Illinois Action for Children (“IAFC”), a local, state, and national leader in the early childhood care and education sector for over 50 years. IAFC programs, services, and advocacy improve learning and life outcomes for children and families, including reducing the effects of poverty. IAFC works to ensure that every child in Illinois – particularly those in need – have access to the necessary resources to succeed in school and in life.

Along with our mission, IAFC is committed to building and maintaining a diverse, equitable, inclusive, and anti-racist culture. We are dedicated to this pledge through our hiring practices and our focus on creating a culture and environment where diverse perspectives, ideas, and identities are valued and integrated into our way of working and servicing our staff and clients. IAFC staff represent a wide diversity of racial, socio-economic, gender, religious, and national identities. We welcome all applicants who share our mission and vision to join us in our essential work.

SUMMARY:

Illinois Action for Children developed a high-quality teaching and learning system in partnership with the Illinois State Board of Education and the Governor’s Office of Early Childhood Development. The goal is to enhance the capacity of early care and education professionals and their cross-sector partners to build strong community systems that ensure more children from priority populations begin kindergarten safe, healthy, eager to succeed, and ready to learn.

Under the supervision of the Director of Community Systems Statewide Supports (CS3), the CS3 Project Manager provides leadership in the logistics and implementation of key work related to community systems projects. IAFC is searching for an experienced, reliable, and task-oriented individual to ensure administrative systems are in place and well-maintained to support time-sensitive constituent communications, grants reporting, event logistics, and contract management. This person will be highly self-motivated, professional, capable of managing their workload and prioritizing tasks in a fast-paced nonprofit environment. The Project Manager will interface with diverse constituents including leaders from school districts, community collaborations, elected officials, and senior staff.

The Project Manager assists as needed with the maintenance of the Partner Plan Act website, online communities and learning management platforms. The Project Manager maintains project files and assists in the development and editing of reports. This position will be expected to promote and adhere to the workplace core capabilities of accountability, customer focus, continuous quality improvement, communication, competent people, and clear priorities. All work to be completed with minimum supervision and in accordance with organizational standards.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include but are not limited to the following. The organization reserves the right to add to, delete, change, or modify the essential duties and responsibilities at any time.

1. Coordinate constituent communications, including taking calls, creating, and responding to emails and supporting online constituent communities
2. Manage membership databases, listservs, and external communications using ActionForce (I.e., Salesforce, IAFC’s customer relation management system)
3. Lead planning of logistics for statewide, local, and virtual events, trainings, and webinars
4. Support planning for annual Partner Plan Act conference
5. Prepare internal and external reporting documents for team members and funders
6. Create systems to manage documentation and accounting paper flow requirements related to billing, contracts, check requests and invoicing.
7. Collaborate with staff to process contracts with community-based agencies and independent consultants, including tracking of contract development and execution, reporting, and payments
8. Track budgets and financial records of contracts and consultants
9. Schedule meetings and appointments and manage travel itineraries for team.
10. Maintain an organized filing system of electronic documents using ActionForce and Smartsheet.
11. Manage and coordinate departmental grant deliverable tracking and timely reporting protocols, serving as the liaison to the External Relations and Finance departments as needed
12. Manage and utilize software systems such as ActionForce, Higher Logic, Word Press, and Smartsheet (or similar software solutions) to facilitate constituent communications and create reports
13. Contribute to monthly and quarterly reporting for grant deliverables including monthly reports using Smart Sheet software. Participate in the proposal development and report writing process.
14. Maintain the Partner Plan Act website and online communities
15. Manage compilation of monthly CS3 newsletter
16. Commit to applying a culturally responsive and racial equity lens to all work
17. Other Functions: The organization may assign other functions to the job at its discretion

Benefits of Working at IAFC:

• Working with passionate team members that are driven by our Mission: Illinois Action for Children is a catalyst for organizing, developing and supporting strong families and powerful communities where children matter most.
• We strive to foster and implement a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion across our organization. We know it is not only critical to the success of diversity initiatives - but instrumental in creating an unbiased and inclusive workplace! It not only relates to the diverse clients we serve but also creates a positive employee experience.

We offer an extensive benefits package that adds value to your total compensation. Our benefits include:

• Health, dental and vision insurance plans with company contribution of 95% for single coverage
• 401k with company match
• Generous PTO – first year-23 days, the second year-28 days, the third year and on - 35 days
• 11 Paid Holidays and 1 Floating Holiday
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Flexible Spending Account
• STD & LTD insurance
• Company paid Life Insurance

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education, Social Work, or related field.
• At least two years’ experience working in early childhood education or social services required.
• Experience embedding an equity lens in working with communities.
• Strong organizational, project management and problem-solving skills.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS:

Valid driver’s license, insurance and access to reliable personal transportation.

OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Previous experience with project management
• Demonstrated ability to work independently
• Able to present information effectively and respond to questions
• Ability to manage staff and relate to a variety of personalities and cultures
• Accurate record keeping skills
• Ability and willingness to travel locally and statewide
• Basic computer skills, with a good working knowledge of word processing, presentation software tools, correspondence tools such as e-mail, and able to accurately maintain electronic records.
• Ability to prioritize and work on multiple tasks simultaneously
• Excellent writing, editing, speaking and presentation skills
• Excellent organizational skills
• Ability to build trust and credibility quickly with diverse stakeholders with divergent interests and goals

IL Action for Children is EEO/M/F/V/D employer

While we desire for this job posting to be comprehensive, all aspects of the position may be amended at any time at the discretion of IAFC including job duties, work location and/or work schedule.

As established by the Illinois Action for Children Board of Directors, all employees are required to receive a vaccination against COVID-19, unless a medical or religious reasonable accommodation is approved. If offered a job, the candidate must be able to prove that they have been vaccinated with one of the CDC-authorized vaccines, including either Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, or Johnson & Johnson / Janssen or request and be granted an accommodation before their start date.