Position Title:                       SOS Program Senior Navigator

FLSA Status:                          Non-exempt

Employment Status:           Part-time; At-Will.  Move to full-time; at-will in early 2022 

Work Schedule:                    Flexible 20-25 Hours per week through 2021. Current business hours 8am – 5pm. Full time 35-40 hours in early 2022

Work Location:                     Direct Service Area is Denver Metro, otherwise working remote/online with some local travel

Hiring Timeline:                   Application deadline October 27th at 5pm.  Start date is November 3^rd part-time.  Full-time in early 2022

Compensation:                 $28.00/hour + healthcare stipend + paid leave. Full healthcare coverage once full-time.

How to Apply:                       Send cover letter and resume to Shannon@wheelhousecollaborative.net.  Call Shannon at 303.736.9153 for questions.

This job description is established by The Wheelhouse Collaborative, LLC (“TWC”) to outline the basic requirements, duties, and general responsibilities of the SOS Program Senior Navigator. This position is “at-will”, which means TWC may terminate the employment relationship at any time and for any reason, subject only to the requirements of federal and state law. Similarly, the employee may terminate the employment relationship without notice at any time, for any reason.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The Wheelhouse Collaborative, LLC is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws. We enthusiastically welcome all people who love working with young children, regardless of background, and we celebrate diversity in all its forms.

This policy applies to all employment practices within our organization, including hiring, recruiting, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, leave of absence, compensation, benefits, training, and apprenticeship. TWC makes hiring decisions based solely on qualifications, merit, and business needs at the time of the job announcement. The Wheelhouse Collaborative is committed to using anti-bias employment practices in recruitment, job preparation, and assignment of jobs to ensure equity among all its employees and members.

Position Summary

The newly created SOS Senior Navigator is a multi-faceted management position that oversees the Navigation team of the Substitutes on Standby Guest Teacher Program.  This role works in close partnership with the SOS Program Manager in developing systems and leading staff of the SOS mobile app.  The App is friendly and works hard in the background while field-facing Navigators guide SOS Guest Teachers and support the Licensed Child Care Providers who hire them. 

SOS Program Description

The SOS Guest Teacher Program is a newly licensed substitute placement agency (SPA) within The Wheelhouse Collaborative, LLC. The SOS Program has been built using a customized, fully automated field management application (Mobile App) that streamlines the booking and placement process. The App provides detailed teacher and provider profiles, real-time job requests, and instantly alerts GTs and Providers when matches are made. Once a match is made and accepted, the GT and Provider can communicate directly about the job, should a need arise.

Licensed child care providers become paying members of the SOS Program in which they have access to the mobile app’s Guest Teacher registry, free training, and community-based meetings.

The primary goal of the SOS Program is to recruit, train, and assign anyone wishing to try out the industry, work part-time or full-time with flexibility to plan your own schedule. Aspiring teachers, retired teachers, or anyone in-between can become an SOS Guest Teacher working a minimum of 15 hours/week.

Ideal Applicant Qualities and Skills

The SOS Senior Navigator is a self-motivated, experienced ECE professional with at least five years working in a child care center as a teacher and administrator in a supervisory role. This person embraces innovation and is curious about how technology can make a difference in addressing workforce challenges in the Early Childhood Education industry. This person is a team player, through and through; a good communicator that can engage in challenging conversations to arrive at a greater understanding and deeper meaning. Excellent problem-solver that knows how to use creativity, optimism, and systems thinking together to nurture staff and grow a much-needed ECE workforce support program.

Supervisory Authority

The Senior Navigator directly supervises the navigation team and will also carry a caseload of SOS Guest Teachers and Providers. The navigation team has not yet been hired and will be added as we bring on Guest Teachers. The navigation team’s primary responsibility is to recruit, on-board, and support Guest Teachers throughout the state of Colorado.

Position Duties and Responsibilities

As the first hire of the SOS Program, responsibilities will evolve as the SOS Program grows. At this stage, the Senior Navigator will co-manage operations of the SOS Program in partnership with the SOS Program Manager who is also the founder. The following duties are an overview of the key components of this job but are not exhaustive. More details of our work together are available during the interview process.

