Smart Mecklenburg County - Registration and Intake Specialist

Title of Position: Registration and Intake Specialist

Position Type: Full Time, Non-Exempt

Department: MECK Pre-K

Reports To: Enrollment & Placement Director

Smart Start of Mecklenburg County (Smart Start or SSMC) is a Charlotte-based non-profit that funds local programs for children ages birth to five and their families. The organization is a catalyst for improving the lives of the 85,000+ young children in our community, with a focus on health, family, early education, and literacy. We mobilize resources and forge partnerships to support evidence-based policies, practices, and programs to ensure all children enter kindergarten healthy and ready to succeed.

Smart Start has a budget of over $35 million comprised of funding from the state of North Carolina, Mecklenburg County, and private donations and grants. SSMC funds approximately 25 programs annually serving over 25,000 young children and their families and administers Mecklenburg County's MECK Pre‑K program, which provides free Pre‑K to children in the community. SSMC also operates programs and campaigns internally, including Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, Guiding Parents to Services, Ready4K, and The Basics Mecklenburg and Parent Powered.

The organization is also the leader in research, data, convening and collaborating on issues related to children Prenatal-to-five in the Greater Charlotte area.

The MECK Pre‑K Registration and Intake Specialist works with families, childcare center administrators, Community Outreach Coordinator, and MECK Pre‑K Assistant Director to coordinate and support the enrollment and placement process for MECK Pre‑K students aligned with county requirements. This position is a resource for MECK Pre‑K sites and families to ensure that program services meet the MECK Pre‑K policies, specifically the implementation of placement and attendance that support the success of all children.

• Inspires, models, and sets a high standard of excellent practice by supporting MECK Pre‑K families and staff in implementing intake, enrollment & placement services according to MECK Pre‑K Program policies and procedures.
• Greets families at the front desk, provides enrollment information, and assists with applications for enrollment.
• Gathers all required documentation from families and determined eligibility according to MECK Pre‑K Program policies.
• Works with MECK Pre‑K leadership team to coordinate and schedule Developmental Screenings. Assists with screening events.
• Determines placement of eligible students based on established priorities (prior enrollment at centers, family preference, geographical areas/zip codes).
• Informs families and sites about placement decisions; responds to all questions related to enrollment and placement.
• Transmits all relevant child information to sites after children have been placed.
• Processes all transfer requests and withdrawals throughout the school year.
• Responds to ongoing requests from families, MECK Pre‑K staff, and sites related to students' status (enrollment, waitlist, pending, moved, etc.)
• Reviews intake process annually and recommends modifications (procedures, forms, etc.), based on challenges/trends observed, to the MECK Pre‑K Assistant Director.

• Monitor weekly attendance: verify attendance reports, implement strategies to improve attendance, and analyze data to identify student absentee patterns.
• Develops and maintains Ascend database – enters all child enrollment & placement data.
• Works with MECK Pre‑K Assistant Director and staff to assess the needs for data reports and updates/revises database accordingly.
• Generates/creates reports for MECK…