Program Manager, ECE - Workforce Development

Description

Program Manager, ECE – Workforce Development

The Early Care and Education (ECE) Workforce Development Program Manager supports the design,
implementation, and oversight of initiatives that strengthen workforce stability and career advancement in the
ECE sector. This role assists in managing program activities, contracts, and technical assistance while
collaborating with educators, childcare providers, and workforce partners to identify needs, expand career
pathways, and support professional growth. With strong analytical and project management skills, the Manager
ensures programs are responsive, data-driven, and aligned with the evolving demands of the ECE workforce.
Supervision

Program Design and Implementation:

• Support the development and implementation of initiatives aimed at improving job quality,
• wages and career advancement opportunities (e.g. Apprenticeships, Grow your Own) for ECE
• professionals.
• Manage contracts and budgets
• Support project planning, execution, tracking to ensure effective program delivery
• Collaborate with stakeholders, including educational institutions, community organizations, and government agencies, to identify workforce needs and develop effective solutions.
• Coordinate the upload and review process for wage documentation (e.g., payroll and tax forms), ensuring accuracy and compliance.

Resource Coordination and Technical Assistance:

• Gather, organize, and distribute resources and materials to support professional growth within the ECE workforce.
• Develop, tailor, and distribute resources that align with the needs of ECE professionals by assessing workforce challenges, creating accessible materials in multiple formats, collaborating
• with partners for effective distribution, and continuously evaluating and refining resources based on feedback and industry trends.
• Coordinate technical assistance to onboard providers and support wage verification using the California ECE Workforce Registry.
• Collaborate with partners to create pathways for education, training, and career advancement in the ECE field
• Maintain day-to-day relationships with key apprenticeship partners and cultivate a growing number of providers and support services to ensure the success of apprenticeship programs.

Data Analysis, Technology and Program Improvement:

• Collaborate with the Evaluation and Data team to support data analysis on workforce trends, needs, and outcomes.
• Use data to inform the development of programs and policy recommendations that address workforce challenges and promote career advancement in the ECE sector.
• Collaborate with the Technology team to improve the integration and interoperability between the California ECE Workforce Registry and Quality Counts systems for effective compensation tracking.

Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices in the field of early childhood and systems of care, including applicable state laws, rules, and regulations
• Familiarity with the California ECE Workforce Registry and First 5 initiatives is highly desirable.
• Principles and practices of supervision, management, and team leadership, particularly leadership in a time of growth and/or change management practices
• Approaches to streamlining data systems to support program development, program administration, and analytical and evaluation methodologies
• Principles and practices of contract negotiation, development, and management
• Budgetary creation and financial recordkeeping procedures
• Principles of equity, social, racial, and economic justice
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, Smartsheet

Ability to:

• Demonstrate experience and leadership in service delivery systems, program management, policy analysis and strategic thinking
• Effectively manage relationships and engagements with many organizations with limited capacity, including collaboration with community agencies and stakeholders
• Provide leadership to and effectively organize, coordinate, and supervise professional and administrative staff
• Promote teamwork and program integration within and across program strategies
• Demonstrate cultural awareness and sensitivity in a variety of contexts Communicate effectively orally and in writing to staff, the Commission and the public
• Read, analyze and interpret common professional publications, legislative or policy documents, financial reports and related business documents and information
• Plan and manage work to ensure organizational goals are achieved
• Analyze, develop and monitor budgets
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff throughout the agency
• Facilitate groups and manage meetings effectively
• Adapt to a variety of situations
• Define and creatively address problems or management challenges requiring analysis of multiple variables or situations, collect and analyze information, consider alternatives and draw valid conclusions
• Exercise judgment within broadly defined practices and procedures to create and select appropriate strategies and make and carry out effective decisions

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications
Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is
qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be

• Minimum 7 years full-time progressively responsible experience in a public or private organization, a community development agency or an education institution. Experience must include responsibility for program management, program planning and/or evaluation. At least two of the five years of required experience must have been at a supervisory level, strongly prefer experience supervising professional or managerial level staff.
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in public health or administration, child or human development, social work, psychology, or a field related to strategy focus. Minimum 5 years fulltime progressively responsible experience in a public or private organization, a community development agency or an education institution. Experience must include responsibility for program management, program planning and/or evaluation. At least two of the five years of required experience must have been at a supervisory level, strongly prefer experience supervising professional or managerial level staff.
• Master’s degree from an accredited college or university in public health or administration, child or human development, social work, psychology, or a field related to strategy focus. Minimum 3 years full-time progressively responsible experience in a public or private organization, a community development agency or an education institution. Experience must include responsibility for program management, program planning and/or evaluation. At least two of the five years of required experience must have been at a supervisory level, strongly prefer experience supervising professional or managerial level staff.

Please note:

• We are currently working a hybrid 2 day per week in-office schedule and employees also come to the office to attend meetings and as requested.
• All First 5 employees must live and work in California.
• The salary range for this position is $83,000 to $118,000 and as an independent government agency, the posted salary is the set salary range for this position. We cannot offer salaries above this posted range.
• We conduct reference and background checks for all potential employees.

About First 5 Alameda County

First 5 Alameda County believes every child in Alameda County should have optimal health, development, and well-being to reach their greatest potential. Through innovative programs and policy advocacy, we help provide children and their families access to resources that support their first five years of development.

Join our mission-driven team that in partnership with the community, supports a county-wide continuous prevention and early intervention system that promotes optimal health and development, narrows disparities, and improves peak years of child development.

First 5 Alameda County Benefits

We offer a comprehensive benefits package with health care options to meet the diverse needs of our employees and their families. These benefits include but are not limited to Medical, Dental, & Vision Coverage, $1,500 credit per year to spend on benefits, Health and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs), Employer Paid & Voluntary Life & AD&D Insurance, Long-Term Disability Insurance, Retirement Plans including the ACERA Pension Plan, Commuter Benefits, Employee Assistance Plan and more.

Salary : $83,000 - $118,000