Child Care Business Outreach Specialist

Job Summary: Provides comprehensive business services, outreach, and support to the South Texas child care industry. The goal of the position is to increase the capacity and quality of child care centers/homes throughout the 3-county region. This is a very responsible position with independent decision-making authority.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

• Conducts a needs assessment with all contracted and non-contracted providers in the South Texas area to document business support needs.
• Develop strategies to address the identified needs, such as increasing business capacity, streamlining business processes, hiring qualified child care staff, increasing quality of providers, and increasing capacity.
• Maintains awareness of overall business climate in the region, state and nation and is able to provide workforce intelligence for internal and external use.
• Works with child care providers to increase capacity in both staffing and classroom space with an emphasis on infant and toddler care.
• Develops and maintains strong relationships with businesses, education, and community partners throughout the region connecting early childhood education to workforce.
• Develops and maintains strong relationships with Small Business Administration, Chamber of Commerce’s and Economic Developers throughout the region
• Connect with TWC-funded business coaching and business training.
• Understands the labor market and demographic information for use in meeting with child care owners/directors. Understands the TWC tools – including but not limited to texaslmi.com and lmci.state.tx.us – and relays relevant data to aid in decision-making.
• Partners with Workforce Solutions South Texas Office staff to help child care centers/homes with workforce assistance services including hiring and retention of staff. Encourages child care providers to participate in local job fairs and hiring events.
• Promotes Texas Rising Star (TRS) program. Refers any questions or concerns to the Child Care Coordinator.
• Provides opportunities for technical assistance in the areas of budgeting, management, staffing/human relations, skills for small businesses, materials, and trainings.
• Promotes the use of WorkInTexas.com as a tool to expand staffing opportunities.
• Promotes state and local incentive and grant funding opportunities.
• Develops and maintains a current list of all active and contracted providers in the South Texas Workforce Development Area.
• Works with non-contracted providers to encourage contracting with Workforce Solutions South Texas Child Care Services (CCS).
• Connects with the Texas Department of Agriculture to learn about the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP)
• Promote the Texas Child Care Availability Portal and the Texas Early Childhood Professional Development System (TECPDS)
• Provides technical assistance, outreach, education, and training sessions to providers regarding changes in local, state and federal regulations as well as updates/changes to the Texas Health and Human Services Child Care Regulations (CCR).
• Conducts outreach, education, and technical assistance to assist prospective new child care providers in understanding requirements, local ordinances, funding opportunities and resource opportunities to create new child care operations.
• Liaisons with South Texas child care development specialists, Texas Health and Human Services Child Care Regulation department, and business partners to ensure all entities have the most up-to-date information.
• Assist with child care provider reviews as needed.
• Assists in the development and creation of reports for the Board and various Committees.
• Assists in special projects such as apprenticeships, internships, externships, conferences and TWC grants.
• Attend trainings provided by TWC.
• Travel is required within region and limited overnight travel may be required to attend regional, state, or national conferences, workshops, meetings, or trainings.
• Maintain confidentiality of child care center staff and families.
• Other responsibilities as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Must have excellent organizational and customer service skills
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with child care providers, local employers, child care services staff, workforce center staff and board staff.
• Should be knowledgeable of classroom management strategies
• Experience in developing business plans, managing budgets and providing business coaching
• Experience working with children, parents and/or providers.
• Must be a skilled and effective oral and written communicator with demonstrated ability to work with diverse populations
• Must be proficient in a variety of computer software applications
• Must be able to travel/transport themselves to designated sites as assigned.

Required Education, TRAINING, AND/OR LICENSES

• Graduate form an accredited college or university with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business or the Social/Behavioral Sciences preferred.
• Minimum of two (2) years management experience with knowledge in the workforce development system or similar setting.
• Familiar and sensitive to the unique needs of the target population.
• Demonstrated supervisory skills and dedication to the issues facing the workers and employers
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred.

AND

A valid driver’s license and access to reliable transportation (local, in-state, and out-of-state travel is required)

AND

Pass background check as required by providers.

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Federal Classification: Salaried, Exempt