This career specialist consults on, develops, and supports the implementation of holistic child development programs and interventions. The specialist generally provides highly competent knowledge in one holistic development subspecialty and is helpful in others. At this career level, the incumbent contributes to the local program design, performing independently and participating on a team for major or complex initiatives. Work may have direct impact in more than one national office. He or she may coach and oversee the work of other specialists.

Role

The Program Support Specialist – Survival and Early Childhood role designs, contextualizes and supports holistic development programming for pregnant mothers, caregivers, infants, and children through the age of 5. The main areas of focus for this role are:

• Strategic & Operational Planning
• Age-appropriate Program Design & Delivery
• Consultation & Support
• Monitoring & Evaluation for Programmatic Innovation & Improvement

Strategic & Operational Planning

• The Program Support Specialist for Survival and Early Childhood will serve as a SME to the National Leadership Team as they develop multi-year, rolling strategic growth plans for Survival funding (in conjunction with Partnership Growth and CIV Strategies).
• He/she will work closely with PFs to plan for the expansion of home-based programming as appropriate.
• In collaboration with the Partnership Facilitators, the Program Support Specialist – SEC will identify areas that the PF will need to include as objectives in the Facilitation Work Plan so that the frontline church partners can be supported.

Age-appropriate Program Design & Delivery. To provide subject matter expertise to staff and Frontline churches, the Specialist will:

• Assess the availability and accessibility of existing development opportunities for caregivers and children through age 5.
• Collaborate with PFs to recommend age-appropriate curriculum and programming for all existing and new Frontline churches local context.
• Focus on equipping Frontline churches to understand CDPR measures for the 1-2 and 3-5 age-groups and how assessments for this age group are best performed.
• Be proficient in the relevant core and supplemental curriculum for caregivers and children through age 5.
• Assist PFs and Frontline churches to use Survival and Child Support funds strategically for caregivers and children through age 5.

Consultation & Support

• This role will collaborate closely with fellow Support Specialists in Health, Resource Mobilization, and Child Development to create comprehensive strategies and solutions to the multi-faceted issues facing mothers, babies, and young children.
• In addition, the Specialist will provide ongoing subject matter expertise to Program Trainers and Partnership Facilitators to ensure that Frontline Church Partners are adequately informed and equipped to provide holistic development to caregivers and their children.
• The Specialist will also collaborate with the M&E specialist to ensure that Front line Churches are adequately addressing the gaps in program quality and implementation.
• Lastly, the Specialist will collaborate with the Partner Preparation Specialists and Partnership Facilitators to identify candidates for Survival Launch Interventions, Sponsorship Launch Interventions, and any Church Planting Initiatives with home-based programming.

Monitoring & Evaluation for Programmatic Innovation & Improvement

• The Program Support Specialist – Survival and Early Childhood Development regularly monitors operational, health and other beneficiary data in order to identify good practices and areas for improvement.
• Based on these findings, he/she will recommend appropriate follow-up such as coaching, training, adjustments to program design, or ways to pilot or innovate in order to improve programming for pregnant mothers, caregivers and young beneficiaries.

Faith

• Maintains a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Is a consistent witness for Jesus Christ, maintains a courteous, Christ-like attitude in dealing with people within and outside of Compassion, and faithfully upholds Compassion’s ministry in prayer.
• Acts as an advocate to raise the awareness of the needs of children. Understands Christ’s mandate to protect children. Commits to and prioritizes child protection considerations in all decision-making, tasks and activities across the ministry. Abides by all behavioral expectations in Compassion’s Statement of Commitment to Child Protection and Code of Conduct. Reports any concerns of abuse, neglect or exploitation of children through Compassion’s internal reporting process and appropriately supports responses to incidents if they occur.

Culture

• Accountable for supporting, upholding, and engaging in Compassion’s core “Cultural Behaviors” in all internal and external communication and relationships.

Education

• University degree in Public Health . Advanced coursework preferred.

Experience

• Seven years of Relevant experience working in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, Pediatric Health, or a related field.

Licenses and Certifications

• Certification from a nationally or internationally recognized organization in a related field.
• Equivalent education, training and/or certification may be substituted for experience and education shown above

Working Environment

Office – Standard Office Environment

Physical Demands

Sitting, standing, and/or walking for up to 8 hours per day

Travel Requirements

May be required to travel up to 10% of normal schedule