Performance Analyst III - Early Childhood Compliance & Quality Specialist

City of Alexandria•Alexandria, VA

About The Position

The Early Childhood Compliance & Quality Specialist oversees compliance for local home-based childcare homes, the Alexandria Head Start program, Campagna Kids, and CLASS Observer reporting. The role ensures these programs meet federal performance standards, state licensing regulations, and municipal health, fire, and safety codes. It supports professional development and high-quality educational and family services through supportive coaching while maintaining accountability. The position monitors childcare and early childhood education settings, supports licensing and accreditation, coordinates professional development, reviews program data, and prepares programs for external reviews. It also maintains policies and documentation, addresses non-compliance through corrective action plans, and collaborates with program staff, compliance bodies, and community partners. The Center for Children and Families provides behavioral health, domestic violence and sexual assault, child welfare and child protective services, early childhood, and youth development programs. Its services are person- and family-centered and support self-determination, safety, recovery, and resiliency.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in public policy, statistics, data science, public administration, or a related field, and four years of relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of experience and training.
Knowledge of Head Start Program Performance Standards and state licensing codes.
Knowledge of program evaluation, business process analysis, performance measurement and management, data collection, scientific surveys, data visualization, and report writing and presentation.
Experience with relevant software, including dashboard software such as Tableau and Microsoft Office applications including Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Visio.
Valid driver's license and good driving record.
Successful completion of required pre-employment background checks, including criminal records, Virginia State Child Abuse/Neglect Registry, Medicare/Medicaid Fraud Database, education and certifications, and driver's license checks.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in Social Work, Early Childhood Education, or Education Policy/Administration.
Strong working knowledge of state licensing regulations and HeadStart.gov Program Performance Standards.
At least five years of experience managing compliance, quality assurance, or auditing for multi-site early childhood programs.
Current state licensure as a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) or Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW).

Responsibilities

Monitor compliance across local home-based childcare settings, Alexandria Head Start, and Campagna Kids in alignment with federal, state, and local requirements.
Conduct scheduled and unannounced visits to Family Based Childcare Homes, Head Start sites, and Campagna Kids sites to monitor health, safety, and operational standards.
Coordinate with the Early Childhood Wellness Supervisor and Program Analyst to review learning environments and teacher-child interactions using state-approved standardized tools.
Mentor Head Start staff and Family Day Home providers through reflective supervision, feedback, and coaching on curriculum implementation and developmentally appropriate practices.
Guide Family Day Home providers through the state licensing process and support ongoing compliance with department regulations.
Facilitate or arrange professional development workshops on child development, positive behavior guidance, health, and nutrition.
Collaborate with disabilities and mental health coordinators to support implementation of individual educational and behavioral plans for children with special needs.
Review program data and compile CLASS Observer reports to identify program strengths and quality-improvement needs.
Track and document monitoring outcomes, training completion rates, and child progress in division data management systems.
Prepare programs for external federal, state, and local reviews through internal audits, mock inspections, and risk assessments.
Develop, implement, and track corrective action plans for non-compliance findings, ensuring prompt resolution of health or safety concerns.
Provide technical assistance and constructive feedback to childcare providers; design and deliver training on compliance protocols and high-quality educational practices.
Serve as a liaison among program site leads, compliance bodies, and community partners.
Collaborate with program leadership to ensure family services and engagement initiatives meet program-specific benchmarks.
Review and update operational policies, handbooks, and compliance checklists to reflect changes in local, state, and federal regulations.