SHINE ECE Coordinator (INTERNAL ONLY)

Description

Pay Grade: I

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Who we are. We protect lives.The Georgia Department of Public Health is the lead agency entrusted by the people of Georgia to proudly protect lives and promote healthy lifestyles in diverse communities statewide. We are committed to preventing disease, injury, and disability; promoting health and well-being; and preparing the State of Georgia for responding to disasters.

What we offer. As a member of the Georgia Department of Public Health team, you will join a passionate group of individuals who are dedicated to making an impact. No matter your role, you will individually contribute to protecting the lives of all Georgians while receiving a wide range of benefits, so you can:

• Make a Professional Impact – Build your career where it matters and protect lives in the community where you live, work, and play
• Enjoy Workplace Flexibility – Experience flexibility in how you work so you can be your best self for you and Georgia Residents
• Work with a Dynamic and Diverse Team– Collaborative and inclusive way of working where employees share ideas and leverage collective strengths
• Achieve Career Longevity – Countless opportunities for continuous learning/development that support a long-term career
• Take Part in a Hands-on Working Culture – Unique culture of active engagement and problem-solving, no matter your role
• Feel Pride in Where you Work – Be part of making an impact in public health alongside dedicated people just like you

Job Responsibilities

The Early Childhood Education (ECE) Coordinator works in Baldwin, Hancock, and Washington Counties with early childhood education (ECE) providers and partners as part of North Central Health District’s Supporting Health Initiatives & Nurturing Equity (SHINE) Program. This role focuses on supporting the implementation of policies and activities that promote better nutrition, physical activity, breastfeeding, and the advancement of Farm to Early Care and Education within ECE settings. Funded by a five-year cooperative agreement with CDC’s Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) program, this program aims to improve health and prevent chronic diseases across communities nationwide, with a specific focus on enhancing the health of individuals in Baldwin, Hancock, and Washington Counties. Reporting to the SHINE Program Manager, the ECE Coordinator is responsible for implementing the SHINE ECE workplan. The ECE Coordinator is a member of the SHINE team and collaborates with the communications specialist and coordinators working in nutrition, active living, and vaccine promotion.

In collaboration with the SHINE Program Manager, The ECE Coordinator will identify key priority areas such as nutrition, physical activity, breastfeeding support, and/or Farm to ECE, and will develop activities and strategies to address these focus areas. The ideal candidate should have experience in early care and education and a proven ability to build and nurture partnerships.

This position will be based in Baldwin County and does not offer relocation assistance. The candidate must live within a reasonable commuting distance. Reliable transportation and the ability to travel are required for the ECE Coordinator role. While standard working hours will be Monday through Friday, work will sometimes be required on weekends, holidays, or evenings due to scheduled community events and the community engagement requirements of this position.

This is a grant-funded position and subject to available grant funds.

Implement SHINE ECE Strategy:

• Surveys ECE providers in the three counties about existing nutrition, physical activity, and breastfeeding policies and Farm to ECE activities and interest in working in these areas.
• Demonstrates Farm to ECE activities at selected ECE sites.
• Develops mini-grant program for ECE sites interested in participating in Farm to ECE activities.
• Work closely with North Central Health District’s WIC program in outreach to ECE providers related to enrollment in the WIC program and breastfeeding promotion through breast-feeding friendly policies.

Partnership Development:

• Build strong collaborative relationships with public health colleagues in Baldwin, Hancock, and Washington Counties working on the SHINE program, at health departments, WIC, and other public health programs.
• Foster relationships with local early childhood education (ECE) sites, programs, and coalitions, including but not limited to Head Start programs, Child Care Learning Centers, and Family Child Care Learning Homes.
• Establish connections with regional and state ECE partners, such as the regional Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies, the Department of Early Care & Learning (DECAL), and other statewide organizations that advocate for high-quality early childhood education.
• Identify potential new partners and implement strategies to cultivate and strengthen relationships for sustained collaboration.
• Engage in community events to enhance partnerships and promote collaborative efforts.
• Attend routine meetings, both in person and virtually, to ensure consistent communication and collaboration with partners and stakeholders.

Reporting and other administrative duties

• Maintain detailed records of all work and assist in fulfilling the grant deliverables and reporting requirements.
• Participate in technical assistance calls with assigned CDC project officer.
• Contribute to the development of annual SHINE workplans, annual progress reports, and budget.
• Participate in CDC Webinars, conference calls, site visits, and other technical assistance activities.
• In coordination with External Evaluators and SHINE Program Manager, collect and track performance measure data that is reported annually to CDC.

SKILLS AND QUALITIES THAT WILL LEAD TO SUCCESS IN THIS ROLE:

• Self-driven, enthusiastic, and proactive.
• Strong oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Problem-solving skills and adaptability in dynamic environments.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team, collaborating effectively with diverse groups.
• Ability to prioritize tasks effectively.
• Attention to detail.

Minimum Qualifications

Master’s degree in a related field from an accredited college or university OR Bachelor’s degree in a related field from an accredited college or university AND Two years of experience performing work related to area of assignment OR six years of experience related to area of assignment.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• One year of experience working in an Early Childhood Education setting.
• Work experience in rural Georgia or experience in a similar setting.

Additional Information

Georgia Department of Public Health Commissioner and leaders encourages all employees to engage in regular physical activities and to make lifestyle choices that promote health and well-being. The use of physical breaks during the workday is authorized to support this philosophy and assist employees in meeting their physical goals. A maximum of 30 minutes in a given workday may be used to engage in physical activities, generally in the form of two 15-minute breaks or one 30-minute break.

Employment Information

Current State employees are subject to State Personnel Board rules regarding salary.

DPH accepts educational credential recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and/or the US Department of Education (DOE) will be considered. DPH will contact educational institutions to verify degree, diploma, licensure, etc.

The candidate selected for this position may be subject to pre-employment drug screening and a criminal background check.

As an employee of DPH, in the event of an identified emergency you may be required, as a term and condition of employment, to assist in meeting the emergency responsibilities of the department.

If you require accommodations under the American Disability Act (ADA), email request by the closing date of this announcement to: DPH-HR@dph.ga.gov.

DPH is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Due to the volume of applications received, we are unable to provide information on application status by phone or e-mail. All qualified applicants will be considered, but may not necessarily receive an interview. Selected applicants will be contacted by the hiring agency for next steps in the selection process. Applicants who are not selected will not receive notification.

This position is subject to close at any time once a satisfactory applicant pool has been identified.