Child Care Specialist

Job Summary

To support child care providers to build knowledge and skills through training,

targeted technical assistance and coaching to implement the Standards, Curriculum, CLASS and TS GOLD in order to continuously improve quality of care.

Core Values

The job incumbent will be expected to operate in line with our core values which are:

• Integrity: honest, transparent, and trustworthy
• Collaboration: respectfully working together to serve our communities
• Excellence: always improving to go beyond what is expected
• Knowledge: seeking understanding to develop personally and professionally
• Accountability: willingness to accept responsibility

Essential Functions

Technical Assistance and Practice Based Coaching

• Provide on-site technical assistance (TA) and Practice Based Coaching (PBC) to child care centers to help them make program improvements, prioritizing low performing centers with higher Child Care Assistance Program enrollment.
• Collaborate with Early Childhood Community Network Lead Agency programs and attend network meetings as assigned.
• Assist Type III Child Care programs in full implementation of CLASS, TS GOLD, Tier 1 Child Care Curriculum, and the Louisiana Birth to Five Early Learning Standards.
• Work with early childhood educators/programs to develop action steps towards meeting their program goals and provide follow-up assessment and consultation
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge on child care licensing regulations, CLASS, TS GOLD, Tier 1 Child Care Curriculum, Louisiana Birth to Five Early Learning Standards, CCAP, TOTS, SRTC, Child and Adult Care Food Program, Health/Sanitation Regulations and Fire Marshal Regulations.
• Complete visit forms, as well as other related documentation, as required.
• Complete reports on activities accomplished throughout the month.

Group Training

• Responsible for conducting a minimum of assigned trainings on various early childhood topics with special emphasis on trainings related to CLASS, TS GOLD, Tier 1 Child Care Curriculum and the Louisiana Birth to Five Early Learning Standards as assigned.
• Develop new trainings, as assigned.
• Maintain certification as a Pathways certified trainer, CLASS reliability in the Infant, Toddler and Pre-K tools.
• Complete and submit training- related paperwork.

Other Responsibilities

• Promote participation in group trainings and participation in Child Care Connections Director Meetings
• Respond to requests for information and inquiries about what constitutes quality child care from the community
• Promote all services offered to child care providers by Child Care Connections
• Maintain and update the designated data systems including but not limited to NDS by WLS at the completion of group training, technical assistance (TA) and/or Practice Based Coaching (PBC) within the timelines assigned
• Assist with setting up special events for outreach to providers
• Develop and maintain constructive relationships with child care providers and serve as a role model of continual training and professionalism
• Attend appropriate meetings/trainings
• Be available to participate and travel to state and local early care & education functions
• Participate in professional development trainings.
• Other duties as assigned; the scope of the job may change as necessitated by business demands

Minimum Qualifications/Requirements

• Bachelor, or Master Degree in the field of early childhood development, child development or education, or related field
• Must possess a comprehensive knowledge of child development based on education, training, and experience working directly with children in a high-quality child care setting
• Experience in and comprehensive knowledge of the features necessary to operate a high-quality child care center
• Eligible for Pathways Trainer Certification, Teaching Strategies GOLD inter-rater reliability, and CLASS reliability in the Infant, Toddler and Pre-K tools
• Ability to build partnerships with all early childhood programs Early Childhood Community Network Lead Agency programs
• Knowledge of Canvas, Zoom, Google Classroom and Google Docs its usage is preferred
• Positive interpersonal and verbal communication skills
• Well-organized, motivated and able to work independently
• Ability to successfully conduct high quality training sessions for adults on the high quality early care and education of young children
• Ability to manage time, work without direct supervision, and contribute to team atmosphere
• Competent in using computer technology and software
• For positions that require driving on a regular basis:

Must have a valid driver's license and be insurable by Children's Coalition for Northeast Louisiana insurance carrier and have a Motor Vehicle Record acceptable to Children's Coalition

Working conditions

• Work is typically in an office setting or early learning center.
• Work hours are typically during normal business hours of 8:00 am- 4:30 pm. Some evening and weekend work may be required for events.
• Noise level in work environment may be low to moderate.
• Travel by car, bus, airplane or train may be required associated with attendance at conferences, meetings and other duties carried out at distant locations in and out of state and in some cases where overnight travel may be required.

Physical requirements

• May be required to lift up to 40 pounds.

Reasonable accommodations

• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Direct reports

None.