Early Years Coordinator

Who we’re looking for

Job title

Early Years Coordinator
 

Reporting to

Creative Producer: Learning
 

The role

To drive the coordination and enable the practical delivery of The Spark’s early years programmes, organising the programmes efficiently and building strong stakeholder relationships.
 

Key responsibilities

Project coordination

• Coordination and delivery of The Spark Early Years programme, including the following projects - Small Wonders and Music Champions
• Plan and coordinate the delivery of projects within the timelines and budget agreed, including artist, partner and venue liaison and administration
• Support the Small Wonders lead artist in developing, recruiting to, and coordinating the parent champion element of our early years projects
• Work closely with partners (colleagues at children’s centres and libraries) to plan and agree activity schedules and dates for early years sessions in children’s centres, libraries and community venues
• Support the contracting of artists and sourcing of materials/resources for activities
• Support the planning and delivery of events (e.g. family fun days), including budgeting, scheduling, sourcing equipment and materials, delivery, and evaluation. This includes supporting the development and coordination of an early years symposium in 2025
• Coordinate and support the monitoring and evaluation of the project and support the Creative Producer in reporting.
   

Administration and communications

• Oversee the lead and support artists’ schedules
• Budget administration and monitoring
• Collate project materials for publication on various platforms (e.g. website or marketing materials) 
• Work with the wider Spark team to promote events via print and online media • Coordinate and administrate the systems for data collection, registration and permissions, with participants and partners, ensuring data collected is in line with funding requirements and GDPR regulations
• Ensure the project work operates within the context of delivering best practice around safeguarding, and that staff and volunteers work to the Spark Safeguarding Policy
• Represent The Spark at project partner or funders meetings as required.
   

General

• Work with the Creative Producer and partners to gather data and promote and celebrate learning from our projects
• Work with the Creative Producer to plan and risk assess activities (including ensuring all work adheres to best practice in terms of safeguarding)
• Attend relevant events, projects and meetings within and on behalf of The Spark Arts for Children
• Carry out the duties of the post with due regard to the organisation’s Equality and Diversity Policy and in line with core values, promoting equality, diversity, inclusion and access
• Ensure the project work operates within the context of delivering best practice in environmental responsibility in line with the organisation’s Environmental Policy
• Ensure your own health and safety and that of members of the public, staff, and contractors by complying with organisational health and safety
• Undertake training as required to ensure appropriate levels of skills and knowledge
• Other duties and responsibilities as may be reasonably required, commensurate with the overall remit of the post.
   

Person specification

The Spark is seeking to work with an individual that has the following knowledge and skills.
 

Essential

• At least two-years experience of working in with young children and families
• Experience of working with early years professionals in schools, children’s centres, libraries or nursery settings
• Experience and understanding of good practice in relation to child-led learning 
• Project and event coordination experience
• Budgeting skills and experience of monitoring budgets
• Experience of monitoring and evaluation, data collection, analysis and project reporting
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to maintain good contacts and relationships
• Project communication and advocacy skills, e.g. collating data and testimony and development case studies
• Good organisational skills with a flexible approach to working patterns
• Ability to prioritise workload whilst dealing with conflicting demands
• Understanding and working knowledge of Safeguarding good practice.
   

Desirable

• An understanding of the role creativity plays within early childhood development
• Experience of working alongside artists in educational or community settings
• Experience of developing training for early years practitioners and/or artists.
   

Contract type

Fixed term to 30th September 2025.
 

Salary

£28,121 FTE plus contributory stakeholder pension, pro rata for part-time.
 

Hours

Full-time 37.5 hours per week (excluding an unpaid lunch hour) plus occasional evening and weekends.
 

Location

The role is based at the LCB Depot in Leicester and will require travel to a variety of children’s centres, libraries and community settings across the city. Hybrid working Is it expected that this role will be required in the office or at activity locations in Leicester for typically 30 hours and 7.5 hours available for home working, each week.
 

Start date

Immediate
 

Probation

One month
 

Pension

The Spark Arts for Children operates a contributory pension scheme provided by NEST.

This post is subject to a satisfactory enhanced DBS disclosure.
 

Questions

If you have any questions about this role please contact Hazel Townsend for an informal chat (contact details available in the attached job pack).

We will also be holding an online information session on: Tuesday 20th August 2024 6.00-6.45pm.

You can also come along and meet some of the team, at a Leicester City Council summer family event we will be taking part in, on Wednesday 21st August 2024 11-3pm at Victoria Park, Leicester.
 

How to apply

You can apply in a variety of formats and we encourage you to use the format you are most comfortable with. You’ll apply for the role using our online portal. When you arrive in the application portal you will be able to complete your personal details in the form, then choose to either:

• Answer the questions by typing or copying and pasting your answers from a word processor of your choice
• Upload a video file that answers the questions.
• Upload a voice recording that answers the questions.

If you want to submit a video or voice application you can use the additional guidance sheet which will guide you through the process.

When your application is ready, use the link on our website access the application portal.
 

The closing date for applications is 12.00 (midday) Monday 2nd September 2024.

Interviews will take place on Tuesday 17th September 2024 in person in Leicester.
 

We look forward to hearing from you.