Manager of Program Administration Scales

National Louis is a 135+ year old university grounded in the values of innovation, access, excellence, and equity. As an institution, we believe in providing access to educational opportunity and that education is our greatest lever for social and economic mobility. We are a student-focused community committed to continuous improvement and superior student service, empowering change and building healthy communities through education. Our collaborative and respectful community values all team members and students.

About the role

The Manager of Program Administration Scales (PAS/BAS) at the McCormick Institute for Early Childhood (MIEC) provides oversight of the PAS/BAS Certification and Reliability system, supporting the use of nationally recognized, research-based tools that define quality indicators for center-based and family child care administration. This role leads in-person and virtual professional learning related to both tools, including reliability training, and supervises the Training and Certification, Administration Scales role. The Manager leads the implementation of certification and recertification processes used across Illinois and nationally within Quality Rating/Recognition Improvement Systems (QRIS) and professional development systems, serving as a National Anchor for both Administration Scales.

Responsibilities

• Training Design and Delivery
  • Plan, schedule, and deliver PAS/BAS Certification and Reliability and related trainings (in-person, national, and virtual), serving as lead trainer in collaboration with MIEC staff, consultants, and tool authors.
  • Develop and update professional learning experiences (in-person and virtual training, online modules, webinars, blended learning, follow-up supports, handouts, blogs, etc.) for diverse audiences.
  • Create and update PAS and BAS professional learning materials (content, PowerPoint, outlines, handouts, packing lists, etc.) to reflect updates as needed.
  • Co-facilitate and facilitate trainings.
  • Conduct PAS and BAS assessments for internal initiatives (e.g., academy participants, reliability checks, certification).
  • Assign reliable trainers as back-ups for each reliability training, scheduling six months or more in advance when possible.
  • Provide internal reliability training and build inter-rater reliability for MIEC staff.
  • Support the production, assembly, and delivery of materials for reliability trainings.
  • Oversee the maintenance and update of the PAS and BAS webpage.
  • Maintain records of reliability training scores and share information with National Anchors during quarterly meetings.
• Certification & Recertification Oversight
  • Manage certification and recertification processes, including conducting certification reviews, generating feedback, determining status, and communicating with the PAS-BAS committee.
  • Oversee the system for notifying certified individuals when their certifications are due to expire, aligning with reliability training recruitment and planning.
  • Ensure BAS and PAS databases are updated timely to maintain record fidelity.
  • Maintain resources, tools, and supports for certification and recertification in both tools.
  • Create and maintain an archive of questions from the field (assessors and Illinois Quality Specialists) and responses.
  • Serve as the point of contact for PAS and BAS project anchors across the country.
  • Manage the data entry process for BAS and PAS assessment reports.
• Relationship Management & External Engagement
  • Build and maintain relationships with state administrators and partners to inform training strategy, demand, and geographic focus.
  • Maintain accurate records of PAS and BAS usage in state professional development and/or QRIS systems to support training recruitment and planning.
  • Support the Director and Senior Director in growing the program and expanding tool delivery/usage across states.
• Leadership and Supervision
  • Coordinate PAS-BAS committee meetings for National Anchors at least quarterly, maintaining meeting minutes and preparing agendas.
  • Supervise, mentor, and evaluate Certification Specialist(s) to ensure high performance, accountability, and alignment with organizational goals.
  • Provide day-to-day oversight of team operations, including assigning work, monitoring progress, and providing constructive feedback.
  • Lead, coach, and develop team members through ongoing guidance, performance management, and professional development planning.
  • Conduct annual performance appraisals and regularly monitor progress toward individual goals.
• Strategic Planning and Coordination
  • Monitor national trends, contribute to program strategy, and align training offerings with organizational priorities and field needs.
  • Oversee and execute annual and five-year strategic goals and plans related to Administration Scales.
  • Support other members of the Professional Learning and Innovation team as needed.
  • Support the utilization of the Administrator Role Perception Survey (ARPS) across teams, as appropriate.
• System Operations & Continuous Improvement
  • Work with Authors and National Anchors to refine the PAS/BAS Certification and Reliability system, ensuring alignment with research-based standards and effective implementation within QRIS contexts.
  • Convene quarterly meetings with National Anchors and tool Authors to identify opportunities for system refinement or improvement.
  • Oversee the maintenance and regular updates to the virtual registry of certified PAS/BAS assessors, ensuring accuracy and accessibility; update the registry on the MIEC website.

Requirements

• Master's Degree in Early Childhood Education, Early Childhood Administration, Business Administration, or related field.
• Recognized as a National Anchor in both the PAS and BAS tools with current certification(s).
• Five or more years of direct experience in early childhood systems in roles such as center-based or family child care administrator; QRIS Specialist, Assessor, or Trainer; workforce development systems Specialist; or familiarity with research-based tools, program quality measures, or observation tools (e.g., PAS and BAS).
• Three or more years of experience delivering professional learning/training to adult learners (in-person and virtual) as a lead trainer or facilitator, with demonstrated ability to design multi-session trainings or certification programs and manage training logistics.
• Three or more years of hands-on experience with certification or assessment systems, including reviewing and scoring assessments reliably using defined rubrics/tools, ensuring fidelity to standards, and overseeing assessment workflows.
• One or more years of experience managing partnerships with external stakeholders, such as state agencies, professional development systems, and national networks, and using relationships to drive program strategy and participation.
• One or more years of demonstrated experience managing programs or initiatives, including strategic planning (annual and multi-year) and tracking progress toward goals while coordinating across teams and managing multiple workflows.
• Experience supervising at least one staff member preferred.

Work Environment

• Frequent travel (fifty percent or more) for local, state, and/or national engagements.
• Occasional nights and weekends required.
• Long periods of sitting, standing, and constant computer/data entry work.
• Ability to lift 25-30 lbs.
• Availability during evenings and weekends, with access to the Internet and phone when out of the office.
• Reliable transportation required.

Benefits

• Health Insurance benefits.
• Retirement benefits.
• Paid Time Off.
• Educational Opportunities.

Pay

The salary range for this position is $58,202 to $84,393 annually. Compensation decisions depend on factors such as budgetary considerations, job-related knowledge/skills, experience, market considerations, tenure, and internal equity.