Brightpoint (formerly known as Children’s Home & Aid) invites you to join our team of mission-driven staff who share a common vision: an equitable world where all children and families thrive in strong communities. As a leader in the human services sector for 140 years, we aim to advance the well-being of children by investing in families and strengthening communities through data-informed, collaborative, and preventative solutions.

The Early Childhood Services Recruitment & Retention Specialist assists in the assessment of local early care and education programs' needs and assists in the recruitment and retention of child care providers and resources. The Recruitment & Retention Specialist also provides technical assistance for startup and sustainability to both licensed and license-exempt early care and education providers.

Core Responsibilities:

Provide in-person and remote outreach, training, and technical assistance to current and potential child care centers and support them in meeting licensing standards. Develop and implement strategies to recruit, retain, and improve the quality of early care and education programs. Support providers in implementing research-based best practice standards that are age and developmentally appropriate and inclusive and respectful of children with special needs, low-income families, and unhoused populations. Connect providers with resources such as grants and professional development opportunities to meet standards and improve quality. Collaborate with internal and external partners to respond to community needs and maintain the child care resource & referral database. Provide referrals to families who call the helpline, as needed.

Candidate qualifications:

At least an Associate's Degree in Education, Child Development, Child Psychology, Behavioral Sciences, Family and Consumer Sciences, Social Work, or a related field, or Associates Degree in another field with at least two years' experience in the early childhood field required. Bachelor's Degree in a related field preferred. Previous experience as a family child care provider preferred. Gateways to Opportunity member OR must join the registry within 90 days of hire. Approved Gateways Registry Trainer OR must obtain approval within 12 months of hire. Adept at communicating effectively – both in writing and verbally.  Intermediate computer skills, including Microsoft Office products and electronic database systems, required. Able to meet with center-based and home-based providers in person, and you have a valid driver's license, insurance, and a reliable vehicle.

Job details:

Compensation: Range starts at $18.47 per hour; offers are commensurate with experience. Benefits: Medical/dental/vision insurance, 3+ weeks paid time off in the first year including the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day (PTO increases with tenure); 11 paid holidays, supplemental insurance options, 401(k) with match (more benefits details here). Location: Hybrid (remote/in office); the Recruitment & Retention Specialist meets with providers across southern Illinois with the opportunity to work from home 1-2 days per week after initial orientation and training.  Schedule: Full-time, hourly; general business hours with some flexibility for special projects and events. Student Loan Forgiveness: Brightpoint is an approved agency for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF).

Where you work matters.

We believe that by building diverse and inclusive teams of passionate advocates for youth and families, we can continue to show up for Illinois families, putting those families at the center of every decision, and strengthening the communities where we all work, play, and live together. (More about who we are here.)

We invite you to become an active member of a team that supports, inspires, and challenges each other, and grow your career in an organization that celebrates emerging leaders and provides development and learning opportunities aligned with your individual goals and aspirations. If you are looking for an opportunity to do meaningful work, including raising your unique and authentic voice to disrupt the systemic inequality impacting children and families, we encourage you to apply today.  

Click here to review our agency’s Blueprint for Impact.

Brightpoint is committed to the principles of Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action. All employment activities are conducted in an equal and equitable fashion. The Agency prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender, age, religion, disability, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, parental status, veteran status, source of income, and any other legally protected category in the recruitment, selection, hiring, determination of salary level and benefits, promotion, demotion, layoff, termination, and other terms and conditions of employment.