General Information

Organization Overview

Smart Start of Mecklenburg County (Smart Start or SSMC) is a Charlotte-based non-profit that funds local programs for children ages birth to five and their families. The organization is a catalyst for improving the lives of the 85,000 young children in our community, with a focus on health, family, early education, and literacy. We mobilize resources and forge partnerships to support evidence-based policies, practices, and programs to ensure all children enter kindergarten healthy and ready to succeed.

Smart Start has a budget of over $35 million comprised of funding from the state of North Carolina, Mecklenburg County, and private donations and grants. SSMC funds approximately 25 programs annually serving over 25,000 young children and their families and administers Mecklenburg County's MECK Pre-K program, which provides free Pre-K to children in the community. SSMC also operates programs and campaigns internally, including Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, Guiding Parents to Services, Ready4K, and The Basics Mecklenburg and Parent Powered . The organization is also the leader in research, data, convening and collaborating on issues related to children Prenatal-to-five in the Greater Charlotte area.

Position Summary

The Program Director is responsible for oversight of contracts management, developing and implementing the annual request-for-funding (RFA) process, monitoring contractors, coordinating the work of standing committees, working with the community at large in areas involving children and their families and other duties deemed necessary by the Chief Impact Officer and/or CEO. The Program Director serves as a key internal and external leader for the organization. The position oversees a collaborative and best practice team of internal programs as well as serves as liaison to contracted initiatives. This position is the primary contact for our Direct Service Providers (DSP), with a focus on developing relationships as true partners.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Oversight of Contracts & Funded Partner Management

• Work closely with Chief Impact Officer, as well as Finance and Outreach staff, to ensure that DSP's implement funded activities as described in the proposals, remain within the approved budget, and meet the projected outcomes/outputs
• Manage RFA process with a high sense of accountability and keen attention to detail
• Serve as liaison to North Carolina Partnership for Children (NCPC) regarding grants management
• Work with Partner Engagement Coordinator to monitor DSP's for grant/CAD compliance

• Work closely with NCPC on CADs and make adjustments as needed in NCPC online grants management system
• Provide technical assistance, as well as develop training opportunities, additional points of contact, and other items needed to grow our relationships and knowledge for and with funded partners
• Provide direction to Partner Engagement Coordinator to conduct on-site program monitoring as needed
• Adhere to cost principles of NCPC and ensure that DSPs are adhering to cost principles
• Design reporting metrics in partnership with NCPC and DSP's; ensure program implementation and quality meets fidelity; lead reporting for funded programs

Allocation Review Process Coordination & Committee Support

• Assist in the development of state and private funding opportunities
• Compile all RFA bidding documents and work with Outreach to promote the process
• Serve as administrator of grant-making and data-collection software, and provide technical assistance to applicants, review teams and Board members
• Organize and schedule Review Committees; compile RFA information for Board review; assist Community Investment Committee (CIC) chair in developing meeting agendas/topics
• Work with Partner Engagement Coordinator to provide information and technical support for CIC committee as needed, complete administrative duties for CIC, and ensure accurate recording of minutes
• Work with Strategic Initiatives Director to ensure implementation of Innovation Grant process is included and supported in annual RFA process

Community Involvement & Engagement

• Promote and represent SSMC as needed, using excellent communication skills, including organizing and presenting data in various community settings
• Establish/maintain effective working relationships with a wide range of individuals internally and externally
• Assist in planning and implementing special projects as directed by CIO
• Work with organizations that support young children and families in various community settings
• Collaborate with Outreach Team on circulating report data, advertising, communications, and events
• Lead the program/content efforts for annual Partner Powered Conference, with input from other Program and Outreach staff as needed, to include topics, speakers, etc.
• In coordination with Outreach Director, work to expand Partner Powered Conference for the larger Mecklenburg County community, while maintaining a focus on our funded partners

Staff Leadership & Management

• Supervise and lead assigned program This includes ensuring staff are fully trained, providing coaching and feedback timely and appropriately
• Conduct annual performance reviews with direct staff and hold regular planning meetings
• Work collaboratively with Strategic Initiatives Director on program-related issues
• Notify Chief Impact Officer of any personnel problems as soon as they present
• Develop program staff capacity through mentoring and training

Education, Experience, and Other Job Functions Education and Experience Required for Position

• Bachelor's degree in Public Health, Sociology, Community Psychology, Organizational Development, Social Work, Human Service Administration, or related field, preferred.
• A minimum of five years of increasingly responsible professional experience in a related field or an equivalent combination of education and experience preferred.
• Master's or other advanced degree preferred.
• Five years management experience
• Three years of experience in a non-profit human services agency or equivalent
• Two years of experience in grant management
• Experience with online, cloud-based data platforms preferred
• Must have knowledge of early care and education and early child development systems and issues

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle or feel; and reach with hands and arms. Specific vision abilities required job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work

This is a full-time exempt position, with a high degree of flexibility, including remote work opportunities. Occasional evening and weekend work may be required as job duties demand.

Location & Travel

This position is based in Charlotte, NC with a minor amount of travel. Travel is primarily local during the business day, although some out-of-the-area and overnight travel may be expected.

Other Duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

No calls, emails, or visits please. For immediate consideration, please formally apply online and provide a resume and cover letter.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned this job classification. They are not to be constructed as an all-inclusive list of all duties, skills, and responsibilities of people so assigned. Smart Start will engage in an interactive process with employees requesting medical or religious accommodations.

The Agency's policy is to provide equal opportunity in all terms, conditions, and privileges of employment for all qualified applicants and employees without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, disability or veteran status