Community Development Specialist

Equal Opportunity Employer

The mission of the Health Federation of Philadelphia is to promote community health by advancing access to high-quality, integrated, comprehensive health and human services. We believe in and are firmly committed to equal employment opportunity for employees and applicants. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, age, religion, disability, sex or gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, military or veteran status.  This commitment applies to all aspects of the Health Federation of Philadelphia’s employment practices, including recruiting, hiring, training, and promotion.

JOB SUMMARY

Home Grown, a fiscally sponsored project of the Health Federation of Philadelphia, is a national collaborative dedicated to creating a more inclusive child care system that values and supports home-based child care (HBCC), including care provided by family, friends, and neighbors (FFN). The organization envisions a future where all children have access to quality care that fosters their growth, learning, and well-being. By addressing systemic barriers and amplifying the unique value of HBCC, Home Grown advocates for sustainable change that positions HBCC as a viable and high-quality child care option for families. Guided by core values such as community-centered approaches, collective action, and innovation, the organization prioritizes uplifting care providers and families, fostering provider-led networks, and building scalable solutions.

Home Grown believes that the voices of providers and parents must shape policy decisions and action. We are committed to supporting the leadership, visibility, and participation of home-based child care providers. The Community Development Specialist will identify and engage with providers, connecting them to Home Grown’s programs, resources, and storytelling opportunities. As a relational and hands-on team member, the Specialist will support providers through enrollment, onboarding, and continued participation in Home Grown’s projects and initiatives.

This role requires strong community organizing skills, deep respect for provider experience, and the ability to work independently while collaborating closely across teams within Home Grown to achieve our strategic goals. Much of this work happens in the field, independently. The Specialist decides how to approach a provider or partner, when to escalate a concern, and how to represent Home Grown in the moment. It is a deeply community-centered role, requiring regular in-person outreach in key geographies and a passion for being in action with others to grow grassroots power. The Community Development Specialist is self-motivated and thrives in relationship-centered work. They are grounded in equity and respect for diverse lived experiences, and are comfortable navigating complex, dynamic environments.

Responsibilities/Duties

Provider Recruitment & Engagement

• Develop and implement a provider outreach and recruitment strategy for Home Grown’s priority geographies and affinity groups with clear action steps, measurable milestones, and visible outcomes aligned with strategic priorities.
• Conduct regular outreach travel, including 5-6 multi-day trips annually for recruiting, relationship building, provider engagement, leadership development, partner meetings, conferences, and internal meetings.
• Collaborate with local partners to plan and deliver outreach activities, including forums, focus groups, peer support, and virtual engagement.
• Build relationships with home-based child care providers through direct community outreach, referrals, and events in areas Home Grown has selected as a priority.
• Lead eligibility conversations with potential providers considering values-alignment and goals, and decide how to position each provider for the right next step.
• Serve as providers’ first point of contact, and coordinate a warm handoff to the appropriate program manager once that judgement call is made.
• Track and document outreach activities, provider relationships, engagement status, and other data using internal systems to support planning, reporting, and continuous improvement.
• Provide mentorship and training to emerging HBCC leaders on advocacy, policy, organizing, network leadership and other skills to advance their goals.
• Step in to resolve conflict among HBCC advocates and leaders, deciding how to  build consensus, and foster collaboration across diverse communities and viewpoints.
• Build relationships with HBCC-led or serving associations and community-based organizations to deepen context and extend reach.
• Make day-to-day calls in the field about how to approach various stakeholders and adjust strategy on the spot when local conditions change.

Program Coordination

• Serve as a bridge between providers and other Home Grown programs and initiatives, ensuring clear and timely communication, smooth handoffs, and responsive support.
• Track and analyze the progress and trends of initiatives.
• Use data insights to inform improvements and share recommendations.
• Identify and analyze trends, gaps, and barriers that providers face from recruitment through program entry, and bring  a clear point of view to internal conversations about how to strengthen readiness and participation.
• Collaborate across teams to co-develop programs, strategies and solutions that improve accessibility and impact for HBCC providers connected to Home Grown.
• Develop workflows to ensure efficient and effective management of administrative and project deliverables (e.g., scheduling, invoicing, etc).
• Document and communicate effective practices and strategies.

Storytelling

• Collaborate with the narrative strategy team to identify providers whose stories illustrate key policy issues or program impacts.
• Contribute to community-facing communications materials by sharing relevant insights and feedback from providers.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with colleagues across all Home Grown teams to align outreach with strategic priorities.
• Represent Home Grown at community events and convenings; serve as a relationship builder with key partner organizations.
• Support event planning and coordination for provider-focused engagement.