• Partnerships: The SOS Program thrives on partnerships and working collaboratively inside and outside TWC is an essential skill of this role. Partnerships will include county child care councils, employment agencies, workforce initiative managers, 211/United Way, PDIS, Quality Rating Initiatives, school districts, community colleges, and many other organizations supporting ECE workforce development.
• Case Management: Initially, the Senior Navigator will assume the Navigator role and will have a caseload of Guest Teachers and Providers. Navigators are the direct supervisors of Guest Teachers on their caseload. Navigators are capable of addressing and solving most Guest Teacher problems and are given tools to address most issues without having to escalate. Navigators are also recruiters and are actively involved in marketing/advertising of Guest Teachers.  Over time, as Navigators are hired, the Senior Navigator will be responsible for the Navigation Team and will have little or no caseload.
• Hiring of SOS Navigators: The Senior Navigator will ultimately lead the Navigation team and hiring of these positions will occur as more Guest Teachers come on board.
• SOS Guest Teacher recruitment, hiring and onboarding: Hiring for Guest Teachers will begin immediately and is on-going. Applications and interviews are conducted virtually. On-boarding meetings with Guest Teachers are mostly done via live meetings and recorded training. There are also live chats and trainings based on applicant need.
• SOS Provider recruitment, registration, and orientation: Initially, this position will work with the Program Manager/Operations answering questions and guiding providers through the registration process. Over time, the Navigation team will work primarily with Guest Teachers and is field-facing.
• SOS Mobile App Pilot: Within the first month of hire, the SOS Program will be administering a Pilot Program in which the Senior Navigator and Program Manager will assume Guest Teacher roles to test the SOS mobile app. It will be required that you become a substitute teacher during the Pilot and therefore, you must be approved to work in the classroom as a SOS Guest Teacher and Director. This also provides a first-hand look at the SOS Program in action and can help to better support our Guest Teachers in the field. Only 2-3 hours at a time for two weeks. 
• The SOS Program has recruited eligible and willing child care programs in the Denver Metro to participate in the Pilot which is targeted to occur mid-November to mid-December. The SOS Guest Teacher Program and App is scheduled to go live in January 2022. More details will be available during the interview.
• Creative Marketing: The Senior Navigator will work closely with the Program Manager to develop creative marketing strategies and campaigns to recruit Guest Teachers and Providers to the Program. Online and in-person presentations, creating print media, and social media campaigns will be a regular occurrence in this role with the support of an outside marketing provider.

Minimum Required Qualifications  

Required by licensing for all SOS Guest Teachers and Administrators who will be in child care programs for any reason.

• have reviewed and are familiar with state licensing regulations for the program types (All regulations are available in SOS Resources);
• have no eliminating convictions through CBI ● FBI ● State Child Abuse and Neglect Registry Check (TRAILS) ● State Sex Offender Registry Check ● National Sex Offender Registry Check (NSOR) and provide SOS with clearance or arrest report in accordance with section 7.701.33 of the general rules for child care facilities; out-of-state background checks are completed in a timely manner;
• are cleared by a medical provider to work in child care as stated in position description under “Physical Requirements”;
• are current for all immunizations routinely recommended for adults;
• proof of a full covid vaccine before entering any child care facility

Additional Required Qualifications

• PDIS level IV or higher
• Bachelor’s degree in ECE or related field
• 5 years’ experience working in an Early Childhood Program as a teacher AND administrator (combined) with supervisory responsibilities. This includes: Director, Asst. Director, Curriculum Coordinator, Coaches, Family Advocate, or any other supervisory role.
• Ability to easily pick up new technology and software systems.
• Experience in relationship-based coaching practices and reflective supervision of ECE staff OR completed or are working towards a Colorado coaching credential
• Experience with recruitment, on-boarding, and retention of ECE staff
• Working knowledge of the Colorado Shines Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) and the Professional Development Information System (PDIS)
• Ability to create and deliver dynamic PowerPoint presentations to small and large groups
• Embraces computers and technology innovation

Preferred Qualifications

• Dual-language speaker
• Substitute teacher/director experience
• Trainer credential or experience teaching/training adults
• Knowledge of engineering curriculum in preschool settings
• Familiarity with mobile applications/software