Job Description

　　The Education Secretariat is committed to equity and valuing the unique and diverse characteristics and experiences of every member of its workforce. We encourage an authentic workplace where colleagues show up as their full selves, where collaboration, innovation, and connections are key to realizing our mission that all children, youth, and families thrive socially, academically, and economically. We seek teammates who are committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive work environment, where everyone is valued and engaged. We encourage you to apply and identify your strengths in these areas.

　　The Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) is an Agency within the Executive Office of Education (EOE) which reports to the Board of Early Education and Care. EEC's vision is that children, youth and families reach their full potential now and in the future. To achieve that vision, EEC's mission is to create the conditions for children, youth and families to thrive socially, academically and economically.

　　EEC is the lead agency for all early education and care services and funding in the Commonwealth, charged with administering the federal Child Care Development Block Grant (CCDBG) and Child Care Development Fund (CCDF) monies provided to Massachusetts. This block grant provides child care subsidies to more than 50,000 low-income families to help ensure they can work and stay employed, while ensuring that children are getting the high-quality early education needed to prepare them for success in school and in life.

　　EEC is focused on strengthening and promoting the diverse early education and care sector in Massachusetts. EEC licenses, monitors, and provides technical assistance to the nearly 9,000 early education and care programs and agencies that serve children and youth, including family child care programs and center-based programs for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers, out-of-school time programs, residential group care facilities, temporary shelters, and placement agencies for foster care or adoption services.

　　The position of Priority Access Manager will be responsible for the administration and coordination of child care financial assistance and other early education services and supports to specific populations of families and children who are vulnerable, at risk and underserved. These families include but are not limited to children with special needs, children living in families with very low income, children experiencing homelessness and young parents. This role will ensure that these vulnerable populations receive coordinated access to timely and dignified services and supports from application to eligibility determination, to enrollment and placement. This statewide position will work to ensure that policies and procedures are developed and effectively administered and responsive to the needs of these families.

　　Key to this role is building capacity to provide overall statewide and regional coordination to interface with state and community partners to identify challenges and opportunities to improve the coordination of child care services and supports for families with complex needs. This includes building and strengthening linkages between EEC and the Department of Children and Families (DCF), Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA), the Executive Office of Housing and Liveable Communities (EOHLC) and other agencies working with this population. The Priority Access Manager will work with these agencies to streamline access and ensure stability and continuity of care for children and families. In addition to work collaboratively internal and externally to identify best practices, strategic approaches and trainings to effectively serve these families.

　　As a part of the Family Access and Engagement team, the manager will oversee a statewide priority access specialist responsible for policy support, implementation programmatic and contractual oversight within EEC's contracted programs, statewide resource and referral agencies and partner agencies to help these families navigate the child care system including connecting them to services to help resolve challenges and support a family's economic mobility.

　　Key Responsibilities:

　　Program Oversight & Management -

　　• Implement and oversee policies and procedures governing family access to child care financial assistance through the Child Care Financial Assistance program including the Priority Population Contracts and family support/engagement programs and resources

　　• Provide leadership and oversight to Family Access for priority populations across EEC programs.

　　• Oversee and manage subsidized provider contracts

　　• Develop and promote materials and communication methods to ensure families have accessible, accurate and timely information on EEC programs and resources

　　• Provide technical assistance, training and expertise in contractual services, policies and procedures and family engagement practices related to priority populations

　　• Work closely with EEC's Fiscal Unit to ensure the implementation of timely reporting federal and state requirements

　　• Develop strategy for regular tracking and managing of open child care placement slots for contracted/voucher providers

　　• Encourage and develop staff through timely feedback and coaching to foster induvial professional growth and a collaborative, inclusive and supportive team culture

　　Intra-Agency Program Coordination

　　• Promote the Family Engagement Framework within the unit

　　• Work within and across EEC Units and Divisions to ensure all staff are knowledgeable about Priority Population contracts, Family Access and Engagement programs, resources and initiatives.

　　• Acts as EEC liaison on cross secretariat initiatives related to vulnerable populations

　　• Identifying opportunities to connect EEC with state and local groups in communities

　　• Support Head Start State Collaboration Office (HSSCO), Preschool Development Grant (PDG) and Family Engagement Initiatives as needed.

