Position: Provider Support Specialist Department: Family and Community Services Reports to: Child Care Provider Services Manager Supervises: None Status: Exempt Non-Exempt
Summary of Position:
The Provider Support Specialist (Specialist) will support family child care educators (FCC educators) through training, Peer Learning Community (PLC), one-on-one technical assistance and/or consultation to improve child care quality and to run a successful child care business. Emphasis will be placed on supporting FCC educators in developing knowledge and skills around the areas of business management, child development as well as health and safety.
Primary Responsibilities Include:
- Builds trusting and constructive working relationships with FCC educators characterized by a high level of cooperation, acceptance and mutual respect.
- Provides program orientation, training, PLCs and technical assistance to family child care providers as needed to support the opening, business retention or expansion of their family child care business.
- In collaboration with the program team and community partners, designs ongoing professional development pathways to support the growth of family child care educator competencies in early childhood development, language and literacy, business management and health/safety.
- Works with the program team to develop recruitment plan.
- Works with the program team to develop and coordinate training and PLC materials.
- Provides training, PLCs and technical assistance and/or consultation to FCC educators and their staff who are members of the agency family child care network.
- Collaborates with FCC educators to develop written individual action plans to meet integrated goals and objectives including but not limited to business planning, professional development, marketing, budgeting, handbook development and recruitment.
- Supports FCC educators in understanding the elements of the San Francisco subsidized child care systems
- Prepares written communications for participants, i.e., training materials, handouts, PowerPoint slides, memos, flyers, newsletters and forms as needed in the FCC educator home language.
- Initiates and maintains participants’ files in according with program requirements and funding regulations.
- Completes data entry to program databases in accordance with funder requirements
- Assists with the completion of program reports, including providing data and descriptive client stories
- Attends community meetings and events including the Community Care Licensing Stakeholders meeting and other related updated meeting with FCC educators.
- Initiates communication with the program manager, director and other program staff when issues and/or concerns arise.
- Works at night shifts and/or weekends as needed
- Other duties as assigned.
Knowledge/Experience/Skills Required:
- Bilingual and biliterate in Chinese/English required
- Knowledge of family child care business development and requirements
- Experience providing training, PLC and professional development using adult learning principles
- Excellent customer service skills and ability to work effectively with diverse groups
- Self-motivated and able to work both independently and in a team setting
- Detail oriented and strong organizational and time management skills
- Demonstrated ability to work in a fast-paced environment and meet deadlines
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to examine and interpret high volume of documents
- Proficient in data entry and strong computer skills highly desirable
- Models good judgment and effective problem solving
- Must be flexible and able to work occasional nights and weekends
- Occasional lifting up to 40 pounds
Education Required:
- Bachelor’s Degree in Child Development, Social Services or Business Administration preferred
- Minimum 2 years’ experience working in the early childhood educational field and prefer experience working with FCC educators
- 12 Early Childhood Education units in infant and toddler care a plus
- Experience working in non- profit environment required
