BACKGROUND

Agenda for Children’s mission is to make Louisiana a state in which all children can thrive. Founded in 1984 as the state’s first independent child advocacy organization, Agenda has also served as the largest state provider of childcare resource and referral services in southeast Louisiana since 1989. Since our inception, Agenda has worked to improve child well-being in Louisiana through three key strategies:

• advocating for better policies and programs to serve Louisiana’s children throughout the legislative and regulatory processes;
• informing public discussions on children by monitoring the well-being of children at the state and parish levels through the KIDS COUNT project; and,
• improving the quality of early childhood education through “on the ground” work in the early care and education sector in Southeast Louisiana, specifically by training practitioners, helping program administrators strengthen their organizational capacity, increasing access for families, and building public and private support for the work.

A trusted resource for policymakers, advocates, researchers, media representatives, youth serving nonprofit organizations, and early childhood professionals, Agenda is helping leaders, organizations, partnerships, and systems – at the local and state level – assess, improve, and align their practices and policies. Improving life outcomes for children is the vision that drives Agenda’s work.

THE OPPORTUNITY

Agenda for Children operates the New Orleans Early Education Network (NOEEN), a network and support entity that is comprised of all publicly funded early childhood care and education providers in Orleans Parish. NOEEN is also Orleans Parish’s Lead Agency and Ready Start Network for early childhood education in accordance with LA Act 3 (2012) and Act 639 (2018). NOEEN is responsible for coordinating enrollment, conducting CLASS observations, and serving as a point of contact between individual programs and the Louisiana Department of Education for reporting purposes and coordinating funding requests as well as ensuring the coordination and implementation of the Orleans Parish Ready Start Network goals.

NOEEN’s Program Manager is responsible for the compliance, reporting, operations, logistics and communications/messaging for the various programs, contracts, grants, and bodies of work including, but not limited to, the NOEEN City Seats program, the ECHO Fund, Making the Most of Classroom Interactions (MMCI), and CLASS Observations.

COVID-19 Work Adjustment: This position requires travel throughout the Greater New Orleans area, typically 30% or more each month. Given the current status of early child care homes and COVID-19 global pandemic, this position will involve more virtual work than generally required. 

RESPONSIBILITIES 

Program Compliance (40%)

• Ensure internal NOEEN staff and external program partners are compliant with grant, contract, and public-funding requirements; liaise with Louisiana Department of Education (LDE) and related contacts;
• Ensure the timely submission of required materials related to State of Louisiana agencies relevant to child assessments and licensure;
• Create, collect, and distribute monitoring, onboarding, and support paperwork to early learning providers; ensure providers track compliance as related to their MOU with NOEEN;
• Maintain hard copy and electronic documentation for use in program evaluation related to program components (attendance at trainings, assessment data, etc.);
• Coordinate biannual CLASS observations district-wide, including observer training, quality control, and professional development; observer and site availability; ensuring sufficient notice of observation to applicable sites; conducting compliance checks and corrective action plans, as needed;
• Coordinate with external stakeholders to ensure Agenda for Children and NOEEN materials are accurate and up-to-date;

Program Management & Coordination (40%)

• Manage yearly review, revisions and execution of mutually agreeable contracts for shared services and partnerships with NOEEN and/or other program partners;
• Coordinate regular meetings with internal and external partners to discuss program operations and opportunities for program development;
• Coordinate NOEEN Quarterly Convening, Steering Committee, and other mandatory partner meetings; provide comprehensive, clear, timely materials;
• Ensure sufficient coaching and professional opportunities for all sites and partners;
• Assist external partners with workshops and trainings logistics;
• Submit financial materials related to NOEEN programming, including program and/or grant receipts, expenditures, and evidentiary documentation in a timely fashion;
• Monitor provision of program services as described in applicable MOUs, including developmental, sensory, mental health, or other preventative health screenings; staff and family coaching; resource-sharing and referral;
• Coordinate with external stakeholders to ensure Agenda for Children and NOEEN materials are accurate and up-to-date, including cross-analysis with NOLA-PS, city, state, and federal oversight bodies, as required.

Communication & Messaging (20%) 

• Manage required notices to sites and staff regarding Lead Agency and RSN obligations, including notice of observation, observer scheduling, data collection and submission, training and coaching, and others as required;
• Manage routine updates to all internal and external partners with relevant information related to program operations, partner updates, logistics, communications, payments, etc.
• Review external-facing materials, as needed, to ensure communication is consistent in on brand;
• Make regular site visits, as needed; work with NOEEN to ensure partners have technical assistance;
• Provide 1:1 partner support in meeting and understanding NOEEN expectations and responsibilities;
• Monitor feedback regarding satisfaction with programs and staff, and work to ensure that satisfaction is high.

Other duties as assigned/required/needed. 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree and 3-5 years minimum experience in early childhood education programs (or related field) strongly preferred;
• Knowledge of implementation and administration of childcare administration preferred;
• Experience working with childcare facilities, nonprofit organization partners, and vulnerable populations is strongly preferred.

JOB COMPETENCIES

• Excellent oral and written communication skills, interpersonal skills, and organizational skills;
• Superb project management skills; highly organized, self-motivated; task- and solutions-oriented;
• Experience tracking, sorting, and reporting data using Excel databases; ability to manage complex, time-bound projects, data-based decision-making, and long- and short-term deliverables;
• Ability to work both independently and as a member of a team;
• Experience working with diverse populations; commitment to providing high quality customer service support, exemplifying respect, patience, attentiveness, and cultural awareness;
• Proficiency in computer applications including Google Docs, MS office suite (PowerPoint, Excel, and Word), and email;

WORKING CONDITIONS AND PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Ability to regularly travel by car throughout the Greater New Orleans region and southeast region of Louisiana for meetings, appointments, convenings and professional development opportunities, some of which may require overnight stay.
• Regular walking, kneeling, stooping, bending, and sitting on the floor to attend to children’s needs and model behaviors for teachers/caregivers; ability to lift 25 pounds.

Competitive medical benefits and generous paid time off offered.

Application closes October 23 and are accepted solely through Breezy:

http://agenda-for-children.breezy.hr/p/35c0203ef372-program-manager-new-orleans-early-education-network

Applicant resume and cover letter required.