Strive Resource Centre Specialist

**Strive**is a collaborative, community driven organization that supports the professional growth and development of early years professionals across London, Middlesex, Elgin, and Oxford with a goal to build capacity within the sector and enhance service provision for children and families. The Strive Professional Resource Centre (PRC) serves the early years community by providing programs, supports, and services that thoughtfully connect professionals to high-quality resources to enhance their play and learning environments, and deepen their professional knowledge.

Since 2014, Strive has been meeting to discuss and consider how to enhance a collaborative approach to quality child care and professional learning across all early years and child care programs. Our community is interested in a process that supports reflection and sustainable evolution rather than a prescribed method to measure.

Strive leverages administrative support from a backbone organization; **Childreach**, and takes all organizational initiatives to the membership for endorsement.

**Position Summary**:
Working with the Strive Team, the Resource Centre Specialist will demonstrate leadership and innovation in advancing a visionary approach to professional learning and resourcing. The key responsibility of this position is the provision of supports and services that thoughtfully connect early years professionals to high-quality resources that enhance their play and learning environments and deepen their professional knowledge, and that help families meaningfully engage with their children. This includes planning and developing resources and materials, maintaining an orderly and organized physical environment, and nurturing strong and responsive relationships. They will be a key customer service representative and visitor point of contact, providing general on-site assistance and support, including resource lending and use of Maker Space facilities.

The position will be a full-time; staff position based on 35 hours a week and will be employed by Childreach and managed by the Strive Manager. (As long as funding is available to support the position.)

**Duties and Responsibilities**:

- Maintain an inviting and organized physical environment, and monitor the condition and quality of available resources; cleaning, fixing, replacing and updating existing inventory as needed;
- Manage and execute Resource Centre functions using MyTurn software (memberships, lending, purchases);
- Use professional expertise to support and guide members in selecting resources;
- Provide a Maker Space orientation for new members and monitor for safety and proper use of equipment;
- Develop meaningful and engaging resources that support and connect with Ontario’s pedagogical approach to the early years, reflect current research, are responsive to emerging community needs, and align with Strive’s _Guiding Principles for Professional Learning_;
- Develop, grow and maintain supportive relationships and strong connections with members, making appropriate and sensitive community referrals when needed;
- Maintain a working knowledge of community partner agencies and how they relate to the needs of families/early years professionals;
- Source and provide resources within the approved budget. Receive prior approval for all purchases and submit receipts to Strive Manager on a monthly basis;
- Contribute to the development of an annual Resource Centre work plan;
- Facilitate outreach and provide information sharing about the Resource Centre and its resources/services, to engage existing, new and potential members, via approved networks and social media;
- Demonstrate leadership and ingenuity in bringing forward ideas, finding efficiencies, and implementing new approaches to streamline existing processes and advance Strive’s vision to develop the Resource Centre as a Pedagogical Hub; and
- Collaborate with the team on projects, professional learning, and process improvements.

**Team Responsibilities**:

- Support Strive’s Strategic Plan approach to build connections and improve coordination between resources in the early childhood education and care sector and governing structures;
- Maintain knowledge of Childreach and Strive’s current offerings, programs, and services using available communication tools (calendar, social media, and website) to remain up-to-date and informed;
- Represent Strive at community or committee meetings, and network opportunities;
- Participate in meaningful professional learning opportunities as related to personal professional goals, growth and organizational direction.
- Representing Strive as Host at professional learning events as determined by Strive Team;
- Work collaboratively with the Strive Manager on special projects; and
- Other duties as assigned to support the work of Strive.

**Qualifications**:
**Bilingual French and English an asset**

**Education**
- Bachelor of Early Childhood Education, Bachelor of Early Childhood Leadership p