Early Childhood Specialist

Title: Early Childhood Specialist

Executive Area: Research and Engagement

College/School/MBU: UMass Donahue Institute

Department: UMDI - TTA Head Start

Work Location: Hadley

Schedule:Full time

Work Arrangement:Remote

Job Summary

The Head Start Early Childhood (EC) Specialist works directly with grantee recipients to provide training, consultation and technical assistance regarding services and professional development to support children's readiness for school and family engagement.

Essential Functions

Provides on-site, group, and virtual training and technical (TTA) consultation to grant recipients related to school readiness, family engagement, professional development and implementation of a research-based coaching model and the management systems that support them.

Provides TTA consultation related to the selection and implementation of ongoing child assessment, curriculum, teaching and learning environments that are age, developmentally, linguistically and culturally appropriate across the birth to five spectrum.

Supports recipients to improve teacher/child interactions as described by the Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS) for center based preschool programs and other measures suitable for programs serving children from birth-to-five in home-based and family childcare settings.

Supports grant recipients to develop procedures and skills to aggregate, analyze, understand and use data obtained through multiple sources, including ongoing child assessment data.

Provides training and technical assistance to recipients on developing and implementing family engagement practices that support early learning and development and parent-child relationships as described in the Parent Family and Community Engagement (PFCE) Framework.

Supports recipients to strengthen birth-to-five transition practices, including through relationships with parents, families, local preschools, elementary schools, and other partners.

Supports recipients to improve their collaboration with Local Education Agencies (LEAs), state agencies, and other partners.

Coordinates TTA with Grantee, Family Engagement, and Health Specialists to ensure effective integration of TTA across service areas, as directed by the Regional or Area Office.

Maintains regular and timely communication with Regional or Area Office staff on delivery of TTA and progress toward corrective actions or quality improvement.

Supports emerging OHS initiatives and priorities and complies with all national, regional, contract, and University planning and reporting requirements.

Other Functions

Facilitates grantee recipient's planning, implementation and follow-up, using a process consultation approach.

Participates in national, regional and state work group as directed by the OHS COR (contract representative).

Performs other special project-related work as required.

Participates in business unit and UMDI initiatives as required.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor's degree from an accredited university or college.

If the highest degree was awarded more than ten (10) years ago, documented continuous learning to remain current in the field of early childhood development through courses, conferences, seminars or relevant work experience completed within the last 3-5 years.

Five (5) years' experience in programs for young children ranging from birth to five (5) years including the provision of training and technical assistance to teachers, home visitors, family childcare providers, coaches and/or management team members.

Demonstrated ability in facilitating group discussions and presenting to a range of audiences using a variety of formats to include virtual.

Experience analyzing data and assisting programs to make date-driven decisions.

Demonstrated experience providing training and/or technical consultation to programs in developing and/or implementing school readiness goals or plans and management systems that support early childhood education.

Demonstrated ability to communicate clearly, both orally and in writing with the ability to adapt to different sizes and types of audiences.

Preferred Qualifications

Master's degree from an accredited university or college in Early Childhood Education/Development or related field.

CLASS Observation Reliability certification and/or CLASS trainer certification.

Experience across the birth to five (5) spectrum.

Demonstrated experience and/or education in the implementation of effective strategies in one or more of the following: working with infants and toddlers, trauma informed care, supporting children with disabilities, supporting dual language learners, and working with different learning environments (e.g. center-based, home-based and family child care options).

Demonstrated experience and/or education in the implementation of effective strategies supporting family engagement and/or family wellbeing.

Demonstrated experience and/or education in mental health or behavioral mental health.

Bilingual: English and Spanish.

Additional Details

Must maintain a home office, with high speed internet access, sufficiently free of distractions to allow work to be done.

UMDI will supply: laptop computer, printer/copier, LCD projector, computer speakers, cell phone. Other equipment and resources may be provided. All must be returned to UMDI when leaving UMDI service or upon the conclusion of the contract.

Ability to travel throughout New England at least 50% of the time. Nationwide travel on occasion. On-site work may be required for periods of time ranging from one day to several weeks.

This is a full-time benefited position.

This position is funded by grants and/or contracts, and is contingent upon funding.

Must reside in one of the six New England States (CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT).

Job offer is contingent upon the Office of Head Start acceptance and approval.

Working Conditions

Work is performed in a standard office or indoor university environment and involves minimal physical exertion.

Work Schedule and Work Arrangement

Monday - Friday, 40 hours/week.

This position has the opportunity for a remote work schedule, which is defined by the University as an arrangement where the employee's work location is to work from a site other than the UMass Amherst campus. As this position falls within the Professional Staff Union, it is subject to the terms and conditions of the Professional Staff Union collective bargaining agreement.

Salary Information

Pay Grade:PSSAP Grade 30

Click here to view the Professional Staff Hiring Ranges.

Special Instructions for Applicants

Along with the application, please submit a resume and cover letter. References will be checked at the finalist stage. Please be prepared to provide contact information for three (3) professional references.

This position will remain open for the time period required by any applicable collective bargaining agreement and will continue until a suitable candidate pool is identified. Interested applicants are strongly encouraged to apply early.