Project Specialist

What You'll Do

Key Responsibilities

Program Operations & Support

• Process day-to-day operations of the Teacher Recruitment & Retention (TRR) Program under the guidance of the Project Manager.
• Support timely execution of the program by tracking application status, payments, and follow-up items.
• Process monthly reimbursements and payments within the system, ensuring accuracy and completeness.
• Manage provider, employee, and child applications in Submittable in accordance with program policies, procedures, and timelines.

Application Processing & System Management

• Maintain a strong working knowledge of Submittable and TRR Program requirements.
• Review applications for completeness and accuracy, resolving discrepancies and routing program issues to the Program Manager as needed.
• Communicate with applicants regarding missing information, corrections, or clarifications.
• Assist with maintaining system workflows, templates, and standardized responses.

Data Management & Reporting

• Transfer program data into Excel for data manipulation, tracking, and analysis.
• Maintain organized records to support audits, reporting, and leadership review.
• Pull routine and ad hoc reports from Submittable and other program systems.
• Analyze reports to identify trends, errors, and operational issues.

Communication & Participant Support

• Respond to program inquiries via email and other communication channels in a timely and professional manner.
• Support clear and consistent communication related to application status, payments, and program requirements.
• Serve as a point of contact for child care providers and employees participating in the Strong Start program.
• Escalate complex issues or policy questions to the Project Manager as appropriate.

Collaboration & Continuous Improvement

• Work collaboratively with the TRR Project Manager to support program goals and timelines.
• Identify recurring issues or process challenges and recommend improvements.
• Support documentation of procedures, workflows, and reporting processes.
• Participate in team meetings and assist with follow-up tasks as assigned.
• Due to the evolving nature of the TRR Program, duties may expand beyond those currently listed.

Requirements

Required Qualifications

• Clear written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines.
• Experience with Submittable or similar web-based, application management platforms.
• Background in program analysis, reporting, or operational support.
• Experience working with data, reports, and spreadsheets, including Excel.
• Experience with system and process management in a programmatic or administrative setting.
• Experience supporting public programs, workforce initiatives, or reimbursement-based models.
• Bachelor’s degree in public administration, business administration, data analytics, social services, or a related field.

Nice to Have

Key Competencies

• Comfort working in a fast-paced, evolving program environment.
• Customer-service mindset when working with providers and employees.
• Ability to follow established processes while identifying improvement opportunities.
• Strong organizational and data management skills.
• Analytical thinking and problem-solving ability.

Benefits