Early Childhood Education Consultant, Bureau of Childcare

City of New York • New York, NY

2d

About The Position

The Early Childhood Education Consultant works for the Bureau of Child Care, which monitors New York City child care services for compliance with applicable health codes and regulations and works to improve access to high-quality programs that support early childhood development and learning. The consultant evaluates child care programs throughout New York City and makes recommendations to help ensure regulatory compliance.

The role includes evaluating center-based, residential, school-based, and after-school programs; advising providers and staff on educational programming, classroom organization, management, and field best practices; and serving as a resource on current early childhood education trends and research. The consultant may issue notices of violation, recommend issuance or denial of permits or licenses, and recommend program closure when imminent health hazards exist. The role also involves examining program, staff, and child records; investigating complaints and allegations of unlicensed care; and representing the Department at professional conferences and professional development activities.

The position requires travel throughout New York City's five boroughs by mass transit or personal vehicle, including carrying and using mobile inspection equipment weighing approximately 15 pounds. Selected candidates will travel to Albany for training and elsewhere in New York State for an annual regulators’ meeting; the agency pays expenses. Depending on the position, employees may be able to work from home up to two days during the week.

Candidates must meet one of the listed education and experience pathways. These include specified graduate or bachelor's and master's degree combinations, relevant coursework or student teaching, and three years of qualifying full-time experience; five years of licensed early childhood teaching experience may substitute for the three years. Assignment Level II requires one additional year of qualifying experience. The posting is open to permanent candidates, candidates eligible for consideration under 55-a, or individuals who filed for the specified Consultant (Early Childhood Education) examinations within their filing periods.

Requirements

• Meet one of the stated education and experience pathways: either a master's degree in education with 12 graduate semester credits in early childhood or elementary education and three years of qualifying full-time experience; or a bachelor's degree in education with specified 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 includes specified work as a director or educational director, teacher director, or early childhood education consultant evaluating programs or providing expert advice, as detailed in the posting.
• Five years of satisfactory teaching experience as a licensed early childhood education teacher may substitute for the three years of qualifying experience.
• For Assignment Level II, have one additional year of qualifying full-time experience beyond the standard qualification requirements.
• Be a permanent candidate, eligible for consideration under 55-a, or have filed for the specified Consultant (Early Childhood Education) examination within its filing period.
• Travel throughout New York City's five boroughs by mass transit or personal vehicle and carry/use mobile inspection equipment weighing approximately 15 pounds.
• Travel to Albany for training and elsewhere in New York State for an annual regulators’ meeting.

Nice To Haves

• Professional certification in Early Childhood Education.
• Strong communication, analytical, and observational skills.
• Ability to deduce potential impacts of conditions or assess risk.
• Strong 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, classroom organization and management, and other field best practices.
• Serve as a resource for the Bureau and providers on current early childhood education trends and research.
• Issue notices of violation and recommend issuance or denial of child care permits or licenses, and recommend closure of programs with imminent health hazards.
• Examine records and files of child care programs, staff, and children to assess regulatory compliance.
• Investigate complaints about licensed child care services and allegations of unlicensed child care.
• Represent the Department at professional conferences and participate in early childhood education professional development activities.
• Travel throughout the five boroughs and carry and use mobile inspection equipment weighing approximately 15 pounds.
• Travel to Albany for training and elsewhere in New York State for an annual NYS regulators’ meeting.

Benefits

• Premium-free health insurance plan; the posting states it saves employees over $10,000 annually based on a 2024 assessment.
• Additional health, fitness, and financial benefits may be available depending on the position’s associated union or benefit fund.
• Public sector defined benefit pension plan with steady monthly retirement payments.
• Tax-deferred savings program.
• Worksite Wellness Program offering health resources and opportunities.
• Agency-paid expenses for required travel to training and the annual NYS regulators’ meeting.
• Potential to work from home up to two days during the week, depending on the position.
• Job security compared with private-sector employment.

What This Job Offers

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