Quality Improvement Specialist, New York City

Research Foundation of The City University of New York•New York, NY

7d•$82,000 - $82,000

About The Position

Thank you for considering a career with the Research Foundation of The City University of New York (RFCUNY). The team at RFCUNY is made up of dedicated, talented professionals committed to providing the services that allow CUNY researchers, faculty, and staff to focus on their intellectual curiosity and scientific discoveries. We are pleased that you are interested in exploring opportunities to join RFCUNY. Primary Location: OFFICE OF SR. UNIV DEAN FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS Bargaining Unit: No Mission Children need to spend their most critical years with dedicated, educated, trained, and well-compensated individuals in order to thrive. The New York Early Childhood Professional Development Institute leads the work to establish and implement an early childhood workforce system to ensure funding, standards and competencies, career development resources, qualifications and credentials, professional development (training and strengths-based coaching), and program quality assurance and improvement for individuals who work with young children throughout New York. Housed at the City University of New York, the Institute is a fast-paced, dynamic public/private partnership that is committed to the early childhood workforce across New York State. General Description QUALITYstarsNY is New York State's voluntary 5-Star early childhood quality rating and improvement system. Since its inception, QUALITYstarsNY has focused its evidence-based practices to ensure that young children in participating programs have access to excellence and families can trust the level of quality in the program they choose. Assessment, coaching, professional development, and a wide range of resources are made available to each site, enabling QUALITYstarsNY to support early childhood programs to earn higher star ratings. The Quality Improvement (QI) Specialist is responsible for providing key support in the implementation of QUALITYstarsNY. The QI Specialist is assigned a caseload of participating programs to provide ongoing technical assistance and resources to as part of continuous quality improvement. The QI Specialist works in partnership with the leadership of participating programs to effectively use data to create and implement an individualized Quality Improvement Plan (QIP). The QI Specialist works in their assigned region(s), visiting participating program sites to support their continuous QIP. The central office provides each QI Specialist with the equipment needed to manage extensive record keeping and filing timely reports. QI Specialists also participate in regular virtual meetings and on-site meetings as needed. The Director of Quality Improvement and Regional Quality Improvement Coordinator supervise the QI Specialist. The QI Specialist collaborates with regional QI Specialist teams as well as the central office staff. Qualified candidates will be considered for all boroughs: Manhattan Bronx Queens Brooklyn Staten Island

Requirements

Master's degree in early childhood education, early childhood administration and supervision or child development
At least 6 years of experience in similar work, including mentoring and/or early childhood teacher preparation
Knowledgeable about NYS early learning documents, including the NYS Prekindergarten Learning Standards, NYS Early Learning Guidelines, and the Core Body of Knowledge: New York State's Core Competencies for Early Educators
Experience with the Environment Rating Scales (ERS) and designing technical assistance and mentoring based on data and assessment results
Comprehensive understanding of a variety of early childhood settings, including center, family child care and school-based programs
Demonstrated competencies in delivery of technical assistance, on-site consultation and mentoring
A complete and current profile in The Aspire Registry, New York's early childhood workforce registry
Excellent and effective oral and written communication skills
Strong organization and case load management skills
Ability to communicate effectively with diverse populations
Ability to listen and respond to others with insight, diplomacy, and respect
Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, and PowerPoint)
Proven accuracy entering information into databases and ability to track, analyze, and report on data
Ability to travel regularly to various QUALITYstarsNY locations, and other agencies/partners locally and across the state.

Nice To Haves

Bilingual, Spanish/English preferred (Required for Bronx position)

Responsibilities

Deliver on-site technical assistance and mentoring to program leaders (FCC Providers, Directors, Principals, Supervisors) aligned with QUALITYstarsNY program standards
Provide ongoing support to program leaders throughout the participation process; technical assistance and mentoring
Maintain up-to-date Quality Improvement Plans (QIP) in partnership with participants; analyze and monitor progress towards quality improvement
Provide orientation sessions, trainings, and develop "learning communities" to support programs in meeting their goals
Build collaborative relationships with community partners to connect participants with necessary resources and professional development opportunities
Represent QUALITYstarsNY at local and regional events and conferences
Maintain accurate records for allocating and tracking expenditures
Develop efficient systems to carry out responsibilities using effective time management strategies
Maintain an accurate and complete QIP for each participant that reflects goals, tasks, and appropriate expenditures
Research local and state resources that support continuous quality improvement efforts
Prepare timely updates about progress and challenges with participants for regularly scheduled supervision meetings
Manage schedule of visits and other priorities
Plan, prepare, and participate fully in regularly scheduled regional meetings
Plan, prepare, and carry out recruitment efforts to build QUALITYstarsNY waitlist and expand services
Participate in outreach efforts to increase awareness of QUALITYstarsNY
Attend staff meetings and trainings as required
Perform special projects and other duties as assigned