About the Role
FIRST 5 Santa Clara County
For consideration, applicants must apply directly to our hiring portal: https://recruiting.myapps.paychex.com/appone/MainInfoReq.asp?R_ID=5424197
Summary of Position
Under the direction of a Director of Early Learning, the Program Officer is a key member of the FIRST 5 Early Learning Team that manages initiatives supporting children, families, the early learning and childcare workforce, and the community. This position requires knowledge of the early learning and childcare landscape at the local, regional, state and/or federal levels. Building and maintaining relationships with grantees, partners, and stakeholders is key to this position’s success, as is the ability to implement strategic priorities, achieve impact goals, and effectively manage multiple projects and initiatives. The ability to work in a collaborative team environment both within and across departments is required. A key framework for the Early Learning initiatives includes a focus on continuous quality improvement of early learning and childcare programs through the statewide Quality Counts California initiative, and the Santa Clara County Quality Matters initiative, in partnership with the Santa Clara County Office of Education, among others. This position is part of a bargaining unit represented by Local SEIU 521.
About the Company
EOE STATEMENTFIRST 5 Santa Clara County is an Equal Opportunity Employer and celebrates diversity and inclusivity. We prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, non-disqualifying physical or mental disability, national origin, veteran status or any other basis covered by appropriate law. FIRST 5 Santa Clara County strongly encourages women, people of color, LGBTQIA+ individuals, people with disabilities, members of ethnic minorities, foreign-born residents, and veterans to apply. If you are a member of one of the aforementioned groups, you are encouraged to voluntarily self-identify, on either your application form, covering letter or resume. ABOUT THE ORGANIZATIONFIRST 5 Santa Clara County (FIRST 5) was formed when California voters approved Proposition 10 in November 1998. FIRST 5 is a public entity governed by a nine member Commission. FIRST 5 Santa Clara County supports the healthy development of children prenatal through age 5 and enriches the lives of their families. FIRST 5 allocates funds to promote, support, and improve early childhood development for children prenatal through age 5 and their families.
Through an extensive planning process, the community identified four domains in which FIRST 5 focuses its resources: (1) Health Care; (2) Family Support; (3) Early Care and Education; and (4) Neighborhood and Community Engagement. The Commission then adopted five primary goals that address each of these domains: (1) Children are born healthy and experience optimal health and development; (2) Families provide safe, stable, loving and stimulating homes; (3) Children enter school fully prepared to succeed academically, emotionally and socially; (4) Neighborhoods and communities are places where children are safe, neighbors are connected, and all cultures are respected; and (5) Systems are responsive to the needs of children and families. Potential applicants are encouraged to visit FIRST 5's website at www.first5kids.org in order to better understand FIRST 5's programs and services.