Quality Management Specialist, DECE - 27150

About the role

The Division of Early Childhood Education (DECE) supports the operational and programmatic functions of early childhood education programs for NYC children in elementary schools, Pre‑K Centers, and New York City Public Schools (NYCPS) contracted settings, including Community Based Organizations (CBO), Family Child Care (FCC) and federally funded Head Start programs. DECE provides families with access to high‑quality, inclusive early childhood programs for children birth to five, in diverse settings, supporting children’s growth and development. The Quality Management Specialist coordinates internal and external communication efforts, provides management and support for operational and logistical tasks, supports compliance analytics and data management work, and delivers training and support to Strategy and Policy team staff on a continuous basis. The role reports to the Quality Management Systems Manager and works closely with Birth‑Five Programs, DECE Central Office Teams, DECE Borough Office Teams, and the Director of Monitoring & Technical Assistance.

Responsibilities

• Develop partnerships with community‑based organizations and the broader NYC network of early childhood education programs through monitoring and support initiatives.
• Provide professional‑level expertise by engaging programs in dialogue and sharing best practices.
• Deliver technical assistance and training in a variety of settings.
• Conduct monitoring protocols and data analysis of various program performance areas.
• Support the development of coaching tools and interventions for Birth‑Five programs, informed by recurring audit cycles.
• Collaborate with internal or external partners to develop and implement quality‑assurance and quality‑improvement procedures.
• Assist in creating and updating guidance documents and disseminate information concisely to DECE staff and early childhood education providers.
• Help programs develop procedures and skills to aggregate, analyze, and use data from multiple sources.
• Work with DECE teams on programmatic audits or corrective‑action plans and suggest process improvements.
• Maintain consistent, open communication with relevant staff to resolve issues and apply learnings to process improvement.
• Ensure high‑quality Birth‑Five services are provided in accordance with federal and local regulations and NYCPS’s vision and mission.

Qualifications

• Minimum requirements (choose one):
  • Baccalaureate degree from an accredited college and two (2) years of experience in community work or community‑centered activities related to the duties described.
  • High school graduation or equivalent and six (6) years of experience in community work or community‑centered activities related to the duties described.
  • Education and/or experience equivalent to either option above, with at least one (1) year of experience meeting the first option’s criteria.
• Preferred qualifications:
  • Ability to travel NYC‑wide.
  • Strong written, spoken, and analytical skills.
  • Knowledge of Head Start and experience working within a Head Start program.
  • Experience facilitating group discussions and presenting to diverse audiences.
  • Experience analyzing data and assisting programs to make data‑driven decisions.
  • Three or more years managing the administration, development, and implementation of a program.
  • Knowledge of NYCPS policy and procedures, especially those related to the Division of Early Childhood Education, with the ability to interpret and apply them effectively.
  • Excellent project‑management skills, leading cross‑functional initiatives and designing efficient processes and systems.
  • Excellent communication skills for sharing information confidently, both spoken and written, to internal and external audiences.
  • Ability to organize and present facts and figures clearly, concisely, and logically.
  • Strong interpersonal skills, including building and cultivating relationships with diverse groups (education and non‑education personnel, internal and external to NYCPS).
  • Attention to detail, highly organized, able to work under pressure and meet frequent, changing deadlines.
  • Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office 365 applications.

Pay

Salary: $82,000 – $90,200. Internal candidates selected for this position who currently hold comparable or less senior positions within the DOE will not earn less than their current salary.