9774 (TPV)- Program Officer (multiple positions), Child and Family Well-being Division- Dept. of Early Childhood

Job Description

Position Description

There are two Program Officer positions open within the Child and Family Well-being Division. One position is under the Cross-sector Programming Team, reporting to the Manager of Early Childhood Systems Integration with a focus on establishing and strengthening the early childhood systems of care across the sectors of health, early learning, and family support. The second position is under the Child Health Team, reporting to the Deputy Director of Child and Family Well-being. The Child Health Team has a focus on early identification and early intervention; maternal, infant and child health; and child mental health.  All Program Officers are expected to have expertise in early childhood and a strong base of program design, implementation, budget management, project management, evaluation experience, and technical skills. They must demonstrate the ability to effectively manage relationships, communicate professionally, develop community partnerships, facilitate collective problem-solving, and understand the unique responsibilities and accountabilities of representing a public funding agency. They should also be able to assist with Federal, State and local policy analysis, the planning and implementation of early childhood projects and initiatives within DEC.

The Cross-sector Strategic Initiatives Program Officer is responsible for helping to plan, design, and oversee a portfolio of work that incorporates a multi-sector strategy approach across pediatrics, mental health, family support, and early care and education settings to achieve better integrated and more accessible service systems for families of young children.

The Child Health and Pediatric Partnerships Program Officer is responsible for designing and implementing activities, programs, and initiatives that support pre-natal, post-natal, infant and toddler health and wellness, early identification and intervention, and pediatric quality improvement efforts.

The above areas represent new and evolving work for DEC and thus the roles, responsibilities, and duties may shift and change as the efforts change to better match our learning and the development of these new components.

 

Examples of essential functions of the positions include:

Systems and Partnership Level 

Initiate and sustain collaborative partnerships and activities with DEC staff, City departments, and other early childhood stakeholders at local, regional, and state levels to ensure effective implementation of grant portfolio and promote integration with related efforts.  

Integrate and align other Early Learning and Child and Family Well-being Division initiatives and efforts as needed; participate in department-wide planning, resource allocation, and organizational development.  

Work with the Policy & Impact Division for internal/external research, analyze and synthesize trends and opportunities in early childhood and related fields to translate into potential opportunities for action and investment.

Collaborate with DEC Program Officers on developments, challenges, and opportunities to advance the department’s program strategies.

Act as a liaison with community and provider partner agencies and within the overall early childhood network of services and programs; convene and facilitate meetings between collaborative funders and partner agencies as needed.

Develop and maintain coordination and partnerships with health care providers, Early Care and Education centers, Family Resource Centers, and other early childhood stakeholders to enhance program delivery and impact and ensure seamless continuum of care for children and families.

Grantmaking and Support

Design, implement, grow and sustain initiatives that align with and further Child and Family Well-being Division and Department goals and objectives.

Manage a grant portfolio for child and family health and well-being, in consultation with manager and deputy director, which includes oversight of budget utilization, services, activities, and performance of grantees.

Negotiate terms and conditions for each provider partner agency grant in the assigned portfolio, including operating budgets, scopes of work, and performance metrics; support execution of final contracts in conjunction with the Finance and Operations Division, by ensuring that all required program related documents and procedures are complete. 

Monitor expenditures related to approved budgets, reimburse authorized expenses, maintain supporting documentation of related contracts and financial/budgetary analyses to ensure grants stay within scope and cost.

Collaborate with the Finance and Operations Division and provide program documentation and insights to inform mid-year and year-end budget reconciliation.  

Oversee and manage the monitoring, compliance, and performance evaluation on grants, contracts and initiatives. This includes conducting on-site visits, supporting evaluation and data collection, tracking Key Performance Indicators/Metrics, and establishing and coordinating other methods and procedures to ensure accountability. 

Manage, support, and participate in funding, proposal review, and selection processes by reading and scoring proposals, discussing potential funding decisions, and providing critical information about program and agency capacity, performance, and experience. 

Collect data and information and prepare various reports, memoranda, and correspondences on initiative progress and status; recommend project or program modifications to assure initiative goal attainment, high-quality implementation of services, and contract adherence.  

Provide troubleshooting, guidance, and technical support to portfolio of grantees and participating sites as needed; plan and develop needed training and technical assistance for the grantees to build capacity and enhance programming.

Convene meetings and learning exchanges between provider partner agencies to share updates and relevant information, identify and resolve issues, review program achievement, recommend needed modifications, and support continuous quality improvement.  

Conduct compliance activities, evaluation, and reporting for external grants received from local, state, and federal funding sources, as needed.

As needed: oversee the work of external consultants; report to senior level and executive management; supervise staff.

Professional Development

Engage in Department, unit and individual professional development and continuous learning, including participating in conferences and meetings, funder networks, and other field-building/professional development opportunities that will enhance prospects for leadership development and early childhood systems building.

In partnership with supervisor, engage in on-going learning opportunities to enhance mutual development and address strengths and professional growth possibilities.

Engage in training and development sessions with staff and other partners to enhance knowledge and skills in relevant program practices, and quality standards, and to foster learning exchanges across early childhood sectors and settings.

 

The Program Officer may be required to work evening and weekends, and travel regionally and nationally.

Other duties as assigned.

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