Jobs/Roles in the ECE Community: Internationally

 

    The International Institute of Child Rights and Development

Overview

The International Institute for Child Rights and Development (IICRD) is a non-profit organization based in Victoria, Canada, devoted to advancing the quality of life and development of vulnerable children around the globe. We have been working on issues affecting children’s lives locally, nationally and internationally since 1994.

Our Mission
To enhance the capacity of individuals, organizations, and governments, to effectively use the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child to transform systems and create peace and dignity for children and our world.
(IICRD, 2014)

The IICRD works with the United Nations in order to protect the rights of children around the world.  Currently the organization has several projects in the works, Child Protection in Development Training Program (CPID), BC Council for International Cooperation (BCCIC) Peer Learning Circles, and Child-Centred Accountability and Protection Evaluation (CAPE). 

CPID - Child Protection in Development (CPID) is an innovative child protection learning program supporting young people and practitioners working with communities to protect and support the well-being of children and youth (IICRD, 2014).

BCCIC - The purpose of the Peer Learning Circles was to bring organizations and individuals together to share their collective strengths with the aim of improving our practices of ‘development effectiveness’ (IICRD, 2014).

CAPE - The Child-Centred Accountability and Protection Evaluation (CAPE) is a multi-institutional pilot project focused on measuring the impact of child protection services and programs addressing sexual abuse and exploitation (IICRD, 2014).

ACEI, a 501 (c) 3 charitable organization, is interested in sharing new approaches to the education of children and ensuring that these approaches are delivered in ways that enhance children's individual skills and abilities and provide opportunities for success in life (ACEI, 2014).

Our mission is to promote and support the optimal education, development, and well-being of children worldwide. We have consultative status with the United Nations (ACEI, 2014).

ACEI is a member’s based organization that offers support and information about the early childhood field.  They work closely with UNICEF and UN in order to provide all children in all nations with a bright future.  ACEI members have acted as social change agents, involving themselves in various critical societal issues in their efforts to ensure that children around the world are protected, supported, and educated in ways that allow them to reach their full potential (ACEI, 2014).

 

ICF International, formally known as Inner City Fund, was founded to help Inner City Businesses get started. They have grown internationally and “in 2006, ICF Consulting was renamed ICF International to reflect our growing geographic presence and increased scope of our service offerings from advisory services through implementation and improvement (IFC International (a), 2014).   One of their service offerings is in the education field.  ICF International works with policymakers and providers in early childhood, K-12, and postsecondary and adult education to develop and implement programs and policies for positive student and teacher outcomes (ICF International (a), 2014).  

ICF International Job Opportunities

Head Start Early Childhood Education Manager - Region IV

Health, Education, and Social Programs

Education, Community & Social Programs Division

Job Description:

ICF seeks an experienced Early Childhood Education (ECE) Manager to manage a team of Early Childhood Education (ECE) State Center Managers and ECE Specialists to establish and implement a quality control system. As part of this system the ECE Manager will provide ongoing mentoring and coaching to the ECE specialists. Mentor/coaching will be provided through reflective supervision and feedback, sharing best practices and lessons learned, and engaging in role modeling.  The ECE Manager will collaborate with the Region IV Office, TTA Coordinator; the Technical Liaison (TL): and ECE State Center Managers about TTA to be delivered to local programs. In addition, the ECE Manager will provide one-on-one management and supervision to ECE State Center Managers employed by ICF.  The ECE Manager will provide support and guidance on priorities established by OHS Central Office and the Region IV Office. This position is home-based in Region IV (NC, FL, GA, AL, MS, KY, TN, or SC) and will involve at least 30% travel to states within Region IV. 

Qualifications
Key Responsibilities:

§  Support the Professional Development of ECE State Managers and ECE Specialists by providing ongoing mentor/coaching..

§  Establish and implement a quality control system for the TTA provided by ECE Specialists.

§  Ensure that work plans, Monthly Travel Plans and other deliverables are met in a timely manner.

§  Maintain ongoing and effective communication with OHS Central Office, the Regional Office Technical Liaison, the TTA Coordinator and, as appropriate, STG staff responsible for service delivery to the state of Mississippi.

Qualifications

Basic Qualifications:

§  Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education or Child Development (18 ECE credits are required, transcripts will be requested).

§  Demonstrated client management and relationship building experience.

§  Minimum of 5 years working in a program serving young children, i.e. infants/toddlers and/or preschool age children.

§  Minimum of 3 years project management experience, specifically in supervising staff and managing complex projects at the state and/or Federal level a plus.

§  Minimum of 5 years training and technical assistance experience; this experience should include the provision of training and technical assistance and consultation with directors, board of directors, staff and parents; and experience analyzing and redesigning systems for Head Start programs in order to improve the effectiveness and quality of program operations.

§  Demonstrated experience coaching or mentoring others in order to improve/enhance performance

§  Significant background in use of data collection systems that track measurable outcomes.

§  Demonstrated knowledge of Head Start and Early Head Start performance standards and all applicable federal, state and local laws, rules and regulations.

Preferred Experience/Skills:

§  Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education or Child Development (18 ECE credits are required, transcripts will be requested).

§  Working knowledge of OHS priorities and regulations.

§  Familiarity with the Improving School Readiness for Head Start Act of 2007.

Professional Skills:

§  Experience with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel and PowerPoint) required.

§  Excellent verbal and written communication skills required.

§  Strong analytical, problem-solving and decision making capabilities.

§  Ability to work with all levels of internal staff, as well as outside clients.

§  Ability to mentor/coach TTA specialists.

§  Ability to provide presentations to individuals, small and large groups.

§  Ability to review, aggregate, and present data gathered from multiple sources.

§  Ability to work both independently and in a team environment.

§  Ability to prioritize and manage work load and deadlines.
 (IFC International (b), 2014)

My Thoughts:

I chose all three of these organizations because they all believe in high quality education for all children in all the nations.  ACEI’s logo is "Bright futures for every child, every nation" (ACEI, 2014).  As educators we can make a difference in the lives of all children and with these organizations we are given an opportunity to do just that, even if we are only members.

References

ACEI.  (2014). Association for Childhood Education International. Retrieved from  https://acei.org/global-gateway/education-around-the-world

IFC International (a). (2014).  Our History. Retrieved from http://www.icfi.com/about/our-history

IFC International (b). (2014).  IFC Career Opportunities. Retrieved from  https://icfi.taleo.net/careersection/icf_prof_ext/jobdetail.ftl?lang=en&job=1400001683

IICRD. (2014). The International Institute for Child Rights and Development. Retrieved from http://www.iicrd.org/