Program Officer, National Child Care and Early Learning

LISC is one of the country’s largest community development organizations, helping forge vibrant, resilient communities across America. LISC works with residents and partners to close gaps in health, wealth, and opportunity so that people and places can thrive. We do this by acting as a conduit for grants, loans and equity--and by providing technical assistance and capacity building--to locally rooted organizations that carry out the work in communities.

Please note, this is a grant funded position through the end of 2027. While all efforts will be made to continue program funding beyond this date, it is possible that this position will terminate at that time.

About Child Care and Early Learning

LISC works to build the supply of quality childcare and early learning infrastructure, in the form of facilities development and organizational capacity-building, through technical assistance, grant-making and loan financing. We work in partnership with key community stakeholders, including educators and the families they serve, to build out hyper-localized strategies focused on supporting childcare providers and educators, connect with the right range of technical assistance services and capital products.

These curated responses work to protect the rich make up of our communities of care – ensuring both home and center-based childcare locations run by individuals and members of those communities - have access to the right complement of services and support to meet their needs wherever they are in their business or organizations life cycle. LISC National Child Care and Early Learning is advocate, thought leader and resource to the field for more than two decades.

Position Description

LISC is seeking candidates for the position of National Program Officer to work as part of a dynamic team operating within LISC’s National Child Care and Early Learning focused on building upon LISC’s historical success and leadership in the early learning facilities arena while elevating the initiative to a new scale and scope.

This role offers an exciting opportunity to work on the ground in targeted communities across Arkansas to expand access to childcare and early learning opportunities. This position will manage the development and implementation of LISC’s new capacity building program for early childhood operators including a facilities fund, and business and project-related technical assistance provided through consultants and community-based partners. The individual will be charged with working with the National Child Care and Early Learning team and LISC Rural to strategically build out the pipeline for the childcare facilities fund, with a primary focus on Little Rock and southeastern Arkansas.  The ideal candidate will have expertise in community development and experience in the childcare and early learning sector, strong project management skills, relevant relationships with key childcare stakeholders, background in managing budgets and facilities projects and compliance. The candidate must also demonstrate cultural competence, working with different communities and stakeholders.

The Program Officer will work to deploy strategic investments and technical assistance that promote equal access to quality early learning environments for all children across urban and rural Arkansas. They will also interface across LISC’s network of rural partners and local offices; maximize use of existing financing products; support follow up and execution of key external strategic partnerships and will help develop resources, materials and presentations that seek to elevate LISC’s presence in and value in the Arkansas market and Delta region.

A successful Program Officer will be particularly adept at adjusting workflow to meet emerging priorities. Essential functions of the position will include the following.

Responsibilities

Technical:

• Lead efforts to provide targeted technical assistance to childcare and early learning centers, family childcare homes, faith-housed and non-profit organizations seeking to make facility improvements including fielding inquiries, making referrals, conducting site visits and community meetings and tracking follow-up.
• Strengthen community-based organizations’ resource, organizational, programmatic, and networking capacities by providing funding, strategic guidance, planning and project management, technical assistance, and training.
• Steward relationships with public and private agencies funding childcare facilities improvements and business development.
• Lead efforts in developing strategic collaborations with and among community-based organizations, anchor institutions, and other corporate, civic and public sector organizations to leverage LISC’s capabilities.
• Supervise, empower and support temporary project staff and consultants responsible for specific components of the childcare initiative.
• Assist in seeking out and vetting potential program consultants and professionals to work with community agencies tackling facility development and renovation projects.
• Manage budget activities for all childcare facility projects.
• Ensure LISC has the tools and products in place to support the real estate needs of early childcare providers.
• Offer technical support to staff underwriting childcare and early learning loans as needed.
• Respond to all inquiries about the program.

Policy

• Provide LISC’s national policy office with regular updates on local conditions and relevant childcare issues which equip staff in the pursuit of state and federal legislation and funding that promote a supportive environment for early learning facilities development and equitable access to quality learning spaces nationwide.

Project Management

• Manage the timely submission of internal and external funder reports related to Arkansas workstreams and ensure compliance with reporting requirements.
• Shepherd all aspects of assigned projects through to successful completion.
• Gather data and organize information to complete project reports as needed.
• Manage assigned consultants, sub-contracts and sub-awards.
• Coordinate between LISC National Child Care and Early Learning Team and LISC Rural through regular pipeline meetings and other channels.
• Liaise with offices within the LISC network to provide expertise in implementing early childhood programs.

Resource Development and Communications

• Develop and execute communications, marketing and outreach plan to generate community interest in program.
• Track and report information connected to funding awards.
• Work with the Program Director and LISC team to develop a strategic approach to support the growth of investment strategies for early childhood organizations across the Delta footprint.
• Represent LISC on coalitions and workgroups and at community meetings.
• Participate in and support work of relevant advisory committees and strategic coalitions, such as the National Children’s Facility Network
• Raise visibility of LISC National Child Care and Early Learning program and Arkansas-based activities through communications, policy and advocacy, and community engagement activities.
• Publicize the program both externally and internally, including developing materials and maintaining social media and other outward facing platforms

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university or requisite relevant work experience.
• Minimum 3 years’ experience in community development, childcare and early learning programs or a related field, and familiarity with CDFI tools for community investment.
• Program or project management experience with community-based organizations.
• Experience in early learning sector, state policies, and possessing a comprehensive understanding of the funding streams that support the early learning sector.
• Strong understanding of critical challenges in childcare.
• Extensive knowledge of the economic, political, and social environments of the Arkansas and the Delta Region, especially lower-income neighborhoods, organizations, and community development efforts.
• Ability to work effectively with co-workers and an assorted range of individuals and organizations, including but not limited to, residents, community development organizations, public agencies, private developers, funders and lenders.
• Experience and knowledge in contracts management and compliance is preferred.
• Bilingual Spanish speaker preferred.
• Highly motivated, detailed, solution-oriented individual who can multi-task. 
• Proficiency with Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint. As well as learn and navigate new software systems.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to implement new concepts and practices.

Salary

LISC provides a competitive salary ($55,400-$69,300) and excellent benefits.

The position is based in Arkansas and is a hybrid position, with an expectation of approximately 40% of time spent in the field.

*Actual salaries may be based on several factors including, but not limited to, a candidate's skill set, experience, education, work location and other qualifications.

Our benefits include: 

Medical, Dental, Vision Coverage: Comprehensive health plans for you and your family's well-being; Disability Insurance: Long-term and short-term coverage for peace of mind; Retirement Savings: Secure your future with our 401(k) and 403(b) plans; Generous Holidays: Enjoy ample time off to recharge and celebrate; Vacation, PTO, and Sick Days: Take advantage of flexible time-off policies to maintain work-life balance; Tuition Assistance: Pursue your educational goals with support from our tuition assistance program; Referral Program: Earn rewards for referring qualified candidates to join our team; Professional Development Opportunities: Grow and advance in your career with access to ongoing training and development programs tailored to your goals.

LISC is an equal opportunity employer. LISC does not discriminate in employment on account of actual or perceived race, color, creed, religion, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, sex or gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, lactation and related medical conditions), gender identity or expression (including transgender status), sexual orientation, marital status, military status or veteran status, unfavorable discharge from military service, physical or mental disability, protected medical condition as defined by applicable state or local law, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws and ordinances.

We will endeavor to make a reasonable accommodation to the known physical or mental limitations of a qualified applicant with a disability unless the accommodation would impose an undue hardship on the operation of our business.