Overview

Under the general supervision of the Executive Director, the Executive of Learning and Care Strategies provides equity-centered leadership, direction, and support in development, implementation, and evaluation of learning and care systems and strategies across Santa Clara County that expand families’ access to affordable, quality early learning and care environments. In addition, this position is responsible for directing countywide workforce development strategies that promote continuous quality improvements across settings to ensure optimal development of young children, birth to five years.

The Executive of Learning and Care Strategies centers the values of diversity, equity, and inclusive practices in collaboration with FIRST 5 leadership, staff, and community partners, aligning all efforts with agency strategic goals.

Key Responsibilities

Learning and Care Systems and Strategies:

  • Oversee the Santa Clara County QUALITY MATTERS…a STRONG START for kids (CA-QRIS) initiative, including equitable development and implementation of key early learning and care strategies and programs; local, regional, and statewide collaboration and partnerships; and management of grant and other resource opportunities that strengthen this work across the county.
  • Develop action-oriented, systems-change efforts aligned with agency strategic and equity goals, and co-designed with diverse community partners, that prioritize the needs of young children through directly addressing economic barriers and other challenges facing families, early educators, childcare providers, and others responsible for the healthy development and care of young children.
  • Within the context of California’s comprehensive early learning and care system, from Early Head Start through Universal Pre-K efforts, direct agency resources and supports equitably for maximum impact on the lives of families with young children, birth to five years.

Workforce Development Initiatives:

  • In collaboration with agency leadership, staff, and community partners, develop, implement, and evaluate workforce development initiatives, pathways, and systems that promote equity and continuous quality improvement across multiple settings that serve families with young children, prenatal to five years.
  • Identify and support agency community impact goals, metrics, and evaluative processes in collaboration with community partners that strengthen the early learning and care workforce across settings (including infant/toddler care; preschool; family child care home (FCCH) providers; home visitors; friend, family, neighbor (FFN) caregivers; and family resource center staff, among others), focusing on key developmental domains of young children, prenatal to five years.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

  • Demonstrated commitment to collaborative leadership.
  • Knowledge and experience of equity principles and a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusive practices.
  • Experience in advocacy and systems change work.
  • Experience and/or willingness to work collaboratively in a union environment.
  • Ability to flexibly manage priorities and projects across integrated, multi-disciplinary teams.
  • Team-oriented, with capacity to build effective collegial relationships.
  • Strong interpersonal and communication skills (both verbal and written).
  • Ability to listen and interact effectively and sensitively with diverse colleagues and community partners from varied cultural backgrounds.
  • Ability to follow and inform FIRST 5 policies and procedures.
  • Ability to adhere to and maintain strict confidentiality standards.
  • Proficient with Microsoft Office suite, including Teams, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, OneDrive, and SharePoint. Willingness and capacity to learn new online platforms a plus.

 

Education and Experience Requirements

  • Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred.
  • Minimum 5 years’ experience working in program management, design, implementation and evaluation in the field of early childhood development, family support, and/or professional development systems in a nonprofit, public entity, or community-based organization.
  • Minimum of 4 years’ supervisory experience.

Term

This is a full-time, exempt position, 40 hours per week. Some nights and weekends may be required. Travel is less than 10%, and may include required travel to conferences, meetings and other FIRST 5 events.

This position is a hybrid role, and the incumbent is expected to be on-site a minimum of two (2) days per week in San Jose, CA.

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