Essential Functions

• Subject to management approval of the Early Intervention Innovation Manager, serves as the Early Intervention Special Projects Specialist.
• Oversees the improvement of processes and operational systems related to EI special projects, in collaboration with relevant state staff, including the EI Family Engagement Specialist and EI Workforce Specialist.
• Supports EI program-related decision-making.
• Manages interagency coordination for EI program special projects.
• Performs other duties as required or assigned, which are reasonably within the scope of the duties enumerated above.

Minimum Qualifications

• Requires knowledge, skill, and mental development equivalent to completion of four (4) years of college with courses in business or public administration, health services, or human services.
• Requires three (3) years of progressively responsible administrative experience in a health or human services organization.

Specialized Skills

• Requires four (4) years of professional experience leading cross-functional or cross-agency projects, particularly those involving multiple stakeholders and competing priorities.
• Requires three (3) years of professional experience leading program-related process improvements and supporting change initiatives.

Preferred Qualifications

• Four (4) years of professional experience leading cross-functional or cross-agency projects, particularly those involving multiple stakeholders and competing priorities.
• Three (3) years of professional experience leading program-related process improvements and supporting change initiatives.
• Three (3) years of professional experience triaging emerging issues, assessing risk, and coordinating rapid responses to urgent or high-impact situations.
• Two (2) years of professional experience coordinating work across agencies, vendors, or partners in a large public or private organization.
• Two (2) years of professional experience with Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Part C Early Intervention (EI), early childhood, disability services, or similar programs.
• Master’s degree in education, public administration, social work, public health, business administration, or closely related field.

Conditions of Employment

• Requires the ability to successfully pass an agency criminal history check through the Illinois State Police.
• Requires the ability to successfully pass a Child Abuse and Neglect Tracking System (CANTS) background check.
• Requires the ability to use and maintain state-issued equipment, such as a cell phone, laptop, etc.
• Requires ability to travel in the performance of duties, with overnight stays as appropriate. Requires appropriate, valid driver’s license.
• Overtime is a condition of employment, and you may be requested or required/mandated to work overtime including scheduled, unscheduled, or last-minute overtime. This may require the ability to work evenings and weekends.
• Certain provisions of the revolving door restrictions contained in 5 ILCS 430/5-45 apply to this position. As a result, the employee should be aware that if offered non-State employment during State employment or within one year immediately after ending State employment, the employee shall, prior to accepting any such non-State employment offer, notify the Office of the Executive Inspector General for the Agencies of the Illinois Governor (OEIG) or may be subject to a fine.
• This position has been found to meet the requirements in section 4A-101 of the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act requiring the occupant/employee to file a Statement of Economic Interest. The Illinois Governmental Ethics Act (5 ILCS 420/4A et seq.) requires certain state officials and employees to file annual Statements of Economic Interest with the Office of the Secretary of State that will be made available for examination and copying by the public. All employees required to file a Statement of Economic Interest are also required to file the Supplemental Statement of Economic Interest with the Executive Ethics Commission. (See Executive Order 15-09) Fines and penalties apply to untimely filings.

*The conditions of employment listed here are incorporated and related to any of the job duties as listed in the job description.

About the Agency

The Illinois Department of Early Childhood (IDEC) was created by law in June of 2024 with the focus of making early childhood education and care services simpler, better and fairer for families with young children across the state. During fiscal years FY25 and FY26, IDEC has been working through transitioning data, programs and services from three state agencies – the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS), and the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), – to IDEC in order to be fully operational by July 2026. Illinois strives to be the best state in the nation to raise a family with young children and IDEC is committed to continue putting children and families center while reducing complexities and finding efficiencies in the system and advancing equity.