Child Development Specialist

Department: Early Childhood Services
Location: 1375 Bushwick Ave, Brooklyn, NY
Reports to: Early Head Start Child Care Education/Disabilities Coordinator

About the role

Under the supervision of the Education/Disabilities Coordinator, provide ongoing support to center-based and family child care partners, including family child care partners in the Early Head Start/Head Start Expansion, to deliver comprehensive services in collaboration with the EHS management/leadership team. The role involves 50% field work and 50% planning, record keeping, and training. The ECE Specialist will support the Education/Disabilities Coordinator on special initiatives designed to align education and child development services across Early Childhood Programs.

Responsibilities

• Provide individualized, reflective coaching to Partnership Teaching staff and FCC Teaching Staff as part of the Early Head Start/Head Start Expansion to meet their self-identified, competency-based professional development goals using the Practice-Based Coaching model.
• Collaborate with Family Services staff, Health/Nutrition Specialist, Disabilities Coordinator, and partner programs to determine child and family needs related to education and child development.
• Collaborate with partner programs, staff, and families across CCP and FCC Expansion to develop age-appropriate learning experiences that support School Readiness Goals (SRGs). Ensure alignment with child assessment tools to monitor, document, and measure children’s growth and development over time for all children served across both programs.
• Coordinate with Family Services staff, Health/Nutrition Specialist, and Disabilities Coordinator to schedule both regular announced and unannounced visits to family child care partners once every two weeks to monitor compliance with contract requirements as related to Head Start Performance Standards/Head Start Act 2007; document and follow up with all non-compliance findings.
• Coordinate with Community Partners to complete Infant, Toddler Environmental Rating Scale/Family Child Care Environmental Rating Scale (ITERS/FCCERS) for all partner program classrooms to identify professional development/training needs, play material ordering needs, and changes to classroom environment arrangement; collaborate with partner staff.
• Recommend training and technical assistant needs of partner programs in collaboration with Education/Disabilities Coordinator and Infant/Toddler Education Consultants.
• Monitor child education files to ensure timely completion of observations, planning, and assessments; maintain confidentiality.
• Monitor implementation of developmentally appropriate research-based curricula, reliable assessment tools, and screening tools, in collaboration with Education/Disabilities Coordinator.
• Monitor web-based data entry (COPA or Teaching Strategies GOLD reports) to ensure accurate child assessment data; collaborate with partner staff regarding child outcomes, SRG, individual child planning, group planning, and data analysis.
• Assist Education and Disabilities Manager with monitoring staff qualifications for all partner teaching staff and completion of individual professional development plans.
• Participate in professional development opportunities, including meetings, in-service trainings, mandated trainings, and conferences; facilitate trainings for partners, EHS staff, and families as needed.
• Participate in annual self-assessment, community assessment, and ongoing monitoring.
• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood or equivalent coursework with a focus on infant/toddler development and experience working with infants/toddlers.
• Preferred: Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education AND Provisional New York State Birth-Grade 2 Teacher Certification and experience working with infants/toddlers or equivalent coursework with a focus on infant/toddler development.
• Excellent communication skills and follow-through.
• Ability to work independently in the field and as part of a team.
• Computer literate; ability to accurately enter and analyze child assessment data to ensure positive child outcomes.
• Knowledge of Head Start Performance Standards/Head Start Act 2007, New York State Family Child Care regulations, and New York City DOHMH regulations.
• Meet all employee health requirements in Head Start Performance Standards/Head Start Act 2024.
• Bilingual English/Spanish.

Pre-employment Requirements

• Successfully clear NYS DOI Fingerprint Screening, NYS Central Registry Clearance, Sex Offender Registry Clearance, 3 reference checks, physical examination with updated TB test, Tdap, MMR, varicella (fees may apply).
• Meet all employee health requirements in Article 47 (DOHMH) and Head Start performance standards.
• Mandated Reporter training certificate (every 2 years) and comply with agency’s policy and procedure regarding identification and reporting of child abuse and neglect.
• Obtain First Aid/CPR and Preventive infectious diseases certificate within the first year of employment.

Pay

$60,000 - $65,412.75

Schedule

Monday-Friday, 8 am-4 pm, or 9 am-5 pm. Schedule may vary due to program needs.