Early Childhood Specialist

Salary: $96,807 - $116,469 Annually

About the role

The County of Santa Barbara FIRST 5 SBC department is seeking an Early Childhood Specialist to oversee the implementation and execution of several grants and projects related to Improved Child Development, Child Health, and Family Strengthening focus areas. This position is based in the Lompoc office and operates on a remote-hybrid model with a management-approved schedule. The department offers a 9/80 work schedule for this classification. Remote work must be conducted within the state of California.

The Early Childhood Specialist reports to executive management and collaborates with other department managers to ensure compliance with grant deliverables. This role requires cross-disciplinary collaboration, experience in birth through age five development, and the ability to support communications and policy initiatives.

Ideal Candidate

• Knowledge of First 5 SBC programs
• Ability to build and maintain connections with other County Departments
• Knowledge of Title 5, Title 22, and NAEYC Accreditation guidelines for high-quality early childhood programs

Responsibilities

• Oversee external and special project grants awarded by First 5 SBC, serving as liaison with contractors and grantees such as Help Me Grow, Nature Exploration Areas, and Early Language and Literacy.
• Prepare and submit reports and data to internal teams and external partners to demonstrate efforts and results.
• Work with County Counsel and Operations Specialists to prepare contract agreements, interpret grant requirements, and ensure accountability and compliance.
• Recommend process improvements to enhance efficiency and customer service in alignment with the strategic and fiscal plan.
• Consult with other county departments and community-based organizations to promote First 5 SBC’s work and educate stakeholders on programs and strategic intent.
• Participate in meetings and present data to assist managers and senior administration in operational and administrative decision-making.
• Resolve data collection and reporting errors to ensure accuracy and completeness of transmission files.
• Provide technical assistance to funded partners on grant requirements.
• Manage requisitions and invoices from submission through receipt for grant-specific projects.
• Collaborate with the Community Engagement Specialist to plan county-wide and regional trainings, workshops, and events tied to grant deliverables.
• Process evaluations and facilitate discussions with grant partners by setting clear objectives, timelines, and purpose statements.
• Perform other duties as assigned within the scope of the job classification.

Requirements

• Possession of a bachelor’s degree in child development, early childhood education, human development, or a related field and two years of professional experience working with a spreadsheet database (e.g., Smartsheet or Microsoft Excel) for tracking and evaluating data; or
• Possession of an associate’s degree in child development, early childhood education, human development, or a related field and four years of professional experience working with a spreadsheet database (e.g., Smartsheet or Microsoft Excel) for tracking and evaluating data; or
• Six years of professional experience working with a spreadsheet database (e.g., Smartsheet or Microsoft Excel) for tracking and evaluating data; or
• A combination of training, education, and/or experience equivalent to the above standards that provides the required competencies.

Additional Requirements

• Independent travel throughout the county and state may be required.
• Possession of a valid California Class C Driver’s License may be required.

Benefits

For more information on County benefits, visit the County benefits page. Applicants from other public sector employers may qualify for:

• Retirement reciprocity
• Time and service credit toward an advanced vacation accrual rate

Schedule

The department offers a 9/80 work schedule for this classification. Telework and non-standard schedules are subject to the department’s needs.