Program Officer

A Program Officer at SC First Steps supports a territory of local nonprofits, one in each county, formally affiliated and funded by SC First Steps. This position serves as a state-level resource for quality improvement and accountability using relationship-based principles and practices to drive improvement. The Local Partnership Program Officer implements the review and approval process for early childhood services, tracks local partnership compliance with standards through analysis and monitoring, provides guidance and referrals to experts and resources and promotes and implements evidence-based practices in the field of early education and non-profit management. This position supports the functions of community-based organizations including fundraising and communications while advocating for and educating about populations that are underrepresented and/or racially and ethnically diverse. This is a remote position that is based in the Pee Dee Region of South Carolina.

Responsibilities and Duties:

1. Serves as a coach to a region of local partnerships in program operations to facilitate sound management practices and strong board functioning. 
2. Identify and document successful strategies and promising practices from the field.
3. Cultivate relationships with local partnerships, state partners and issue area experts to develop, fund and implement innovative initiatives.
4. Ensures strong non-profit management and implementation of services that are consistent with agency goals, effective practices and organizational performance measurement systems.
5. Provides technical assistance for accountability including: collection of required documentation and data, finance and budgeting, support in non-profit management, fund development, networking, collaboration and community outreach.
6. Plans and prepares trainings, targeted consultation, and development of written materials and guidelines for local partnerships.
7. Facilitates communication and information sharing between local partnerships. Supports state level communication and offers timely responses to local partnership questions and needs. Commits to working for diversity awareness and cultural competency in all communications and practices.
8. Focus Area will be child care support and training:

• Monitor and support the child care training efforts of the First Steps Local Partnerships
• Serve as a liaison between First Steps 4K and the Local Partnerships
• Conduct ongoing mentoring and coaching visits to First Steps Local Partnerships in support of child care training efforts
• Work collaboratively and build connections with other state programs and community agencies with child care providers

Qualifications and Skills:

Required

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university (minimum) in Non-profit Management, Social Work, Public Administration, Early Childhood Education, Public Health, Communications, or related field
• At least five years of related work experience required
• Experience in early childhood education, project management, non-profit leadership development or non-profit management.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite
• Strong problem solving, leadership and analytical skills
• Good interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to work as part of a team, communicate effectively both orally and in writing, receive and provide feedback, and manage dynamic interchanges in meetings
• Excellent oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills; attention to detail; be reliable and prompt; and be able to work in a team environment
• Ability to work well with people and exhibit awareness and sensitivity to diversity
• Ability to demonstrate and promote inclusivity and cross-cultural competence

Preferred

• Master’s degree from an accredited university in early childhood education, public administration, social work, communications or related field
• Experience working in an early childhood education setting.
• Knowledge of early childhood programs and services and non-profit management