Child Care Information Specialist
Cambridge, MA
NOTICE OF POSTING
POSTING DATE: March 1, 2023
RESUME AND COVER LETTER REQUESTED BY 4/3/23 VIA EMAIL TO e[email protected] POSITION WILL REMAIN OPEN UNTIL FILLED
Cambridge residents are especially encouraged to apply.
Department:
Human Service Programs
Job Title:
Child Care Information Specialist
Job Code:
M647-701
Civil Service Position:
Non Civil Service position
Union Affiliation:
None
Hours Per Week:
25 hours/week (occasional evening and weekend work)
ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT:
A collaboration between the City of Cambridge and Cambridge Public Schools, the mission of the Office of Early Childhood is to connect the Cambridge early childhood ecosystem, align early childhood services and information, and advocate for and advance the needs of all young children, their families, and the early childhood workforce. The vision for this work is that every child and family in Cambridge has access to high quality early care and education experiences. As a result, all children enter school ready to thrive academically, physically, socially, and emotionally and continue to do so through third grade and beyond.
ABOUT THE ROLE:The Child Care Information Specialist is a family and community facing position; charged with understanding the early childhood ecosystem in Cambridge including program types, funding options, and application/enrollment processes. The Child Care Information Specialist reports to the Director of Family and Community Engagement.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Manages child care information for the city and shares that information with other offices who connect with and support families.
- Ensures comprehensive list of programs and providers in the city of Cambridge is accurate and up-to-date.
- Ensure accurate child care information is shared across city platforms and works collaboratively with Find It, the Center for Families, and others so that information provided across offices and platforms provides families with the necessary resources and/or directs them to the correct offices.
- Keeps all child care information tools and resources current; working collaboratively with the OEC team to ensure best practices in early childhood are reflected, and that any deliverables for families are attractive, simple, and easy to use.
- Field phone calls and email inquiries from families and caregivers seeking early education and care program information.
- Serve as a guide to families through the process of identification, selection, and financing of child care programming that best suits family needs.
- Support families in considering the many aspects of a program including location, approach to learning, cost, classroom ratios, etc.
- Maintain a rapport with early education and care programs across the city.
- Assist with the application and enrollment process for UPK during key points throughout the year.
- Learn about, and keep current on:
- Cambridge's UPK program and processes
- the MA Department of Early Education and Care resources for families
- the MA options for help with paying for child care (child care vouchers, contracted slots and other options)
- Cambridge infant toddler and preschool programs
- Cambridge early childhood family support programs
- Other Cambridge and state programs and departments that work with families including agencies that support families with housing, economic assistance, food resources, mental health, and other social services
- CCR&R locations in surrounding cities
- Maintain professional boundaries and confidentiality at all times.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:
- Associate degree or equivalent work experience in early childhood education or human services.
- Experience working with children and families from diverse backgrounds.
- Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
- Highly organized.
- Strong interpersonal skills.
- Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.
- Strong technological skills.
- Experience working in an urban setting and with diverse groups.
- Ability to work some nights and weekends.
- Knowledge of Cambridge community is an asset.
- The City of Cambridge's workforce, like the community it serves, is diverse. Applicants must have the ability to work and interact effectively with individuals and groups with a variety of identities, cultures, backgrounds, and ideologies.
WORK ENVIRONMENT: Standard office environment. Fluorescent lighting and air conditioning. Some offices may be carpeted. Moderate noise level. This position may be eligible for hybrid work under the City's new Telework Policy, depending on operational needs.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS: Ability to access, input and retrieve information from a computer. Ability to answer phones and maintain multiple files and ability to lift a minimum of at least 10 pounds. Ability to travel throughout the City of Cambridge to various meetings, etc. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
BENEFITS SUMMARY:
- Competitive health, dental, and vision insurance
- Vacation and Sick leave eligible
- Sick Incentive Pay Eligible
- 3 Personal days
- 14 Paid Holidays
- Management Allowance, $2,700/year
- City employee commuter benefits (T-Pass reimbursement, Bluebikes membership, EZRide Shuttle membership)
RATE: $40.77 – $48.24 per hour + excellent benefits
APPLICATION PROCEDURE:
Internal applicants submit a job bidding form and 2 copies of both your resume and cover letter; external applicants submit both your resume and cover letter via email to: [email protected] or to the Personnel Dept, Room 309, City Hall, 795 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge MA 02139. Fax 617-349-4312. Resume and cover letter requested by 04/03/23. Position will remain open until filled.
THE CITY OF CAMBRIDGE IS AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER AND DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE ON THE BASIS OF RACE, COLOR, SEX, RELIGION, AGE, NATIONAL ORIGIN, DISABILITY OR ANY OTHER PROTECTED CATEGORY. WOMEN, MINORITIES, VETERANS, MEMBERS OF THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY, AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY. CITY OF CAMBRIDGE RESIDENTS ARE ESPECIALLY ENCOURAGED TO APPLY. AUXILIARY AIDS AND SERVICES, WRITTEN MATERIALS IN ALTERNATIVE FORMATS, AND REASONABLE MODIFICATIONS IN POLICIES AND PROCEDURES WILL BE PROVIDED TO QUALIFIED INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES FREE OF CHARGE, UPON REQUEST. The City is committed to advancing a workforce culture of antiracism, diversity, equity, and inclusion.