Sr. Project Manager, ECE Workforce Technical Assistance

The BUILD Initiative (buildinitiative.org) envisions a time when all children reach their full potential; race, place, and income are no longer predictors of outcomes. The BUILD Initiative partners with state leaders to promote equitable child- and family-serving systems that result in young children thriving and learning.

BUILD is a national effort that advances state work on behalf of young children (prenatal-five), their families, and communities. BUILD staff partners with early childhood state leaders focused on early learning, health, mental health, and nutrition, child welfare, and family support and engagement to create the policies, infrastructure, and cross-sector connections necessary for quality and equity. BUILD provides consultation, planning, and tailored implementation assistance, learning opportunities, resources, and cross-state peer exchanges. These efforts help state leaders improve and expand access to opportunities and promote equitable outcomes for our youngest children.

BUILD is a virtual organization. Staff members work from home offices. BUILD is a fiscally sponsored project of TSNE (tsne.org) in Boston, MA.

BUILD is one of the core partners in the National Early Care and Education (ECE) Workforce Center which is a joint research and technical assistance center. This National Center builds on the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) broader efforts to support the early childhood workforce by identifying effective policies and strategies through research and evaluation, translating lessons from research for practice, and supporting innovations in states and communities through technical assistance.

The successful candidate will have a current understanding of technical assistance and other efforts designed to examine and address the need for fundamental changes to ECE career advancement systems, compensation, and ECE workplace policies. Also, be able to multi-task and switch between responsibilities. Have a high tolerance for ambiguity, the ability to adapt quickly to change, and work with and receive direction from the Director of Technical Assistance and support the two TA co-leads. Can implement and monitor short- and long-term plans.

The position involves project management for the technical assistance team overall and lead responsible for the Workforce Wednesday project.

Cross TA Leadership Coordination

• Support the Technical Assistance Director, the Co-Director of the Natonal ECE Workforce Center, in performing and monitoring daily functions of the TA unit.
• Monitor TA unit goals and progress toward them.
• Maintain the financial budget and expenses of the TA unit, recommending adjustments where needed.
• Collaborate with other TA leaders to understand leadership needs.
• Manage cross TA unit calendar and scheduling on behalf of the Director of TA.
• Manage review process for all TA unit documents from design to final presentation.

Project Management

• Formulate, organize, and monitor inter-connected projects and cross-project activities across TA.
• Monitor and control deadlines to ensure tasks are kept on schedule or higher scope issues are escalated to the Director of Technical Assistance.
• Prepare reports for the Director of Technical Assistance that highlight projects’ progress, changes, and risks across projects.
• Maintain communication with all stakeholders across the core and collaborating partners.
• Complete requested reporting bi-weekly and as needed.
• Attend regular meetings online (and in person when required).
  • National ECE Workforce Center full center calls. 
  • All weekly Technical Assistance Team calls. 
  • Universal Strategy focused calls, 
  • One-on-one calls with the Center Co-Director.
  • Other calls as needed. 
• Support the full TA team with thought partnership, peer review, and other activities as needed. 
• Coordinate internal communication.
• Coordinate team events and manage technology including zoom, registrations, Salesforce relationship management system or other tools essential for TA team.
• Connect with other BUILD teams and supports coordination, cooperation, and collaboration.  

Workforce Wednesday Project

Manage and coordinate all tasks related to the Workforce Wednesday Collaborative including: 

• Coordinate and facilitate regular Workforce Wednesday Collaborative calls (quarterly full collaborative calls and planning calls between).
  • Maintain the most up-to-date contact list of WW Collaborative members.
  • Manage calendar invitations. 
  • Draft agendas, coordinate review cycles, and finalize documents.
  • Distribute materials before and after meetings.
  • Coordinate with other Federal TA Centers about materials and resources.
•  Shepherd the creation of regular Eblasts and manage the review process including:
  • Facilitate discussion within Workforce Wednesday Collab for guidance on framing the topics for upcoming Eblasts.
  • Draft Eblasts and coordinate the review of drafts; reconcile feedback.
  • Work with Child Trends to ensure the final product is placed in the National ECE Workforce Center template and disseminated.
• Coordinate quarterly topical webinars. 
  • Facilitate discussion within Workforce Wednesday Collab for guidance framing the topics for webinars and coordinating with other Federal TA centers.
  • Coordinate additional planning meetings with core and/or collaborating partners as needed to clarify topics.
  • Draft materials and coordinate review of drafts through both internal and external channels.
  • Reconcile feedback and finalize materials.

We will consider exceptional candidates who demonstrate a strong combination of the specific qualifications and skills described below.

• Master’s degree preferred in an early childhood-related field including psychology, political science, or education.
• 7+ years of experience managing multiple projects involving numerous stakeholders.
• 3+ years’ experience in the field (early childhood, human services, health, etc.)
• Knowledge of technology (MS Office, Zoom, Teams, other virtual communication tools, etc.)
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Knowledge and experience in group facilitation.
• Deep knowledge of and experience in at least one central child- and family-serving system such as health, early learning, or child welfare.
• Commitment to work with colleagues and partner with individuals and groups of leaders to advance to equity.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, time management, project management, and interpersonal skills with exceptional attention to detail.
• Ability to think strategically with an ability to see the big picture while managing details.
• Travel as needed.
• State services experience, preferred.
• Experience with federal grants, preferred.

Physical Demands/Work Environment

The physical demands described here are representative of those for this position. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions. Work is performed in an office environment and in close proximity to other workers.

While performing the duties of this position, the employee is required to:

• Handle, or feel objects, tools or controls;
• Reach; traverse; sit (usually for longer periods of time); occasionally ascend/descend; and position self (to) move;
• Occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds;
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate;
• Job is not subject to significant occupational or environmental hazards;
• Likelihood of personal injury would be relatively slight;
• Environmental and work hazards are not present to a measurable degree.

Compensation and Benefits

Location: Work will be primarily performed remotely.

Schedule: Monday – Friday; 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Compensation: The pay range for this position is $85,000 - $100,000/yr and is commensurate with experience.

Benefits: This position is eligible for a full benefits package including:

• Generous Paid-Time-Off (PTO): 12 paid holidays, 3 weeks vacation, 1 week personal holiday, and health leave time for full-time staff;
• 80% Employer-paid, offering some $0 deductible Health Insurance through Harvard Pilgrim along with several low-deductible plans;
• Low-cost MetLife Dental and Vision;
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) for Health and Dependent Care;
• Employer-paid Life, Long- and Short-Term Disability Insurance;
• Employer-paid Pension through TIAA;
• ...and more!

TSNE/BUILD strives to achieve excellence through a diverse, equitable, and inclusive work environment that embraces all of our individual and collective differences. Black, Indigenous, People of Color, Middle Eastern and North African, Bilingual and/or Bicultural candidates, and LGBTQ2SIA+ candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. We value and honor the unique talents, learning styles, and lived experiences of each individual that enrich and strengthen our workplace culture, and we are proud to be an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer.

All employment conditions are based on an individual’s performance and job qualifications. TSNE/BUILD prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, creed, color, religion, native language, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, national origin, physical or mental disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, parental status, pregnancy, race-based hairstyles, or any other protected characteristic stated by federal and state law. Regardless of any class’ protection under the law or lack thereof, TSNE/BUILD celebrates diversity and values the strengths that come with having a diverse team of employees. It is represented in our workplace culture, and it is who we are.

TSNE/BUILD's EEO statement extends to volunteers, interns, contractors, vendors, and clients.