Employment

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Opportunity Council is an Equal Opportunity Employer. If you are an applicant and need ADA accommodations or other assistance, please contact Human Resources at hrrecruiting@oppco.org. For more information: https://www.eeoc.gov/know-your-rights-workplace-discrimination-illegal-poster

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, TRAINING REQUIREMENTS:

1. B.A. in Early Childhood Education/Child Development (advanced degree preferred).
2. Minimum three years’ related experience working with children birth to three and families in an educational or social service setting.
3. Minimum three years’ supervisory and management experience and training in supervisory skills, communications, group process, observation techniques, data analysis, management, and organization.
4. Demonstrated experience in providing training to adults.
5. Basic knowledge of comprehensive early childhood development philosophy and culture (e.g. child care, Head Start, ECEAP, Early Intervention, Early Head Start, etc.).
6. Training or experience in social services, emphasizing working with disadvantaged families and children with special needs.
7. Knowledge of Washington State’s early learning plans, childcare licensing requirements, and learning regulations; WA Quality Recognition Improvement System (QRIS) standards and goals; federal, state and local relevant regulations; and general operational parallels in programs.8. Experience with oversight of digital systems, databases, and devices used to maintain documentation, data, and records, as well as for daily digital communications.9. Experience communicating effectively with children, families and child care providers from diverse backgrounds and cultures, including the ability to adapt verbal and written communications to as needed.

SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED:

1. Competence in observing children and adults and in developing appropriate plans.
2. Ability to develop, facilitate, and evaluate children's learning plans based on brain science.
3. Organizational skills including planning, coordinating, and facilitating services, documentation and record keeping, data analysis and presentation, and time management.
4. Ability to effectively communicate with individuals, as a group leader/trainer and through public speaking.
5. Excellent language skills, including an ability to read and express oneself clearly both verbally and in writing, including group facilitation skills.
6. Demonstrated ability to relate well to families of varying cultural, educational, and socioeconomic backgrounds, including families under stress, in a supportive, assertive and nonjudgmental manner.
7. Ability to develop public awareness, and access resources, including government and philanthropic grant writing.
8. Excellent innovation skills; frequently assists in creating new or improved methods, procedures, or systems. Job regularly requires independent, creative thinking in collaboration with others to address operational, functional, budgetary, or service issues.
9. Ability to adapt interpersonal skills in response to individual styles, personalities and cultures.
10. Ability to mentor, lead and coach supervised staff members.
11. Proficiency in the use of computers and related information technologies for agency communications and record-keeping requirements.
12.  Skilled at resolving differences of opinion, using tact and diplomacy, such as settling complaints or negotiating with a diversity of agency and community resources. Resolution of issues may occasionally require actions beyond standard practices.

COMPETENCIES

• SELF-MANAGEMENT: Practices good self-management, including self-awareness, role clarity, strategic planning, goal alignment, and emotional regulation.
• BUILD RELATIONSHIPS AND TRUST: Builds relationships and trust with staff, peers, community partners, and key state/regional-level contacts through effective communication, empathy and compassion, vulnerability, transparency, credibility, and reliability.
• BELONGING: Creates a strong sense of community and belonging by creating a strong shared sense of organizational purpose, prioritizing growth and career pathing, increasing conflict resolution and problem-solving skills, setting and modeling performance standards, taking initiative, and regularly celebrating and rewarding achievements.
• COMMUNICATION: Engages in public speaking, listens effectively to foster cohesive bonds, commitment, and trust, and resolves disputes using tact and diplomacy.
• COACHING: Adopts a coaching mindset staff to facilitate group training, collaborate on a shared vision and goals, cultivate a growth mindset, and engage in transparent and vulnerable discussion.
• CRITICAL THINKING: Uses critical thinking and problem-solving skills to use creative and innovative approaches to solve complex problems.
• ORGANIZATIONAL SKILLS: Demonstrates superior organizational skills, including goal setting, prioritizing tasks, time management, decision making, managing expectations and shared goals, and collaborating and communicating as needed to ensure delivery of timely results.
• ACCOUNTABILITY: Takes accountability for decisions, work performance, and results.
• CHANGE: Champions change, creating adaptable teams that can quickly change course and evolve with agency’s needs.

 ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS UPON HIRING:

1. Must have initial health examination indicating you are fit for duty and free from communicable disease within 60 days of hire. Medical check-ups might be required every two years thereafter.
2. Must have current First Aid card and Infant/Child CPR training (or obtain within 30 days), and must maintain current certificates for length of employment.
3. Must have TB test and submit test results prior to hire date.
4. Must submit to a criminal-records check and obtain a Washington Portable Background clearance to ascertain that the applicant has not been convicted of a child abuse or neglect offense per Washington State Child Abuse Law (Ch. 486, Laws of 1987) or DSHS licensing requirements.
5. Must submit abstract of driving record for previous 5 years prior to start date and must have good driving record and be insurable under Opportunity Council’s insurance policy and be able to maintain insurance coverage throughout employment.
6. Must have valid Washington State Driver’s License or obtain by date of hire.

Remote Work: Job is onsite, remote work depends on needs of organization and department

Essential Employee: This position is not an essential employee.

Working Conditions: Work is generally performed in a fast-paced office environment with frequent interruptions and occasional crisis situations. Frequently requires local travel to classroom sites or for community networking, meetings, special workshops and training's, and other job-related activities. Occasional regional or national travel for professional development or collaborations that may require overnight stays.

OPPORTUNITY COUNCIL HAS AN EXCELLENT BENEFITS PACKAGE:

Many of our benefits programs are voluntary for employees.

ABOUT BELLINGHAM:
Live in a community consistently rated as one of the most desirable in the USA! Nestled on Bellingham Bay at the foot of the Cascade Mountains just a short distance from Seattle, Vancouver, BC, and the San Juan Islands, the City of Bellingham is home to over 90,000 people and surrounded by a stunning natural landscape and charming small towns.

Enjoy all the area has to offer:
- Recreational & Outdoor Activities (Hiking, Biking, Skiing, Snow Boarding, Fishing, Sailing, Kayaking, & Camping)
- Excellent Schools (University, Community College, Technical School, & Outstanding K-12 Educational System)
- Small Town or City Living (Unique Shops, Local Festivals, Farmers Markets, Berry Picking, & Community Events)
- Cultural Activities (Theater, Music, Independent Films, Museums, Art Studios, & Diverse Local Restaurants)

We strongly encourage people of color, LGBTQIA+ individuals, Veterans, and people with disabilities to apply. Our goal is to be a diverse workforce that is representative, at all job levels, of the community we serve. We are proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and do not permit discrimination based on creed, color, national origin, gender, gender expression or identity, sexual orientation, religion, marital status, family status, pregnancy, military or protected veteran status, age, genetic status, and/or physical, mental or sensory disability, use of a service animal, and any other status protected by federal, state, or local law. We place a strong value on hiring individuals with lived experiences of, poverty and/or homelessness or who have previously participated in Opportunity Council programs or other social services.