General Information

Organization Overview

Smart Start of Mecklenburg County (Smart Start or SSMC) is a Charlotte-based non-profit that funds local programs for children ages birth to five and their families. The organization is a catalyst for improving the lives of the 85,000 young children in our community, with a focus on health, family, early education, and literacy. We mobilize resources and forge partnerships to support evidence-based policies, practices, and programs to ensure all children enter kindergarten healthy and ready to succeed.

Smart Start has a budget of over $35 million comprised of funding from the state of North Carolina, Mecklenburg County, and private donations and grants. SSMC funds approximately 25 programs annually serving over 25,000 young children and their families and administers Mecklenburg County's MECK Pre-K program, which provides free Pre-K to children in the community. SSMC also operates programs and

campaigns internally, including Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, Guiding Parents to Services, Ready4K, and The Basics Mecklenburg. The organization is also the leader in research, data, convening and collaborating on issues related to children 0-5 in the Greater Charlotte area.

Position Summary

The Early Childhood Substitute Pool Coordinator is responsible for the implementation of a high quality, substitute teacher program in Mecklenburg County. This position will administer all major components to establish a high-quality substitute pool, including recruiting, training and scheduling substitutes, updating and maintaining substitute pool documentation according to NC DCDEE guidelines, recruiting and managing site selection process and processing payment to participating facilities. The program supports the continuity of care for children in licensed programs, ensures staff have access to release time, and supports the recruitment of interested professionals into the early learning field.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Program Development

• Operationalize current business plan developed by SSMC and consultants.
• Refine and implement the recommended policies and procedures to implement a high quality, equitable early childhood substitute pool inclusive of recruiting, training, scheduling, payment and documentation.
• Develop job description for substitute teachers.
• Design and implement a method(s) of recruiting potential substitute teachers.
• Build strong relationships with area early care and education providers.
• Work with SSMC's Outreach team to develop marketing materials for the program.
• Work with SSMC's Finance team to develop a payment process for substitutes and participating providers.
• Manage contracts with child care providers and substitutes.
• Work with Finance team to integrate a substitute management system.
• Collaborate with SSMC's ECE Professional Development Specialist to build strong partnerships with area institutions of higher education offering degrees in early childhood education.
• Builds networks in the early childhood education community.
• Remains current on rules/research/best practices/policies in early childhood education
• Is available and committed to work unconventional hours, particularly early mornings and late afternoons.

Maintain a Pool of Substitute Teachers

• Recruit substitutes and participating facilities.
• Interview candidates.
• Check candidate references.
• Collect all employment paperwork.
• Maintain substitute pool documentation according to North Carolina Department of Child Development and Early Education guidelines.
• Post for additional substitute positions as needed.
• Ensure the placement timeframe for each substitute does not exceed two months per the North Carolina Child Care Rules definition for "substitute" in a child care setting.

Schedule Substitute Teachers

• Recruit participating child care providers.
• Manage contracts with child care providers.
• Communicate with providers to determine when substitute teachers are needed and maintain availability.
• Collect and track feedback on substitutes from providers.
• Share feedback with substitute teachers as necessary.
• Track substitute schedule.
• Track substitute time.

Payment and Documentation

• Prepare reports for payroll for the purpose of ensuring substitute employees are paid appropriately and in a timely fashion.
• Prepare written materials for the purpose of documenting activities, providing reference and/or conveying information.

Education, Experience, and Other Job Functions

Experience and Experience Required for Position

• Bachelor's degree in early childhood education from an accredited institution
• At least 5 years' experience managing programs impacting the early childhood community or experience as an early childhood teacher.
• Significant knowledge of North Carolina Department of Child Development and Early Education regulations and compliance requirements

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle or feel; and reach with hands and arms. Specific vision abilities required job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work

This is a full-time exempt position, with some degree of flexibility, including remote work opportunities. Occasional evening and weekend work may be required as job duties demand. This position must be available and flexible to meet the demands of participating facilities (early mornings and afternoons).

Location & Travel

This position is based in Mecklenburg County, with travel throughout the County to various MPK sites. Travel is primarily local during the business day, although some out-of-the-area and overnight travel may be expected.

Other Duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

No calls, emails, or visits please.

For immediate consideration, please formally apply online and provide a resume and cover letter.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned this job classification. They are not to be constructed as an all-inclusive list of all duties, skills, and responsibilities of people so assigned.

The Agency's policy is to provide equal opportunity in all terms, conditions, and privileges of employment for all qualified applicants and employees without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, disability or veteran status.

Salary : $50,000 - $55,000