Contract Specialist

Join The Ecs4Kids Team

At ECS4Kids (formerly Episcopal Children's Services), we honor young children's immense potential by helping them enter school ready to learn. We cultivate lifelong learners by immersing children in enriching guided experiences and discovery-oriented approaches. Through programs like Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK), Head Start, School Readiness, Child Care Resource & Referral (CCRR), and more, our dedicated professionals work with families and caregivers throughout Florida to promote children's well-being. These enable us to strengthen key areas including motor development, cognitive development, social and emotional development, language and communication skills, and problem-solving skills.

Partner with us to help empower communities to rise above generational poverty with comprehensive early childhood education and holistic family support. We have career opportunities available in several counties throughout Northeast and Central Florida.

ECS4Kids offers a competitive benefit package which includes:

• Medical, dental and vision insurance
• 403(b) plan with 5% employer match
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Long-term & short-term disability insurance
• Employer-paid life insurance
• Paid holidays
• Generous paid time off
• Career development
• Qualifying employer for Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program

General Description:

The Contract Specialist is responsible for assisting with the contract management and monitoring function of the School Readiness and VPK programs. Work is performed under the supervision of the Contract Coordinator.

Major Responsibilities:

1. To assist providers in obtaining program information and eligibility.
2. Assisting in monitoring of provider profiles, applications, contracts, and files by ECS from the OEL or ELC or others.
3. Assist with the provider update process.
4. Assist with Provider Activation Request (PAR) process for School Readiness.
5. Find providers eligible for School Readiness and VPK in accordance with law and policy and maintain accurate records of all documentation to support that eligibility.
6. Be knowledgeable of all required forms, policy, procedures, rule and laws regarding VPK and School Readiness.
7. Assist with the CARES inspection reports to ensure providers maintain health & safety standards and enforce progressive disciplinary actions as needed for both School Readiness and VPK.
8. Assist with VPK assessment orders and submissions.
9. Participate with recruitment of providers as needed.
10. Be able to apply and communicate knowledge local and state rules and regulations and developmentally appropriate child care practices.
11. Convey School Readiness and VPK information in a relaxed manner, problem solves in a positive manner and communicates sensitively and responsively to the needs and concerns of others.
12. Maintain EFS Mod and or other statewide databases so that provider data is accurate and current.
13. Provide necessary statistical information when requested.
14. Receive and document all complaints from any source that pertains to child care.
15. Attend any pertinent conferences and meetings conducted by the Office of Early Learning.
16. Maintain confidentiality in regard to information accessed in the performance of job duties.
17. Assist in processing attendance rosters and adjustments as needed
18. Assist with provider monitoring as needed.
19. Responsible for implementing the coalition's anti-fraud plan daily activities related to prevention, detection, investigation, and reporting of possible overpayment resulting from potential fraud or abuse.

(These essential job functions are not to be construed as a complete statement of duties performed. Employees will be required to perform other related marginal duties as required.)

Organizational Relationship:

• This position reports to the Contract Coordinator

Requirements

Education And Experience:

• Bachelor's degree preferred.
• 1-3 years related work experience preferred.

Skills, Knowledge And Abilities:

• Ability to effectively provide information in a positive, informative and patient manner.
• Ability to demonstrate problem solving skills, counseling skills, and empathy toward needs of parents.
• Excellent telephone, computer, and clerical skills.
• Working knowledge of laws governing child care, accrediting agencies, and training requirements for teachers.
• Knowledge of the overall function, responsibilities, and services rendered by the School Readiness, CCRR and VPK programs.
• Ability to adjust to new situations resulting from new laws, decisions, or circumstances with the flexibility needed to adapt and operate.
• Ability to establish priorities, schedule work loads and use other resources to complete goals or task
• Ability to work some evenings and weekends as needed.
• Ability to travel within the North Florida region
• Bilingual language skills at a level that will allow the specialist to assist non-English speaking service users are preferred.

Licenses, Certification Or Registrations:

• Valid driver's license
• Certificates of acknowledgement required: Conflict of Interest, Code of Ethics, Confidentiality agreements, IT Systems and Security, Anti-Fraud, HR Employee Acknowledgement Form.

Environmental Conditions:

• Works inside in an office environment
• Some travel required

Essential Physical Skills:

• Typical Physical & Mental Demands: Requires prolonged sitting with some bending, stooping and stretching, and eye-hand coordination and manual dexterity sufficient to operate a keyboard, telephone, photocopier, calculator and other office equipment.
• Requires normal range of hearing and eyesight to communicate with clients and staff.

(Reasonable accommodations will be made for otherwise qualified individuals with a disability)

Background Requirements

A Level II Background Screening which consists of a local, state, and federal criminal check will be completed on all employees and any contracted employee position, intern position or volunteer position in which individuals have contact with children, have access to confidential information and / or are in a position of special trust.