Professional Development Specialist - Juneau

Thread•Juneau, AK

3d•$59,000 - $62,000

About The Position

The Professional Development Specialist provides professional development supports and services to early educators and early childhood education programs to improve the quality of early childhood education in Alaska. The position offers training, Child Development Associate (CDA) support and verification, technical assistance, consultation, and coaching on early care and education topics. Services are provided on- and off-site and informed by formal and informal assessment tools, including delivery to early childhood and school-age professionals and programs throughout Alaska. The Specialist creates, implements, and facilitates professional development training using adult-learning best practices and in-person and distance delivery. The role supports educators pursuing credentials, including the CDA and Alaska Early Childhood Administrator Credential; conducts requested on-site assessments; and helps programs with continuous quality improvement and national accreditation standards. The Specialist also supports educators and, at times, families in accommodating children, family members, and staff with special needs or challenging behaviors. The role maintains program data and reports using database and office communication tools, follows Learn & Grow procedures and team policies, develops or leads team projects, and represents thread in community settings, events, partnership meetings, and committees. The position is full-time and permanent, based in Alaska with statewide service responsibilities. The schedule is Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with occasional evening and weekend work. Regular travel is required, including occasional small-plane travel to rural communities.

Requirements

BA/BS preferred in child development, education, health education, social work, or a related field, or equivalent early childhood education experience, skills, and competencies.
Current driver’s license required; an Alaska driver’s license is preferred.
Reliable transportation for commuting to and from centers and clients.
Must pass a background check; references and valid identification are required.
Ability to travel to meet job requirements, including travel to rural communities by small plane, generally 1–4 times per year.
Ability to work a varied schedule based on service-delivery needs, including evenings and weekends as required.
Strong analytical skills and attention to detail.
Strong interpersonal skills.
Knowledge of early care and education, inclusive child care, children’s health and social services, and community resources.
Knowledge of child development, early childhood best practices, and effective professional development models.
Knowledge of adult education practices; experience training and consulting; and comfort with public speaking.
Ability to communicate effectively with diverse early childhood and school-age professionals, parents, staff, and community members.
Ability to collaborate with team members across the state.
Ability to use database systems and general office programs, including Microsoft Word, Excel, Access, Zoom, PowerPoint, Salesforce, shared project management tools, and Outlook.
Physical ability to sit and work at a computer for prolonged periods; frequently use hands and fingers to operate computers, telephones, and standard office equipment; communicate in person, by phone, video conference, and electronically; frequently stand, walk, and move between locations; bend, reach, stoop, and occasionally kneel; and lift, carry, transport, and set up materials and equipment weighing up to 25 pounds.
Ability to travel regularly throughout assigned service areas, including driving personal or organizational vehicles and occasional commercial-aircraft and small-plane travel.
Ability to work in office settings, child care programs, schools, and community training locations.

Nice To Haves

Prior professional experience in an early childhood setting.
Previous experience coaching and teaching adults.
Previous experience with early childhood development, mental health, or related work.
Previous experience with early childhood and school-age program assessment tools.
Bilingual speaking, reading, and writing skills.

Responsibilities

Provide professional development services to early childhood and school-age professionals, including training, CDA support and verification, technical assistance, consultation, and coaching.
Deliver on- and off-site professional development informed by formal and informal assessment tools to professionals and programs throughout Alaska.
Create, implement, and facilitate professional development training using adult-learning best practices, both in person and through distance delivery.
Support early childhood educators working toward and obtaining a CDA credential through the Council for Professional Recognition.
Provide career guidance to early childhood and school-age professionals, including guidance on the Alaska Early Childhood Administrator Credential.
Conduct on-site assessments of environments and operations using formal assessment tools when requested.
Gather, enter, and maintain program data and reports using database systems and shared office communication and documentation tools.
Support educators and, at times, families in accommodating children, family members, and staff with special needs or challenging behaviors in early childhood program settings.
Support early childhood programs in continuous quality improvement, including work toward national accreditation standards.
Provide professional development services in accordance with Learn & Grow, Alaska’s Quality Recognition and Improvement System, procedures and practices.
Follow team policies and procedures, including data-entry and document-management requirements.
Develop, coordinate, or lead team projects as assigned.
Represent thread and promote its services at community events, partnership meetings, and committees as assigned.
Perform other duties as assigned.