Early Childhood Grant Program Specialist (SOCIAL SERV PROGRAM PLANNER IV)

Essential Functions

• Serves as the Early Childhood Grant Program Specialist for the Illinois Department of Early Childhood (IDEC).
• Conducts content reviews and data analysis to improve IDEC initiatives related to the agency’s Early Childhood Block Grant programs.
• Manages grants and contracts, including developing program deliverables, providing guidance on program direction, supporting programs, and managing needed contracting or budgetary functions for federal and/or state grants.
• Facilitates and/or represents IDEC at internal and/or external workgroups, advisory councils, meetings, retreats, forums, and conferences relevant to early childhood education and care 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.

Specialized Skills

• Requires two (2) years of professional experience working in the field of early childhood.
• Requires two (2) years of professional experience working with early childhood block grant programs within the past 5 years (2021-2026) and implementing early childhood education initiatives for a public entity.

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.

Preferred Qualifications

• Two (2) years of professional experience working in the field of early childhood.
• Two (2) years of professional experience working with early childhood block grant programs within the past 5 years (2021-2026) and implementing early childhood education initiatives for a public entity.
• Two (2) years of professional experience in the development and implementation of programs related to Preschool for All or a similar initiative.
• Two (2) years of professional experience developing, implementing, and/or evaluating new and revised methods, procedures, and performance standards for early childhood education and care that adhere to state and/or federal mandates.
• Two (2) years of professional experience in collecting, analyzing, and/or overseeing multifaceted data to track performance and outcomes for service delivery enhancements at a public or private organization.
• Prefers the ability to communicate orally and in writing and the ability to research and critically analyze potential issues.

Conditions of Employment

• Requires a criminal history check through the Illinois State Police. 
• Requires ability to use state issued equipment, such as a cell phone, laptop, etc.
• Requires ability to travel in the performance of duties, with overnight stays as appropriate. Requires appropriate, valid driver’s license.
• Overtime is a condition of employment, and you may be requested or required/mandated to work overtime including scheduled, unscheduled, or last-minute overtime. This may require the ability to work evenings and weekends.
• Certain provisions of the revolving door restrictions contained in 5 ILCS 430/5-45 apply to this position. As a result, the employee should be aware that if offered non-State employment during state employment or within one year immediately after ending State employment, the employee shall, prior to accepting any such non-State employment offer, notify the Office of the Executive Inspector General for the Agencies of the Illinois Governor (OEIG) or may be subject to a fine.
• Requires basic proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including SharePoint, Teams, and OneDrive.

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

About the Agency:

The Illinois Department of Early Childhood (IDEC) was signed into law in June of 2024 with the focus of making early childhood education and care services simpler, better and fairer for families with young children across the state. During fiscal years FY25 and FY26, IDEC will be working through transitioning data, programs and services from three state agencies – the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS), and the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), – to IDEC in order to be fully operational by July 2026. Illinois strives to be the best state in the nation to raise a family with young children and IDEC is committed to continue putting children and families center while reducing complexities and finding efficiencies in the system and advancing equity.