• Job Description

  Req#: JR5746

  Job Title: Project Director

  The Organization: Shine Early Learning

  Who We Are: Shine Early Learning partners with states and local communities to accelerate child and family outcomes by providing professional development and other supports. Since its founding in 2011, Shine Early Learning has partnered with cities, states, and programs across the U.S. serving hundreds of thousands of students, families, and educators. Shine Early Learning’s experts have decades of experience in early child care education, training, and technical assistance. Montana selected Shine Early Learning as the state’s new regulatory and quality technical assistance services vendor.

  The Montana based project, named SPARK Learning Lab Montana (SPARK), provides regulatory and quality technical assistance to child care programs and professionals across the state. We provide technical assistance and training with a focus on building relationships, using a practice-based model that includes self-directed, group, and one-on-one learning. We are seeking professionals who are eager to make a meaningful impact on the lives of young children by supporting quality improvement efforts for the child care providers who serve them. We are building a local, Montana based team of leaders, technical assistance staff, and other specialists, housed in local offices and working remotely across the state to ensure continued regional and community knowledge and engagement.

  The Purpose of the Role: The Project Director at SPARK Learning Lab Montana is r esponsible for leading the vision and overseeing the implementation of quality services delivered by SPARK Learning Lab Montana and all subcontractors within the project. SPARK Montana is the state’s regulatory and quality technical assistance (TA) services vendor and provides a wide range of services that support child care providers. SPARK is responsible for implementing support services designed to build innovative and cost-efficient provider practices in order to improve child care program outcomes. Service areas include but are not limited to: technical assistance and training, communication and collaboration with stakeholders, effectively tracking and documenting service activities, ensuring compliance with the state’s commitment to Tribal Collaboration, supporting criminal background checks, supporting emergency preparedness, and using data for reporting, management and continuous improvement. The Project Director will provide strategic leadership and will ensure that content and delivery of technical assistance, training and other services are provided in a consistent manner across all regions in the state.

  Project Goals Include:

  1.) Expanding child care capacity,

  2.) Retention of child care business,

  3.) Growth of Quality Programs,

  4.) Provider education, and

  5.) Decreased deficiencies and licensing violations.

  What You’ll Work On:

  • Serves as the primary liaison between SPARK Montana, subcontractors, the State, and other Montana-based early childhood stakeholders.

  • Oversees all fiscal and budget development, monitors and approves expenditures, and provides accountability for the entire contract.

  • Manages high-quality execution of project’s scope of services and performance metrics.

  • Sets vision for, and oversees progress within, all contracted services including professional development, technical assistance, stakeholder engagement coordination, operational supports, and communities of practice.

  • In collaboration with project managers, sets high-level content and technical assistance standards and approves content development and technical assistance processes.

  • Reviews relevant data on an ongoing basis, meets or exceeds regular reporting requirements set by the state, and creates and implements performance monitoring, management and continuous improvements processes.

  • Coordinates with Human Resources to recruit, onboard, manage, and support key management staff in support of this contract.

  • Builds a diverse, strong, and collaborative team at all levels including executive leadership, middle management, and staff.

  • Leads contract development, contract oversight, and performance of subcontractors.

  • Ensure that the Spark Montana team delivers on all startup strategies and activities. Utilizes strong change management strategies and communication strategies to build our state presence.

  • Ensures strong relationships with all early childhood support organizations within the state such that we can maintain integrated, high-quality support for providers.

  • Engages with the community on a regular basis.

  • Collaborates with leaders and colleagues across Shine and Acelero, Inc. to advance early care, education, quality rating, and improvement systems.

  • Participates in assigned meetings, events and training, as required.

  About You (Requirements/Competencies):

  • Bachelor’s degree required in Early Childhood Development or related field required; master’s degree preferred.

  • 5-10 years’ experience in early childhood, family and community engagement, adult education, and/or professional development, including experience in coaching, supervision, program management and providing technical assistance. Experience in the state of Montana strongly preferred.

  • 3+ years of experience delivering professional and program development in a variety of forms

  • Experience developing, implementing, and/or participating in a Quality Improvement Action Plans (QIAP) in a program and/or local, regional, or state level.

  • Experience working with a variety of ECE program types, including family and group childcare.

  • Experience with data analytics.

  • Physical exam and background checks are required for this position.

  • Travel required locally or long-distance up to 30% of the time for work-related meetings and functions, including regular trips to Helena and throughout the state.

  • Must have a valid driver’s license and/or reliable transportation.

  • Montana Residency required.

  When/Where/How Much:

  • Start Date: Fall 2024

  • Location/Travel: Remote. Travel required locally or long-distance up to 30% of the time for work-related meetings and functions, including regular trips to Helena and throughout the state.

  • Salary : Up to $90,000

  • Application closing date: October 18th, 2024

  We offer a comprehensive benefits package including:

  • Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance

  • HSA/FSA Accounts

  • Life Insurance

  • Short Term & Long Term Disability Insurance

  • 401k with Matching

  • PTO

  • Wellness Programs

  • Additional Voluntary benefits at no cost to you!

  INTERESTED AND READY TO TAKE THE NEXT STEPS?

  For more insights about our organization and the specific role, we encourage you to review our FAQs.

  To access the FAQ, please click on the link.

  If you have any questions about hiring, or for more information, please contact Aisling Toby, Senior Talent Acquisition Partner, who is managing the search for this position, at aisling@shineearly.com.

  We are an equal opportunity employer, committed to creating a diverse and healthy workplace.

• About the company

  All of the Shine Early Learning tools and approaches were developed, implemented, and refined at Acelero Learning, a high-performing Head Start and Early Head Start program serving more than 4,400 children across the nation. Through the integrated impl...

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