Early Intervention Workforce Specialist

Position Overview

Subject to management approval, conceptualizes, designs, and implements the highly technical planning, analysis, and coordination of the Early Intervention (EI) workforce. Monitors the day-to-day functions of the Division’s Early Intervention Workforce Initiatives and Special Projects within assigned statewide project.  Serves as a representative with external entities assigned to complete routine and/or ad hoc Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) and Quality Assurance (QA) monitoring reviews and other related activities at grantees contracted to implement Early Intervention Initiatives and Special Projects.  Oversees the Early Intervention Workforce Development strategic plan, policies, and projects to strengthen and support a well-qualified and stable workforce and services for participants.  Functions as an Early Intervention representative during collaborative activities with other state partners to manage and Early Intervention workforce initiatives and/or special projects.  Secures recommendations from participants and other stakeholders regarding the development and implementation of applicable Early Intervention state and federal policies, proposed and existing legislation, and innovative strategies to identify and resolve workforce issues, using Microsoft Office Suite. The Division of Early Childhood is one of six divisions within the Illinois Department of Human Services. DEC serves to strengthen and centralize Child Care, Early Intervention, and Home Visiting within DHS. The DEC vision is for Illinois’ young children and families to have the supports they need to achieve their full potential.  The DEC mission is to enhance access to programs and services that support whole child development. The DEC is committed to the following guiding values - Whole Child Focus, Quality Service Delivery, Equity, Relentless Pursuit of Mission, Respect & Dignity, and Stability & Sustainability.

Essential Functions

• Serves as an Early Intervention Workforce Specialist.

• Plans, coordinates, evaluates, and conducts technical assistance and monitoring of the fiscal year contracts awarded to entities supporting the EI Workforce, which includes but not limited to, fiscal year grant exhibits, scope of services, and programmatic performance goals, objectives, standards, and measures to ensure ongoing quality, participant-centered services and to promote equity, social and racial justice, inclusion, and diversity in the Early Intervention service delivery system.

• Oversees the implementation of the workforce strategic plan, policies, and projects to strengthen and support a well-qualified and stable workforce and services for participants.

• Functions as an EI representative during collaborative activities with federal, state, and local partners to manage and monitor EI Workforce special projects/initiatives.  

• Manages formal and informal complaints as assigned from families and other stakeholders. 

• Performs other duties as assigned or required which are reasonably within the scope of duties enumerated above.

Minimum Qualifications

• Requires knowledge, skill, and mental development equivalent to the completion of a master's degree.

• Requires two (2) years of progressively responsible professional experience in community organization, social service work or in program planning and development.

Specialized Skills

• Of the two (2) year(s) of required experience, requires two (2) years of experience conceptualizing, designing, and implementing the highly technical planning, analysis, and coordination of the Early Intervention (or similar program) workforce, planning, coordinating, and evaluating the day-to-day functions of workforce initiatives and special projects, overseeing, supporting, and expanding opportunities for improving recruitment and retention of a workforce similar to that of Early Intervention (EI) through the development of a comprehensive and strategic workforce plan that includes but is not limited to establishing statewide goals and objectives, two-way communication strategies, and on-going evaluation, designing, evaluating, and implementing infrastructure, policies and procedures that consider the workforce’s needs, engaging, and supporting the workforce and continuously monitoring the workforce conditions, gathering, analyzing, and translating extensive workforce research, data extractions, raw data elements and/or information from existing reports into actionable and measurable strategies and initiatives for  policy and planning development to support the recruitment and retention of the workforce.  

Preferred Qualifications

• Two (2) years of experience conceptualizing, designing, and implementing the highly technical planning, analysis, and coordination of the Early Intervention (or similar program) workforce, planning, coordinating, and evaluating the day-to-day functions of workforce initiatives and special projects, overseeing, supporting, and expanding opportunities for improving recruitment and retention of a workforce similar to that of Early Intervention (EI) through the development of a comprehensive and strategic workforce plan that includes but is not limited to establishing statewide goals and objectives, two-way communication strategies, and on-going evaluation, designing, evaluating, and implementing infrastructure, policies and procedures that consider the workforce’s needs, engaging, and supporting the workforce and continuously monitoring the workforce conditions, gathering, analyzing, and translating extensive workforce research, data extractions, raw data elements and/or information from existing reports into actionable and measurable strategies and initiatives for  policy and planning development to support the recruitment and retention of the workforce. 

• Three (3) years of professional experience resolving complex issues and situations via oral and/or written communication with a high level of diplomacy and professionalism.

• Three (3) years of professional experience using advanced technical ability to analyze and evaluate programs and operations.

• Three (3) years of professional experience exercising a high degree of initiative and independent judgment in developing and formulating policies, standards, and procedures for extensive portions of the service delivery system.

• Two (2) years of professional experience managing and track high volume of work activities and products in an effective and efficient manner, while generating corresponding statistical and/or written reports.

Preferred Qualifications Continued

• Two (2) years of professional experience assisting with grant management processes and procedures (i.e. GATA, NOFOs, monitoring).

Conditions of Employment

• Requires ability to travel with overnight stays.

• Requires advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.

• Requires advanced proficiency in graphs, and charts.

*All conditions of employment listed here are incorporated and related to any of the job duties as listed in the job description.