Program Specialist, VOCEL Families

VOCEL•Chicago, IL

1d•$62,138 - $65,052•Hybrid

About The Position

VOCEL is seeking a thoughtful and mission-driven Program Specialist for VOCEL Families to strengthen and grow VOCEL’s family-facing programs and initiatives rooted in play and equity. Reporting to a Program Manager, VOCEL Families, you’ll work with parents and other adults supporting and raising young children by providing two-generation classes, workshops, and by supporting other parents to lead their peers. In this role, you will implement and advance VOCEL’s family-programming, ensuring that people raising young children are supported with the knowledge, resources, and ongoing support that will help them and their children thrive. This role is critical to VOCEL’s family-centered programming and allows for skill-building in early childhood development, facilitation, and collaboration and has meaningful impact on families in and around Chicago.

Requirements

At least 3 years in early childhood development programming or teaching
A passion for early childhood education and deep alignment with VOCEL’s core values: Put People First, Welcome All, Embrace the Child Within, Innovate with Intention, Promote Equity, and Build a Better Tomorrow
Proven experience working with families
Bilingual in English and Spanish required
Local to Chicago
Collaboration: You can work with people from differing backgrounds and positions to achieve outcomes and goals
Strong Commitment to Equity: You prioritize diversity, equity, and inclusion and proactively seek out diverse perspectives and ideas in your analysis, design, and collaboration that celebrate different cultures, learning styles, and language.
Effective Relationship Building Skills: You form trusting and honest relationships with people, fostering good communication, vulnerability, and a desire to engage
Facilitation: You are able to command a room and create a welcoming and trusting environment that encourages conversation and idea sharing while keeping to a schedule
Organization: You can keep details organized and maintain schedules and deadlines
Documentation of U.S. citizenship or eligibility to work in the U.S. is required.

Responsibilities

Facilitate two-generation classes for parents and children (20-40%)
Serve as a co-facilitator in the child-adult classroom, virtually and in-person, supporting learning through play
Model responses to children’s words, sounds and gestures (with narration, repetition, extension, questions, etc.); our staff act as “language builders,” bringing high levels of conversation and vocabulary into all classes
Engage with caregivers and children in conversation and play, as individuals and in groups
Engage parents in conversations and peer-sharing on early childhood development topics in a welcome and supportive environment
Provide individual children with developmental and trauma screenings at the request of caregivers
Offer referrals for additional support when needed, including supplies, therapy, and other supportive services
Build rapport and relationships with Parent Leaders
Regularly meet with Parent Leaders to discuss challenges, strengths, questions, and ideas and maintain adherence to The VOCEL Way and play philosophy
Regular communication with Parent Leaders using Engage Spaces, email, slack, Whatsapp, etc. as needed
Conduct class observations at each assigned cohort at least once per program session and provide feedback
Facilitate individual and series-based workshops for groups of parents and/or adults working with children
Work with Director of Curriculum to adjust workshops based on audience and provide concrete resources and research
Validate primary caregivers as their child’s first and best teacher and honor their individual and family cultures, experiences, and perspectives
Coordinate with staff and Parent Leaders to ensure adherence to and understanding of the VOCEL curriculum
Coordinate with Director of Programs, VOCEL Families and Parent Leaders to ensure that all sites have necessary supplies
Enter data in Salesforce, tracking program targets including, but not limited to member enrollment, engagement, attendance, assessments, etc.
Maintain and use Engage Spaces, including archiving and inviting members
Support partnership development by attending community events, recruitment events, and school-walk-throughs, as requested by the Director or Programs, VOCEL Families and Director of Partnerships
Perform clerical responsibilities and other duties as assigned
Participate in required staff, committee, and/or Board meetings
Provide support for development events
Protect the organization by keeping information confidential
Other duties as assigned.

Benefits

Health, dental, and vision insurance (50-60% covered by VOCEL)
IRA with employer matching up to 3%
Generous monthly technology reimbursement
Mileage reimbursement
Generous paid time off including: Paid holidays with opportunity to swap holidays for personal/religious observance
12 days of elective paid time off per year
Additional breaks throughout the year, exact number of days variable based on calendar and determined by VOCEL
Up to 5 paid sick days
Up to 5 paid self, family, and community care days
“VOCEL Fridays” (staff work an abbreviated workday ending at 1 pm)