Early Childhood Education Consultant, Bureau of Childcare

City of New York • New York, NY

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Bureau of Child Care ensures child care services in New York City comply with the New York City Health Code and New York State Social Service regulations and are licensed or permitted as required by law. It monitors child care programs to protect children’s health and safety and works to improve and expand access to high-quality programs that support early childhood development and learning.

The Early Childhood Education Consultant monitors child care programs throughout New York City and makes recommendations to help ensure regulatory compliance. The position involves evaluating programs, advising providers and staff, reviewing records, investigating complaints, and recommending enforcement or licensing actions. The role requires travel throughout the five boroughs by mass transit or personal vehicle, use and transport of mobile inspection equipment weighing approximately 15 pounds, and travel to Albany for training and elsewhere in New York State for an annual regulators’ meeting. The agency pays those travel expenses.

The position is with the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Candidates must meet the stated education and experience qualifications. Permanent candidates, candidates eligible for consideration under 55-a, and individuals who successfully filed for the specified Consultant (Early Childhood Education) examinations during the stated filing periods may apply.

Requirements

• Meet one of the specified education and experience pathways: a master’s degree in education with at least 12 graduate semester credits in early childhood or elementary education and three years of qualifying full-time experience; or the specified combination of a bachelor’s degree in education with early-childhood student teaching, a master’s degree in education, social work, psychology, or counseling, and three years of qualifying full-time experience.
• Qualifying experience must be in one or a combination of the listed roles: director or educational director of a qualifying licensed preschool/kindergarten school or program; teacher director of a qualifying licensed school or program; or early childhood education consultant evaluating programs and/or providing expert advice, including in a public agency.
• Five years of satisfactory teaching experience as a licensed early childhood education teacher may substitute for the required three years of qualifying experience.
• For Assignment Level II, meet the qualification requirements and have one additional year of the specified full-time satisfactory experience.
• Position requires travel throughout the five boroughs and the ability to carry and use mobile inspection equipment weighing approximately 15 pounds.

Nice To Haves

• Professional Certification in Early Childhood Education.
• Strong communication, analytic, and observational skills.
• Ability to deduce potential impacts of conditions or assess risk.
• Writing skills, including the ability to describe observations adequately and in detail.
• Computer skills, including use of mobile computing devices.

Responsibilities

• Evaluate and assess center-based, residential, school-based, and after-school child care programs for compliance with local, state, and federal regulations and applicable performance standards.
• Provide consultation, guidance, and technical assistance to prospective and current child care providers and staff on educational programming, organization, classroom management, and other field best practices.
• Serve as a resource for the Bureau and providers on current trends and research in Early Childhood Education.
• Issue notices of violation and recommend issuance or denial of child care permits or licenses, and/or closure of programs with imminent health hazards.
• Examine child care program, staff, and children’s records and files to ensure regulatory compliance.
• Investigate complaints about licensed child care services and allegations of unlicensed child care.
• Represent the Department at professional conferences and participate in professional development activities related to Early Childhood Education.
• Travel throughout the five boroughs using mass transit or a personal vehicle and carry and use mobile inspection equipment weighing approximately 15 pounds.
• Travel to Albany, NY, for training and elsewhere in New York State for an annual NYS Regulator’s meeting.

Benefits

• Potential eligibility for federal or state loan forgiveness and repayment assistance programs.
• Premium-free health insurance plan; the posting states this saves employees over $10,000 annually based on a 2024 assessment.
• Additional health, fitness, and financial benefits may be available based on the position’s associated union or benefit fund.
• Public-sector defined-benefit pension plan with steady monthly payments in retirement.
• Tax-deferred savings program.
• Worksite Wellness Program.
• Depending on the position, the possibility of working from home up to two days during the week.
• Agency-paid expenses for required travel to Albany, NY, for training and elsewhere in New York State for the annual regulators’ meeting.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level