　　External Partnerships and Engagement

　　• Develop and manage positive working relationships with child serving state agencies including but not limited to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), the Department of Children and Families (DCF), the Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA), the Department of Mental Health (DMH), the Department of Public Health (DPH), the Executive Office of Housing and Liveable Communities (EOHLC) to ensure coordination of information and access to resources for families in the Commonwealth

　　• Work in collaboration with the state agencies and community partners on joint policies and procedures to facilitate access to early9education and care to those receiving services and supports from Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA), Department of Children and Families

　　(DCF), Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC), shelters and families as defined by Mckinney Vento)

　　• Work in collaboration with the Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) staff and family access administrators to support DTA families seeking access to the Early Education and care system through vouchers

　　• Work in collaboration with the DCF statewide and regional child care staff, Family Access Administrators and contracted providers to support immediate access to Early Education and Care services through vouchers and contracted slots for DCF families

　　• Work with EOHLC staff, shelter staff and Mckinney Vento coordinators for the homeless population, including recent arrivals, to facilitate access to Early Education and Care programs for homeless families

　　• Promote EEC programs and initiatives including the facilitation of regional collaboration among EEC funded entities and programs including Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (CCR&Rs), Coordinated Family and Community Engagement Councils (CFCE), public schools, and contract/voucher providers and other partner agencies

　　• Provide leadership and represent EEC, in coordination with other Units and Divisions across the Agency, to external working groups and advisory councils related to early education and care, economic mobility, family engagement and other relevant topics and initiatives.

　　• Attend present and/or facilitate regional and statewide meeting with agency partners and contracted providers.

　　Fiscal Oversight

　　• Assist with the budgeting and financial management of the Contracted Providers and Child Care Resource and Referral agencies

　　• Work closely with EEC's Fiscal Unit to ensure the implementation of timely reporting federal and state requirements

　　• Act as a project manager for child care financial assistance programs and initiatives in a manner consistent with EEC goals, mission and strategic priorities, inform fund use and allocation develop and review grant applications, ensure project outcomes and deliverables and coordinate funding and contract monitoring

　　Preferred Qualifications:

　　• Strong communication, organizational, and critical thinking skills, as well as attention to detail and commitment to quality and accuracy

　　• Ability to multitask, set priorities, work efficiently, and meet deadlines

　　• Ability to develop processes or procedures to assist in organizing data

　　• Ability to efficiently organize and evaluate information, assemble data, and prepare reports

　　• Knowledge of methods used in the preparation of charts, graphs, tables

　　• Ability to assemble items of information according to established procedures

　　• Knowledge and understanding of the Board of Early Education and Care processes, procedures, and by-laws

　　• Knowledge and understanding of the legislative process and the structure of Massachusetts government

　　• Ability to communicate tactfully and effectively in writing and in oral expression

　　• Knowledge of the principles, practices, and correct usage of the English language including grammar, spelling, sentence structure, and punctuation

　　• Demonstrated experience to write concisely, express thoughts clearly, and develop ideas in logical sequence

　　• Ability to adjust to changing situations and to meet emergency or changing program or production requirements

　　• Ability to understand the provisions of the laws, rules, regulations, policies, procedures, specifications, standards, and guidelines governing the agency's operations and activities

　　• Ability to work independently and as a member of a diverse team of internal and external professionals

　　• High level of proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (e.g. Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access) to produce reports, presentations, databases

　　Based on assignment, travel may be required.

　　Questions regarding this position or the application process should be directed to [email protected]

　　Qualifications

　　MINIMUM ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS:

　　Applicants must have at least (A) five (5) years of full-time or, equivalent part-time, professional, administrative, supervisory, or managerial experience in business administration, business management, public administration, public management, clinical administration or clinical management of which (B) at least one (1) year must have been in a project management, supervisory or managerial capacity or (C) any equivalent combination of the required experience and substitutions below.

　　Substitutions:

　　I. A certificate in a relevant or related field may be substituted for one (1) year of the required (A) experience.

　　II. A Bachelor's degree in a related field may be substituted for two (2) years of the required (A) experience.

　　III. A Graduate degree in a related field may be substituted for three (3) years of the required (A) experience.

　　IV. A Doctorate degree in a related field may be substituted for four (4) years of the required (A) experience.

　　Comprehensive Benefits

　　When you embark on a career with the Commonwealth, you are offered an outstanding suite of employee benefits that add to the overall value of your compensation package. We take pride in providing a work experience that supports you, your loved ones, and your future.

　　Want the specifics? Explore our Employee Benefits and Rewards!

　　An Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer. Females, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.

　　The Commonwealth is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. Research suggests that qualified women, Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color (BIPOC) may self-select out of opportunities if they don't meet 100% of the job requirements. We encourage individuals who believe they have the skills necessary to thrive to apply for this role.