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Job › Program Officer - Wakanyeja "Sacred Little Ones"
GENERAL INFORMATION
- Location:
- Denver, CO
- Salary:
- Salary is negotiable.
- Date posted:
- Feb 23 2011
- Date expires:
- Apr 29 2011 (This job post already expired)
EMPLOYER
- Company:
-
American Indian College Fund
See all American Indian College Fund Jobs - Employer type:
JOB DESCRIPTION
Job Purpose
This position is responsible for assisting with developing and directly administering the Wakanyeja "Sacred Little Ones" Project for the American Indian College Fund. The Wakanyeja "Sacred Little Ones" Project is a development of the American Indian College Fund, working in collaboration with the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, to support tribal colleges and universities in the provision of high quality early education services. These services include early childhood programs, teacher certification and curriculum development, parent involvement and training, coordination and alignment of community resources and the collection and dissemination of best practices. All services are focused on learning outcomes that prepare American Indian children and other vulnerable children in Native communities for kindergarten entry and later school success.
Job Context
The incumbent is responsible for ensuring that the Wakanyeja "Sacred Little Ones" Project is implemented to achieve the goals and objectives of the program and is independently evaluated, both within the designated timelines and budgets set forth by the American Indian College Fund together with the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. Implementation includes (but is not limited to) designing and building the infrastructure of the program and administering the grant requirements of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. This position requires a professional who is knowledgeable and passionate about transforming early childhood education and making a significant difference in the way that early education services are provided in Native communities. The Program Officer will facilitate the achievement of early education program objectives through collaborative planning, progress monitoring and problem solving with tribal college leadership teams, early childhood education instructional staff, consultants, evaluator(s) and community partners responsible for implementing innovative, culturally relevant, early education strategies designed to improve and advance student achievement in Native communities.
The very nature of this position requires a strong belief in and support for education at all levels in the Native community, values that are held dear to the Fund. In order to identify TCUs that are best positioned to carry out project objectives, administer the grant and support TCUs in the provision of early education services, the incumbent must be able to provide assistance to the TCU recipients of the grant awards, help them understand the importance of completing the requirements and facilitate understanding of the positive effects the program will have on participating TCUs and the Native communities served by the project. The incumbent must also provide support and assistance (where appropriate) during those times when completion of the program’s requirements are challenging. This can best be achieved by somebody who feels strongly about the Fund’s Mission to transform Indian higher education and the Fund’s core values of respect, responsibility, reciprocity, reasoning and relationships.
Job Responsibilities
1. Initiate the Wakanyeja "Sacred Little Ones" Project for the American Indian College Fund in year one by developing the scope of the Project, identifying four tribal colleges/universities to implement the Project and coordinating the launch of the Project.
a. Identifies, contacts, and recruits qualified TCU grant applicants, in conjunction with developing an RFP selection process to award five-year grants to the most outstanding TCU applicants.
b. Provides appropriate assistance to TCUs during the recruitment, application and selection phase, as well as throughout the term of the award(s).
c. Plans and coordinates the first convening of TCU project leads, early childhood and elementary school education experts, project evaluators, and project partners to launch the Project, discuss program expectations, define measurable outcomes and establish evaluation methods.
2. Develop, implement and administer activities necessary to achieve program objectives.
a. Monitors program budgets and ensures project objectives are met within budget constraints.
b. Develops and manages timelines to meet established program objectives, assuring that milestones are on track and reporting is on time to all participating stakeholders.
c. Creates and writes reports for donor that demonstrates intended outcomes and impact of grant.
d. Responsible for maintaining program documentation and assures it is organized, timely and appropriate.
e. Develops requests for proposals for program consultants and evaluators, as necessary.
f. Develops contracts with program and non-program participants (consultants, community partners, etc.), as necessary.
3. Develops relationships with the participating tribal colleges, early education departments/programs, internal and external partners and Native communities to support project implementation.
a. Travels to the tribal colleges as needed and within program budgets for recruiting and/or other program purposes.
b. Assists the tribal colleges and associated early education departments/programs with any needs and questions related to the project.
c. Collaborates with instructional staff and internal and external service providers to facilitate the delivery of quality, coordinated and effective early education services that are culturally and linguistically rooted and community based.
d. Plans and holds annual and regional convening’s with TCUs, project partners and early education experts to discuss program accomplishments, evaluation and assessment activities, program challenges and best practices.
e. Manages all project related relationships.
4. Assists in development of future and ongoing program grants based on the needs of the Fund and the tribal colleges and objectives of donors.
a. Works collaboratively across departments at the Fund to assist, when requested, in providing project information to secure grants, report to potential donors and seek additional program funding.
Competencies
Experience in early childhood education and knowledge of current principles of early childhood education; The demonstrated ability to identify and evaluate various early childhood educational approaches, models, methods, learning theories and pedagogy; Experience with program management, evaluation and strategic planning; Knowledge of early childhood education curriculum development; Knowledge of child growth and development, and early childhood learning assessment and diagnosis; Experience in consulting and facilitation preferred; Experience in quantitative and qualitative analysis; Computer and internet research skills; Knowledge of local, state, and national laws, public policies, legislative issues, licensing requirements and accreditation processes related to early childhood education; Exceptional verbal and written communication skills; Experience in educational research and reporting; Experience with grant budget management and timelines; Experience with fundraising and philanthropy preferred; Experience with grant writing; Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain positive professional relationships with various constituents; Familiarity with tribal colleges preferred, and experience working with American Indian culture and communities required.
Education / Experience / Certification Requirements
Bachelor’s Degree
3 years experience in early education
Masters or Doctorate Degree in Education Policy, Administration or a similar field
Problem Solving
Makes decisions independently; devises unique and qualified solutions to complex problems requiring innovation and creativity.
Interpersonal Contacts
High level of interaction with team members and associates within the Fund, TCU leadership, faculty and staff, community partners, parents, consultants and early education experts, donors, and external evaluators.
Consequences of Error
Work is performed independently and errors would not be caught internally. Potential errors create problems so severe that they require intervention from an executive in the organization to avoid lost revenue or increased expenditures. There is a cost associated with fixing the problem and the time of the executive involved.
Responsibility for Work of Others
The Program Officer provides direct supervision and performance evaluation for the Project Assistant, a position that is under the shared direction with the Director of Projects and Research. Supervision includes assigning work, assuring an appropriate work load, leading a team process, providing guidance on priorities, and reviewing work for professional quality. The Program Officer monitors the contractual obligations of consultants and external evaluators.
Direction Received.
Minimal supervision. Consults supervisor concerning unusual problems.
Essential Physical Requirements
Must be able to travel to tribal colleges, which are often located in remote rural areas, to project related events and or convenings, to professional conferences, etc. Must be able to work under tight deadlines and on multiple projects simultaneously, with minimum supervision. Ability to lift twenty pounds.
Note: This position description is intended to capture the uniqueness of the position. It is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of every task the incumbent may be asked to carry out. Other duties may be assigned from time to time that differ from the responsibilities listed here.
Please email a letter of interest, salary requirements and resume to: applications@collegefund.org.
American Indian College Fund
Human Resources Department
8333 Greenwood Blvd.
Denver, CO 80221
Office: (303) 426-8900, ext. 332
Fax: (303) 426-1200
www.collegefund.org