Business Consultant

East Central University invites applications for the position of Business Consultant for ECU’s South Central Child Care Resources and Referral Program (SC-CCRR). The SC-CCRR program, founded in 1997, is dedicated to promoting child care quality, affordability, and availability for all Oklahoma children, and is funded through the Oklahoma Department of Human Services, Division of Child Care. The SC-CCRR program serves child care providers and their employees in the following south-central Oklahoma counties: Carter, Garvin, Johnston, Love, Marshall, McClain, Murray, Okfuskee, Pontotoc, Pottawatomie, and Seminole.

ECU is a student-centered regional state university located in Ada, Oklahoma. ECU offers thirty-three undergraduate baccalaureate degree programs in arts, business, education, mathematics, sciences, nursing, and the social sciences; and six master's degrees in accounting, education, human resources, psychology, management, and water resources. Additionally, 20-degree programs hold specialty accreditation, and approximately 65% of the 147 full-time faculty hold doctorates. ECU's 3,600 (average) students come from 35 countries and 22 different states. ECU’s mission is to educate and empower students to understand and transform our world.

REPORTS TO: Child Care Resource and Referral Regional Director

POSITION OBJECTIVE: This position is responsible for expanding the quality and efficiency of child care centers and family child care home providers in (REGION). The Business Consultant will offer robust support for child care centers and family child care homes through intensive coaching and professional development while building a positive image of Child Care Resource and Referral in the community.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

• Develop a strong relationship with community partners built on trust, support and follow-up by maintaining open and honest communication.
• Work with partner organizations to support business practices, child care management systems and data interoperability for child care professionals.
• Work in partnership with the Business Consultant Manager/Staffed Family Child Care (SFCC) Manager to develop and implement the Business Consultant Project and Thrive.
• Offer varying levels of support aimed at improving quality to child care homes and center-based programs, through coaching and professional development.
• Collaborate with regional Business Consultants, OPSR/CCRR staff and other identified members of Oklahoma’s coaching network to assist in quality improvement efforts.
• Connect licensed child care homes and centers to available funding streams and opportunities.
• Support the efforts of the Oklahoma Clearinghouse for Early Childhood Success.
• Create and assist with the designing of tools, templates and models that support and strengthen child care programs.
• Provide training on, promote the use of and utilize the Shared Services platform for child care providers.
• Develop and facilitate CECPD approved training modules and support mechanisms to enhance and develop providers knowledge of early childhood philosophies and business practices.
• Assist and support providers in the creation of budgets and strategic cost modeling, and other aspects of business needed in child care settings.
• Facilitate a recurring community of practice (staffed family child care network) with family child care home providers to provide support among each other and a sense of belonging. (One Saturday/month.)
• Expand opportunities for leadership and professionalism to child care providers.
• Assist administrators with understanding child/teacher ratios, attendance and enrollment, Full Time Equivalency (FTE) and FCCH with Time/Space percentages.
• Assume all other responsibilities willingly.
• Distribute marketing materials for all projects.
• Attend monthly Training and Technical Assistance meetings with Business Consultant Manager/SFCC Manager. Meetings are to include program development and implementation as well as general problem solving. Attend quarterly ambassador meetings.
• Provide Technical Assistance, by phone or on site, to child care providers.
• Establish positive working relationships with Business Consultant Manager/SFCC Manager, FCCH Providers and Child Care Center Directors.
• Communicate with the Business Consultant Manager/SFCC Manager about progress of the ongoing projects and all problems that arise.
• Establish positive working relationships with regional Thrive Ambassador to assist in Thrive Network events and planning.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:

• Broad knowledge and experience in early childhood education, operations of child care programs and family child care homes including business practices.
• Display excellent interpersonal and communication skills with drive, energy and a passion for development of people.
• Results oriented, self-motivated with strong time management, systems development and planning skills.
• Able to learn database usage, with ability to collect and record data and have proficiency with Microsoft Office products.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality of sensitive data.
• Identify needed areas of self-improvement and actively pursue appropriate means and methods to increase effectiveness in those areas.
• Keep D/M updated on issues related to Business Consultant Project.
• Other duties as assigned to meet position objectives and to support the Network.

QUALIFICATIONS:
• Bachelor’s degree required in early childhood, education, business administration or a related field with a strong understanding of business practices and budgeting in child care
• Experience delivering professional development opportunities
• Three to five years child care administration experience
• Member of the targeted community served preferred
• Experience providing one-to-one, in-person and group training and technical assistance
• Organization, written and oral communication skills
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Ability to work independently and as a member of a team
• Valid driver’s license, valid automobile insurance and own vehicle to use for work
• Ability to collect and record data with computer word processing and spreadsheet skills
• Willing to travel extensively within region
• Flexible with work schedule, as some meetings and special events will be in the evening or on weekends

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
• Is constantly required to use finger dexterity as well as sufficient hand dexterity to use a computer keyboard, telephone, and be capable of reading a computer screen
• May need to remain seated for long periods of time, have the ability to perform repetitive motions and reach for objects
• Is frequently required to hold a writing instrument, communicate verbally, and hear well enough to detect nuances and receive detailed information
• May be required to grasp objects, push and pull objects, bend, stand, walk, squat or kneel
• Able to lift and carry 25 pounds
• Vision abilities include close vision for data preparation or analysis, and expansive reading

WORKING CONDITIONS:
• Will typically work indoors
• May spend as many as five days per week traveling, spending up to eight hours in a vehicle per day
• May have a mixture of natural, incandescent and fluorescent light
• Could have moderate to loud noise levels

SALARY: $38,000-$40,000