Jobs/Roles in the ECE Community: National/Federal Level

Jobs/Roles in the ECE Community: National/Federal Level

I found a variety of positions that I found not only interesting but inspiring in the early childhood field while exploring national organizations and federal agencies. The first was a management consultant for Head Start to promote high-quality programming for children and families. This job requires working with regional Head Start management teams and parents to develop greater leadership skills and refine their management methods and approaches. The position requires a Masters of Education in a related domain, correlated work experience in the field, and a commitment to Head Start’s foundational principals.  The National Head Start Association (NHSA) (2014) strives to work as a leader on policies and procedures and advocate for Head Start programs across the nation. The non-profit organization is “committed to the belief that every child, regardless of circumstances at birth, has the ability to succeed in life” and “healthier, empowered children and families, and stronger, more vibrant communities” (National Head Start Association, 2014, para. 4).  Leadership, people and communication skills, basic technology capabilities are essential skills to successful accomplish this job.                                                                                                

The second career choice that I discovered was with Save the Children both a national and international organization for children experiencing hardship.  Save the Children (2014) aspires to create swift and lasting change in the lives of children in need through improvements in education, health, and economic opportunities.  The organization offers positions at their headquarters in Westport, Connecticut and office in Washington, D.C. in many different specialties and also field positions internationally and in the United States.  Save the Children presents internships opportunities to qualifying applications perusing a graduate or undergraduate degree.  Interns have a direct supervisor to expand their knowledge and experience in their chosen vocation.  The career choice that I am most interested in is the field-based positions that work with local and national partners to implement programs in Early Childhood Education and literacy. Most employees have at least a Bachelor’s degree in education, health, economics, business or technology as there are many with individual talents and strengths contributing to the whole (Save the Children, 2014).  The skills needed for this career choice would be leadership and communication capabilities, ability to work in collaboration with others, strong work ethic, motivated to accomplish goals and objectives, knowledge about literacy attainment, and general management skills.                                                                                                                                             

The third job opportunity with the United Nations Children’s Fund [UNICEF] (2014) requires professionals committed to making a lasting difference in children’s lives.  Workers are involved in a broad range of global issues at both country and regional levels.  The area of most interest to me is in Early Childhood Development and would entail being “responsible for developing and implementing Education programme(s) to ensure overall efficiency and effectiveness, and accomplishment of programme goals and objectives” (UNICEF, 2014, para. 5) for the world’s most vulnerable children.  The least requirements acceptable are a Bachelor’s Degree in Education with two years of relevant work experience. The skills necessary to successfully do this job are abilities in conflict resolution, high work ethics, good communication skills, able to engage with multi-cultural groups, flexible and competent in absorbing and implementing new ways to accomplish goals and objective.    

                                                          References

National Head Start Association. (2014). About NHSA [Website]. Retrieved from http://www.nhsa.org/about_NHSA

National Head Start Association. (2014). Jobs @ Head Start [Website]. Retrieved from http://jobsatheadstart.org/Consultants.html

Save the Children. (2014). Internships [Website]. Retrieved from http://www.savethechildren.org/site/c.8rKLIXMGIpI4E/b.8631185/k.9CAE/Internships.htm       

Save the Children. (2014). Working at Save the Children [Website]. Retrieved from http://www.savethechildren.org/site/c.8rKLIXMGIpI4E/b.6226565/k.BFEA/Working_atSave_the_Children.htm

United Nations Children’s Fund [UNICEF]. (2012, December). About UNICEF: Employment [Website]. Retrieved from http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/index_what_we_do.html