Early Childcare and Education Business Specialist

ICF International • Downtown Harrisburg, PA

3d • $60,940 - $103,598

About The Position

ICF is seeking an Early Childcare and Education Business Specialist for the Quality Support Center to advance the mission of expanding access to high-quality, affordable pre-kindergarten experiences for Philadelphia's children. This position plays a vital role in providing business, operational, and quality improvement support to early childhood education providers. The Business Specialist helps ensure the Quality Support Center's dedication to equity, quality assurance, and sustainable program growth through direct technical assistance, data-driven decision-making, and collaborative partnership management. The role reports to the Intermediary organization and works in close collaboration with the City of Philadelphia's Office of Children and Families (OCF) to ensure alignment with program goals and quality support objectives. PreK is the universal pre-kindergarten initiative, dedicated to ensuring that every child has access to high-quality, affordable early learning experiences. The program's mission is to promote positive outcomes for children, families, and communities by: Expanding access to quality pre-K education for all eligible children Elevating instructional standards and operational excellence among providers Advancing equity, inclusion, and cultural responsiveness Strengthening community partnerships and family engagement Utilizing data to drive continuous improvement and accountability Key Responsibilities: Oversee individualized, strengths-based technical assistance and coaching for PreK providers, ensuring excellence in business operations, fiscal management, and compliance with program standards. Lead the implementation of PreK's tiered support system, strategically assigning appropriate levels and types of business and quality support to providers based on assessed needs. Manage initiatives to help providers understand and adopt best practices in early childhood business operations, including budgeting, payroll, enrollment management, and regulatory compliance. Direct the development and delivery of professional development opportunities, supporting providers in enhancing their competencies across both business and educational domains. Cultivate strong, collaborative relationships with PreK providers, the Intermediary, OCF, and community partners to strengthen the quality and sustainability of early childhood services. Coordinate and participate in regular meetings with OCF, the Intermediary, and other program partners to align strategies, share insights, and proactively address emerging needs. Promote diversity, equity, and inclusion by ensuring all support strategies are culturally responsive and accessible to providers serving diverse communities. Leverage feedback and data to continuously refine support strategies, guaranteeing responsiveness to provider needs and alignment with PreK's quality improvement objectives. Monitor progress toward established performance metrics and outcome goals, identifying and resolving challenges to ensure the successful achievement of deliverables. This role requires up to 30% local travel within the Greater Philadelphia Area.

Requirements

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Early Childhood Education, Business Administration, Public Administration, or a related field
• Minimum 5 years of experience in early childhood education, program administration, business management, or related technical assistance roles.
• 2+ years of experience with early childhood systems, Philadelphia's ECE landscape, and the unique challenges facing community-based providers.
• 2+ years of experience with Philadelphia/PA ECE, including strong knowledge of Pennsylvania's Keystone STARS and early learning standards.
• Strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion; experience with trauma-informed and culturally responsive practices.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with partner agencies and community organizations
• Proficiency in data systems, reporting tools, and Microsoft Office applications.
• Strong interpersonal, communication, and facilitation skills; ability to build trust and rapport with diverse stakeholders.
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion; experience working with culturally and linguistically diverse populations.
• Organizational skills, flexibility, and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic environment.
• Demonstrated organizational skills, flexibility, and the ability to manage multiple priorities independently and collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team in a dynamic environment.

Responsibilities

• Oversee individualized, strengths-based technical assistance and coaching for PreK providers, ensuring excellence in business operations, fiscal management, and compliance with program standards.
• Lead the implementation of PreK's tiered support system, strategically assigning appropriate levels and types of business and quality support to providers based on assessed needs.
• Manage initiatives to help providers understand and adopt best practices in early childhood business operations, including budgeting, payroll, enrollment management, and regulatory compliance.
• Direct the development and delivery of professional development opportunities, supporting providers in enhancing their competencies across both business and educational domains.
• Cultivate strong, collaborative relationships with PreK providers, the Intermediary, OCF, and community partners to strengthen the quality and sustainability of early childhood services.
• Coordinate and participate in regular meetings with OCF, the Intermediary, and other program partners to align strategies, share insights, and proactively address emerging needs.
• Promote diversity, equity, and inclusion by ensuring all support strategies are culturally responsive and accessible to providers serving diverse communities.
• Leverage feedback and data to continuously refine support strategies, guaranteeing responsiveness to provider needs and alignment with PreK's quality improvement objectives.
• Monitor progress toward established performance metrics and outcome goals, identifying and resolving challenges to ensure the successful achievement of deliverables.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees