Child Care Workforce Unit Manager

Position Overview

The Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS)/Division of Early Childhood (DEC) is seeking to hire an energetic and detail-oriented manager to oversee site-administered child care grants/contracts.  This position develops contracts that promote the enhancement of current and proposed services in site-administered childcare settings, providing evidence-based leadership and facilitating collaboration with public and/or private partners to enhance quality and build capacity in these childcare settings. This position also oversees the implementation of the Grant Accountability and Transparency Act (GATA 2 CFR 200 and other similar requirements)-related contract language, deliverables, performance measures, and standards to support the business and fiscal capacity of site-administered child care programs, Family Child Care Networks, and other direct childcare service contract grantees. This position also reviews and analyzes data to develop and implement strategies for contract improvement or expansion, creates written and statistical reports, and interprets state/federal and Departmental/Division policies and procedures related to site-administered childcare programs. The DEC is one of six divisions within the IDHS.  IDHS/DEC serves to strengthen and centralize site-administered Child Care, Early Intervention, and Home Visiting services. The IDHS/DEC vision is for Illinois’ young children and families to have the support they need to achieve their full potential.  The IDHS/DEC’s mission is to promote equitable and accessible 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, Stability, and Sustainability.

Essential Functions

• Serves as the Child Care Workforce Unit Manager for the Division of Early Childhood’s Bureau of Quality Initiatives.

• Oversees the development and approval of the Grant Accountability and Transparency Act (GATA 2 CFR 200 or other similar requirements)-related contract language, measurable and person-centered deliverables, key performance measures, and standards to support the business and fiscal capacity of childcare grantees for Site-Administered Child Care contracts, Family Child Care Network contracts, other direct childcare service contracts with childcare grantees, and Technical Assistance Contracts.

• Serves as full-line supervisor.

• Reviews and analyzes data to develop and recommend strategies for contract improvement and/or expansion for site-administered childcare programs.

• Plans, creates, and organizes periodic composite statewide written and statistical reports and evaluations on site-administered childcare programs, including required state and federal plans, reports, and surveys on supply building and parent utilization services. 

• Interprets Departmental/Division policies related to the site-administered childcare programs.

• Participates in training as necessary to strengthen both staff and the Division.

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

Minimum Qualifications

• Requires knowledge, skill, and mental development equivalent to completion of four (4) years college with course work in a social or human services field.

• Requires three (3) years progressively responsible administrative experience in a health or human services organization.

Preferred Qualifications

• Five (5) years of professional experience in program administration, technical assistance, and/or monitoring of childcare or Early Childhood services.

• Five (5) years of professional experience in project management, including budgeting, planning, execution, delivery, quality assurance, monitoring, continuous quality improvement, and routine and ad hoc mandated reporting.

• Four (4) years of professional experience with continuous quality improvement activities for a public or private business organization, generating corresponding statistical and/or written reports, and recommending, developing, and implementing policy changes because of those activities.

• Four (4) years of professional experience planning, developing, organizing, controlling, and managing new initiative programming for a public or private organization to achieve the organization’s broader vision.

• Four (4) years of professional experience communicating, verbally and in writing, across various forms of media and with small and large stakeholder audiences to ensure detailed and critical analysis of work performed and adherence to program standards.

• Three (3) years of professional experience working with contract language, deliverables, performance measures and standards.

• Three (3) years of professional experience managing multiple projects or tasks at once with accuracy and attention to detail, mitigating challenges or delays as they arise, communicating effectively and accurately about challenges, and meeting project deadlines.

Conditions of Employment

• Requires the ability to travel statewide including overnight stays.

• Requires advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, SharePoint, Teams, and OneDrive.

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