Early Childhood Special Projects Manager / State Prog Admin Manager Sr

Working Title: Early Childhood Special Projects Manager / State Prog Admin Manager Sr

Job Class: State Program Administrator, Manager Senior

Agency: Children Youth & Families Dept

• Job ID : 98291

• Location : St. Paul

• Telework Eligible : Yes

• Full/Part Time : Full-Time

• Regular/Temporary : Unlimited

• Who May Apply : Open to all qualified job seekers. * The Department of Children, Youth, and Families is unable to provide sponsorship for work visas. Applicants must be eligible to work in the United States at the start of employment. DCYF does not participate in E-Verify.

• Date Posted : 11/06/2026

• Closing Date : 11/30/2026

• Hiring Agency/Seniority Unit : Children Youth & Families Dept / DeptChildYth&Fam-Managerial

• Division/Unit : DCYF/Early Childhood

• Work Shift : Day Shift

• Work Hours: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm

• Days of Work : Monday - Friday

• Travel Required : No

• Salary Range: $44.80 - $64.46 / hourly; $93,542 - $134,592 / annually

• Classified Status : Classified

• Bargaining Unit/Union : 220 - Manager/Unrep

• FLSA Status : Exempt - Executive

• Designated in Connect 700 Program for Applicants with Disabilities (https://mn.gov/mmb/careers/diverse-workforce/people-with-disabilities/connect700/) : Yes

The work you'll do is more than just a job.

At the State of Minnesota, employees play a critical role in developing policies, providing essential services, and working to improve the well-being and quality of life for all Minnesotans. The State of Minnesota is committed to equity and inclusion, and invests in employees by providing benefits, support resources, and training and development opportunities.

* Telework (https://mn.gov/mmb-stat/policies/1422-telework.pdf) (Within Minnesota or neighboring states) and flexible hours options are available.)

**Occasional out-of-state and in-state travel (six to eight times per year).

This position exists to serve as the Early Childhood Administration Special Projects Manager and technical advisor to the Assistant Commissioner of Early Childhood at the Minnesota Department of Children Youth and Families regarding cross division and cross agency coordination and alignment for early childhood education programs and policies. The primary purpose of this position within the Early Childhood Administration is to support the administration’s cross-division efforts to create an equitable early childhood system by partnering across divisions, and with other government agencies, families and communities to build a strong early care and education system, increasing opportunities and eliminating barriers that exist in access, policies, programs and practices in that system.

With a focus on shared outcomes, cross-agency grants and projects within the early care and education state system, including coordination of the of the Preschool Development Grant, the administration’s ecosystem and theory of change work, as well as other interagency grants as appropriate, this position will manage and coordinate implementation efforts, develop strategies and frameworks to advance early childhood systems change and drive solutions. The incumbent must maintain deep knowledge on early childhood programs such as early childhood screening, public preschool, Head Start, early learning scholarships, Child Care Assistant Program (CCAP), Parent Aware and Great Start Compensation Support Payment Program, among others, and represent the administration in cross-agency initiatives. The incumbent also works in close partnership with the Assistant Commissioner and program directors to lead innovative early childhood projects that span across divisions, state agencies, stakeholder groups and diverse communities.

Responsibilities include:

• Provide leadership, coordination, oversite, facilitation and meaningful support for assigned cross administration activities and grants to support improved coordination and alignment across the early care and education system.

• In coordination with the directors, implement early childhood and cross-agency initiatives in support of early childhood and in alignment with the early childhood ecosystem and associated theories of change. Meet early childhood administration outcomes by planning, delegating, using project control charts, conducting interim progress review and monitoring performance.

• Supervise and/or lead early childhood staff to achieve the objectives of the cross administration and/or cross agency special projects or grants through recommendation or exercise of authority to hire, promote, evaluate performance, reward, discipline, suspend, discharge, assign work, adjust grievances, write position descriptions, and provide first level administration of applicable labor contracts of employees.

• Implement a strategic early childhood administration communication plan in partnership with other child and family serving systems so that federal and state partners and recipients of programs and services stay informed of progress in the implementation of early childhood administration and cross-agency activities and meeting milestones.

Minimum Qualifications

To facilitate proper crediting, please ensure that your resume clearly describes your experience in the areas listed and indicates the beginning and ending month, day and year for each job held.

Demonstrated leadership experience*

*Leadership experience can include:

• Experience as a supervisor, lead worker, team lead, project lead;

• A project lead provides leadership, guidance, and advanced specialized technical expertise for a team doing evaluation, development, design, testing, and/or implementation in a project environment.

• Completion of a State of Minnesota leadership program (e.g. ELI, L4);

• A paid/unpaid position leading a program or chairing a committee (e.g. ERG). Experience must include:

• 1+ year of experience identifying issues, goals and strategic actions

• 100+ hours per year time commitment

AND

Five (5) years of experience working directly with policy development, consultation, engagement social services or public sector collaboration AND of those at least three (3) years of leadership or supervisory experience, including experience leading cross-functional or cross-agency teams or initiatives. Experience must demonstrate the following:

• Program development – seeing projects through from beginning to end

• Project management and coordination experience, including strategic planning and budgeting

• Continuous improvement and quality assurance

• Providing strategic direction, manage performance, mentor staff, and foster a culture of collaboration, learning, and accountability.

• Developing data-informed tracking systems and flexible funding strategies

Applicants who meet the above experience requirements may be further evaluated based on the following during the interview process:

• Exceptional interpersonal and facilitation skills to build strong relationships with internal divisions and external partners, including Tribal Nations, community organizations, and local governments

• Proficiency in interpreting and applying data to inform decision-making, evaluate outcomes, and improve services

• Strong collaboration skills and experiences working effectively with others from different backgrounds and cultures

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in public sector, preferably large size (100+ employees).

• Progression experience within an organization from front line worker to senior leadership.

• Advanced level interpersonal skills necessary to facilitate conversations and decisions that have significant operating and policy implications and may involve competing priorities among executive leadership.

• Completion of project management, change management, or strategic planning training or certificate.

• Experience developing and implementing enterprise level projects, or projects with a statewide impact.

• Experience using performance metrics, results-based accountability, or other data-driven methodologies to evaluate, implement, and monitor project and program success.

Additional Requirements

It is the policy of the Department of Children, Youth, and Families that the individual selected for this position successfully complete a background investigation prior to employment, that may include the following components:

• Reference check

• Criminal Background check

• Fingerprinting check (MNJIS/CJIS)

• Driver’s License Check

• Personnel File Review: all current and former public sector employees

• Additional assessment may be required during the interview process

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Minnesota State Colleges and Universities is an Equal Opportunity employer/educator committed to the principles of diversity. We prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their race, sex, color, creed, religion, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or membership in a local commission as defined by law. As an affirmative action employer, we actively seek and encourage applications from women, minorities, persons with disabilities, and individuals with protected veteran status.

Reasonable accommodations will be made to all qualified applicants with disabilities. If you are an individual with a disability who needs assistance or cannot access the online job application system, please contact the job information line at 651-259-3637 or email [email protected] . Please indicate what assistance is needed.