Infant and Toddler Specialist

Position Summary

The Early Head Start Infant and Toddler Specialist will deliver exceptional support and guidance to Early Head Start programs serving children from birth to 36 months. This specialist will collaborate with teaching staff to ensure high-quality care and education tailored to infants and toddlers' unique developmental needs.

Essential Functions

• Carry out tasks related to care and education of children birth to 36 months of age as prescribed in the Head Start Performance Standards and as assigned by the Education Manager.
• Support EHS program teaching staff through a protocol of Practice-Based Coaching.
• Monitor EHS children’s care, education, and development.
• Monitor classrooms through focused observations and reporting.
• Ensure compliance with Head Start Performance Standards and other regulations.
• Inform child care program teachers and staff about the Head Start Program Performance Standards and support their implementation through effective technical assistance strategies.
• Support the quality of care and education for each EHS child through:
• Regular reviews of Children’s Educational Records and portfolios, including developmental screen results.
• Regular reviews of TS GOLD on-going child assessments.
• Site visits and classroom observations both formal and informal.
• Assessment and feedback on classroom management, routines, lesson plans, and environment (indoors and outdoors).
• Modeling and coaching on high quality, responsive, developmentally, culturally, and linguistically appropriate interactions with children, fostering healthy, consistent, trusting relationships.
• Affirmative action and inclusion of all children's communication, language, and literacy skills.
• Affirmative action and inclusion of all children's behavioral, medical, and/or educational needs.
• Affirmative action and inclusion of all staff in other service areas needing information from this service and ensuring timely, effective communication.
• Affirmative action and inclusion of all staff participating in regular case management/staffing meetings as requested.
• Affirmative action and inclusion of all staff collaborating and communicating with other EHS-CCP staff to provide support for teachers and children and their families with behavioral, medical and/or educational needs in collaboration with these focus area managers and coordinators.
• Affirmative action and inclusion of all staff participating on program self-assessment team for annual assessment of your service areas and other service areas as requested.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education, Child Development or related field; with at least 3 years’ experience working specifically with Infants and Toddlers.
• Experience working with infants and toddlers in a Head Start or similar program.
• Profound knowledge of child development birth to 36 months and early childhood education best practices.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Flexibility and adaptability to changing program needs.

General Requirements

• Certificates & Licenses: Obtain and keep current all certifications, licenses, health cards, etc., at all times. Must possess and maintain a current North Carolina driver's license and own reliable transportation with valid vehicle insurance meeting the state’s minimum coverage requirements.
• Other Requirements: Employees must be able to work independently without close supervision. Employees must be able to work well with a diverse population. The employee is required to have skills in assessment, observations, and working with children Birth to 36 months. Ability to speak Spanish as a second language is a plus.

Conditions of Employment

• Background check with state and Federal law enforcement agencies required.
• Pre-employment substance abuse screening test and receive a negative result for the use of drugs and alcohol as specified in agency policies.
• Must submit and receive negative results for random testing of same.
• Valid North Carolina Driver's License.
• Pass a post-offer physical examination.

Employee Benefits Package

• Competitive pay with periodic Cost of Living Adjustments (COLA)
• Zero-cost Health, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Short-Term Disability (Employee only)
• Retail retirement plan with 100% employer matching
• Sick/Personal leave
• 13 Paid Holidays
• Spring Break (for Head Start)
• Paid professional development training
• Education assistance
• Auto mileage reimbursement for official travel
• Employee discounts
• Bragg Mutual Credit Union Membership
• Employee Recognition Events