work of expanding early care and education opportunities?  If you answered yes to the questions above, this position may be an opportunity for you to use your talents as a force for good in our community! 

United Way is seeking a School Readiness Liaison who is enthusiastic and organized to work with the 22 early care and education center- and school-based programs that receive School Readiness funding in New Haven. This person will work as part of a team with the School Readiness Education Coordinator (housed at United Way) and staff at New Haven Public Schools who manage the contracts and payments for this grants program. Salary is $75,000-$80,000/year, commensurate with experience, and includes benefits.

 What You Will Do

• Serve as the staff to the New Haven Early Childhood Council, an appointed group of volunteers who make decisions about the School Readiness grant from the Office of Early Childhood and serve as an advisory body on early childhood issues to the Mayor and Superintendent. Tasks will include preparing agendas and materials for meetings, providing orientation to new members and encouraging member participation, helping to gather and analyze data about the needs of young children, their families, and providers, and providing leadership that supports implementation of Council priorities.
• Manage the School Readiness and Quality Enhancement Grants, including designing and implementing the annual Request for Proposal process, including submitting the community application to the Office of Early Childhood; gathering and analyzing data about School Readiness and Quality Enhancement usage, effectiveness, and reach; and supporting new programs that seek to become School Readiness-funded programs. You will also work closely with staff at New Haven Public Schools, which serves as the fiscal agent for these grants, to ensure that contracts and payments are accurate and timely.
• Conduct regular site visits and classroom observations of early childhood programs that receive School Readiness funds to ensure compliance with School Readiness grant regulations. You will also review records and other documentation provided by the programs to ascertain program quality.
• Organize and facilitate monthly provider meetings for School Readiness programs. Meetings are intended to be a forum to share information and best practices, review and clarify policies, assess needs and set priorities, problem solve, share resources, and provide technical assistance on policies and practices related to the School Readiness quality components.

• Serve as the point of contact for the CT Office of Early Childhood (OEC). You will attend OEC liaison meetings and respond to OEC requests for information.  
•  You will work as part of a team. You will report to the Vice President of Education and supervise the School Readiness Education Coordinator, working as a team to support early childhood programs in centers and schools throughout New Haven. As a staff member at United Way, you will have supportive colleagues who are working on a variety of initiatives to improve lives in our community.

 

What You Need

• Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, or related field; Master's degree preferred
• 5+ years of relevant experience directing early childhood programs and/or serving as a program coach or manager
• Strong interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills
• Thorough understanding of early childhood development
• Strong computer skills, with a preference for proficiency in Microsoft Office applications including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
• Community minded with high-level active listening skills and the ability to connect with people of different economic and ethnic backgrounds
• Ability to analyze data and develop concise, accurate reports
• Personal qualities of integrity, credibility, and dedication to the mission of UWGNH 
• Local travel is required

 

About United Way

United Way of Greater New Haven brings people and organizations together to create solutions to Greater New Haven’s most pressing challenges in the areas of Education, Health, and Financial Stability grounded in racial and social justice. We tackle issues that cannot be solved by any one group working alone. We operate according to these organizational values.

In accordance with organizational policies, this position requires a criminal background check as a condition of employment.

United Way staff are currently working hybrid, with at least two days per week in our office in New Haven.

United Way is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Don’t check off every box in the requirements listed above? Please apply anyway! Studies have shown that marginalized communities - such as women, LGBTQ+ and people of color - are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. United Way of Greater New Haven is dedicated to building an inclusive, diverse, equitable, and accessible workplace that fosters a sense of belonging – so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to still consider submitting an application. You may be just the right candidate for this role or another one of our openings!

 

 To apply:  Careers | United Way of Greater New Haven (uwgnh.org)