Executive Director of Early Childhood Pathways & Initiatives

GENERAL PURPOSE AND SCOPE OF THE POSITION

The Executive Director of Early Childhood Pathways & Initiatives will be responsible for successfully leading and implementing the College’s Lilly Endowment Grant designed to Transform Indiana’s Early Childhood Workforce; providing new opportunities for Hoosiers to enter the Early Childhood Education profession through innovative and diversified training and educational opportunities. Through the grant, the Executive Director will increase access to early childhood training and careers by facilitating collaborative partnerships with key early childhood agencies and organizations delivering on high-quality outcomes.

The Executive Director will be responsible for multi-year initiatives resulting in the development of competency model assessments and associated micro-credentials along with stackable pathways including access to early childhood apprenticeship programming. Responsibilities will also include facilitating partnerships with state and national Early Childhood agencies and organizations, as well as partnerships with four-year colleges and universities to advance new/innovative articulation agreements.

This position will be responsible for coordinating project deliverables, reporting, financial management, and metric management as stipulated in the grant proposal. This is a grant-funded, full-time position. There is no guarantee for continued employment beyond the 3-year grant period, which concludes on December 31st, 2027.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide project leadership and management for the development and implementation of all training-related grant activities, metrics, and initiatives on a statewide level.

• Provide statewide strategic leadership around Early Childhood programming and initiatives derived through facilitated collaboration with a statewide group of thought partners engaged in asset and opportunity mapping; provide regular updates to external stakeholders.

• Collaborate with internal subject matter experts, statewide curriculum committees and faculty within Early Childhood Education, to secure insight on how to best recruit and educate our students pursuing careers in early childhood education, including identification of the student success resources needed to support their success.

• Lead efforts around competency assessment tool development, adult apprenticeship programming, and microcredential programming, as well as early childhood academic pathways including expansion and growth of articulation agreements with 4-year institutions.

• Analyze campus structures and readiness for Kids on Campus, a program of the National Head Start Association and the Association of Community College Trustees,

• Complete programmatic reporting as required by the scope of the grant agreement; providing clear and consistent communication with Ivy Tech faculty, staff, and administrators, as well as partner organizations about the progress of the grant-funded initiatives.

• Manage the grant budget, including spending, projections, leveraging resources and allowable cost activities under Uniform Guidance regulations.

• Arrange, conduct, and report out from meetings, both virtually and in person, to facilitate grant activities which may include travel to Ivy Tech campuses, to facilitate/attend meetings with external partners, and attend related in-state and out-of-state conferences as appropriate.

• Collaborate regularly with Systems Office Grants Management to review grant spending and activities follow regulations.

The above list is not to be construed as an exhaustive list. Other duties logically associated with the position may be assigned. All responsibilities will be conducted within the parameters of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), other applicable regulatory requirements, and professional standards.

          

SUPERVISION RECEIVED:  Vice President for Academic Affairs & Associate Provost

SUPERVISION GIVEN: Statewide Director of Early Childhood Programming & Statewide Director of Early Childhood Academic Pathways

EDUCATION: Bachelor's Degree in related field required; Masters or Doctoral degree preferred

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE:

• Knowledge and experience with the principles that guide effective Early Childhood Education programming along with a passion for advancing research-based early learning strategies within the state of Indiana

• Two or more years of related early childhood experience within early childhood and/or elementary education settings

• Must be able to effectively communicate, collaborate, and operate as a positive team member.

• Must demonstrate ability