Goal: United Way of Northern Utah (UWNU) is seeking an energetic, dynamic individual who is passionate about Early Childhood Education to serve as the Learn with Playgroups (LWP) Program Coordinator. This new position will focus heavily on building out our new school-based Playgroup model as well as supporting our overall Playgroup program.
Learn with Playgroup is a free research-based learning experience for parents and their children ages 0-5 in Weber County. According to the Utah State Board of Education, two-thirds of children in Weber County do not attend preschool, making the first day of kindergarten their first day in a formal classroom setting. Learn with Playgroup helps children prepare for kindergarten and academic success by giving parents and their children the chance to attend a free two-hour playgroup each week. Parents and their children participate in guided play, stories, crafts, snacks, and some structured group activities. The experience exposes children to basic pre-K learning opportunities, increased socialization, and exposure to healthy snacks. Learn with Playgroup also offers social support for parents, provides parents with information on community resources, and increases parent involvement in their children’s education and development.
The Learn with Playgroup program is a community-based program that leverages volunteers and community support. Developing and maintaining community partnerships is an integral part of this position.
Key Responsibilities:
- Coordinate LWP classes and events with school admin, including principals, Community School Coordinators, etc.
- Implement programmatic changes, updates, and additions in cooperation with host schools and LWP staff.
- Oversee management of volunteers in school-based playgroups.
- Manage families in school-based playgroups; handle recruitment, manage volunteer assignments, and track needs-based referrals, developmental screenings, data input, and updates.
- Work closely with AmeriCorps members serving in schools to help them maximize their efforts
- Coordinate with Learn with Playgroup Program Manager and UWNU Marketing Manager on various projects and promotions for LWP in the schools.
- Track outcomes and performance measures.
- Develop and maintain strong partnerships with schools and school district
Staff Management and Supervision:
- Work closely with LWP Program Manager to help lead the overall program
- Support and supervise the following positions:
- Learn with Playgroups AmeriCorps VISTA(s) (when applicable)
- Learn with Playgroups AmeriCorps Members (when applicable)
Required Competencies:
- Relationship-Oriented: Understands that people come before process and is astute in cultivating and managing relationships toward a common goal.
- Strength in Leadership: Has a solid understanding of and experience in managing staff, possessing the ability to instill a positive, optimistic attitude in staff; transmission of sense of mission to the team.
- Collaborator: Understands the roles and contributions of all team members, community partners, and program funders.
- Mission-Focused: Catalyze others’ commitment to the mission to create real social change that leads to better lives for children, parents, and the community.
- Results-Driven: Dedicated to shared goals and measurable results leveraging strategies and innovations for broad investment and impact.
- Action-Oriented: Look to find new solutions to challenges, take on new opportunities and look for innovative actions to best focus on Early Childhood needs.
Position Requirements:
- Knowledge of infant and child development, parent-child attachment, and/or family studies
- Experience in providing services to culturally and economically diverse populations.
- Experience with family services that embrace the concepts of family-centered and strength-based service provision
- Demonstrated leadership capabilities
- Demonstrated ability to collaborate with multiple institutions
- High standards of professional ethics and conduct
- Strong interpersonal skills, public speaking skills, and written communication skills
- Strong skills in Microsoft Office and Google Suite
- Able to regularly travel throughout Northern Utah and occasionally work evenings/Saturdays
- Punctually attend and actively participate in all required activities, events, meetings, and training
- Project professionalism as a leader of the LWP department through dress and manner
- Maintain respect and confidentiality of information regarding enrolled children and families, personnel issues, labor relations matters, and other program operations as appropriate.
Wage: $18.00 - 20.00/hour based on experience and qualifications.
Hours: Part-time, 20-25 hours per week
Benefits: Sick and vacation leave, 403(b) match up to 10% after 1 year
Location: Ogden, Utah (work at UWNU headquarters in Ogden and on-site at various schools in Ogden School District)
Apply: Send a cover letter and resume to Melissa Kloz at mkloz@uwnu.org
Close Date: Open until filled
NOTE: The statements in this position description are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed but are not to be seen as a complete list of responsibilities, duties, and skills required of the person employed. Also, the statements do not establish a contract for employment and are subject to change at the discretion of the employer.