Child Development Specialist

Grand St Settlement Inc.•New York, NY

8d•$60,000 - $65,413•Hybrid

About The Position

Under the Supervision of the Education/ Disabilities Coordinator, this role provides ongoing support to center-based and family child care partners within the Early Head Start/Head Start Expansion. The goal is to deliver comprehensive services in collaboration with the EHS management/leadership team. This position involves 50% fieldwork and 50% planning, record-keeping, and training. The ECE Specialist will also support the Education/Disabilities Coordinator on special initiatives aimed at aligning education and child development services across Early Childhood Programs.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood or equivalent coursework with a focus on infant/toddler development.
Experience working with infants/toddlers.
Excellent communication skills & follow-through.
Ability to work independently in the field & as part of a team.
Computer literate; ability to accurately enter and analyze child assessment data to ensure positive child outcomes.
Knowledge of Head Start Performance Standards/Head Start Act 2007, New York State Family Child Care regulations, & New York City DOHMH regulations.
Meet all employee health requirements in Head Start Performance Standards/Head Start Act 2024.
Bilingual English/Spanish.
Successfully clear NYS DOI Fingerprint Screening.
Successfully clear NYS Central Registry Clearance.
Successfully clear Sex Offender Registry Clearance.
Successfully clear 3 reference checks.
Successfully pass a physical examination with updated TB test, Tdap, MMR, varicella (fees may apply).
Meet all employee health requirements in Article 47 (DOHMH) and Head Start performance standards.
Possess a Mandated Reporter training certificate (renewed every 2 years).
Comply with agency’s policy and procedure regarding identification and reporting of child abuse and neglect.
Obtain First Aid/CPR and Preventive infectious diseases certificate within the first year of employment.

Nice To Haves

Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education.
Provisional New York State Birth-Grade 2 Teacher Certification.
Experience working with infants/toddlers or equivalent coursework with a focus on infant/toddler development.

Responsibilities

Provide individualized, reflective coaching to Partnership Teaching staff and FCC Teaching Staff using the Practice-Based Coaching model to meet their self-identified, competency-based professional development goals.
Collaborate with Family Services staff, Health/Nutrition Specialist, Disabilities Coordinator, and partner programs to identify child and family needs related to education and child development.
Collaborate with partner programs, staff, and families to develop age-appropriate learning experiences that support School Readiness Goals (SRGs), ensuring alignment with child assessment tools to monitor, document, and measure children’s growth and development.
Coordinate with Family Services staff, Health/Nutrition Specialist, and Disabilities Coordinator to schedule regular announced and unannounced visits to family child care partners bi-weekly to monitor compliance with contract requirements and Head Start Performance Standards, documenting and following up on non-compliance findings.
Coordinate with Community Partners to complete Infant, Toddler Environmental Rating Scale/Family Child Care Environmental Rating Scale (ITERS/FCCERS) for all partner program classrooms to identify professional development/training needs, play material ordering needs, and changes to classroom environment arrangement.
Recommend training and technical assistance needs of partner programs in collaboration with the Education/Disabilities Coordinator and Infant/Toddler Education Consultants.
Monitor child education files to ensure timely completion of observations, planning, and assessments, maintaining confidentiality.
Monitor the implementation of developmentally appropriate research-based curricula, reliable assessment tools, and screening tools.
Monitor web-based data entry (COPA or Teaching Strategies GOLD reports) to ensure accurate child assessment data, collaborating with partner staff regarding child outcomes, SRG, individual child planning, group planning, and data analysis.
Assist the Education and Disabilities Manager with monitoring staff qualifications for all partner teaching staff and the completion of individual professional development plans.
Participate in professional development opportunities, including meetings, in-service trainings, mandated trainings, and conferences.
Facilitate trainings for partners, EHS staff, and families as needed.
Participate in annual self-assessment, community assessment, and ongoing monitoring.
Perform other duties as assigned.