Head Start Early Childhood Specialist- Region X- REMOTE

ICF seeks an experienced Early Childhood (EC) Specialist to support Head Start and Early Head Start programs to ensure high quality Head Start and Early Head Start services in accordance with federal regulations. The Early Childhood Specialist will provide training and technical assistance (TTA) to programs to support progress toward established school readiness goals focusing on the use of child and program data to make decisions about approaches to working with teachers home visitors and parents in quality practices. The Specialist will provide professional-level expertise by engaging programs in dialogue and learning of best practices for children from birth to five and encourage a culture of learning that promotes school readiness.

This position is home-based in one of the Area states (Alaska Idaho Oregon and Washington). 50% travel is required to fulfill the requirements of the position.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide on-site group and virtual TTA to recipients related to school readiness family engagement professional development and implementation of a research based coaching model and the management systems that support them.
• Provide TTA related to the selection and implementation of ongoing child assessment curriculum and teaching that is age developmentally culturally and linguistically appropriate across the birth to five spectrum.
• Support recipients to improve teacher/child interactions as described by the Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS) for center-based Head Start preschool programs and other measures suitable for programs serving children from birth to five or children in home-based and family childcare settings.
• Support recipients to develop procedures and skills to understand and use data obtained through multiple sources including ongoing child assessment data. Assist recipients to implement a research-based coaching model.
• Support recipients to implement a research-based coaching model.
• Assist recipients to develop and implement family engagement practices that support early learning and development and parent-child relationships as described in the Parent Family and Community Engagement (PFCE) Framework.
• Support recipients to strengthen birth-to-five transition practices including through relationships with parents families local preschools elementary schools and other partners.
• Support recipients to improve their collaboration with Local Education Agencies (LEAs) state agencies and other partners.
• Coordinate TTA with Grantee Family Engagement Health Specialist to ensure effective integration of TTA across service areas as directed by the Regional or Area Office
• Maintain regular and timely communication with Regional or Area Office staff on the delivery of TTA and progress toward corrective actions or quality improvement.
• Participate in national regional and state work groups and meetings as directed by the OHS CO
• Support emerging OHS initiatives and priorities.

Basic Qualifications

• A minimum of a BA or BS Degree in Early Childhood Education/Development from an accredited university or college.
• If the highest degree was awarded more than ten years ago the resume should specify documented continuous learning such as courses conferences seminars attended or relevant work experience within the last 3-5 years that ensure the proposed candidate remains current in the field of early childhood development.
• 5 years experience in programs for young children ranging from birth to five years in age. The experience should include the provision of technical assistance to teachers home visitors family child care providers coaches and/or management team members.

• 1 year experience working with infants and toddlers.
• 1 year of family engagement experience.
• 1 year experience facilitating group discussions and presenting to range of audiences.
• 1 year experience analyzing data and assisting programs to make data driven decisions.
• 1 year experience providing training and/or technical assistance to programs in developing and/or implementing school readiness goals or plans.
• 1 year experience communicating both orally and in writing with the ability to adapt to different sizes and types of audiences.
• Must have valid drivers license and successfully pass a Motor Vehicle Records (MVR) check.

Working at ICF

Pay Range - There are multiple factors that are considered in determining final pay for a position including but not limited to relevant work experience skills certifications and competencies that align to the specified role geographic location education and certifications as well as contract provisions regarding labor categories that are specific to the position.

The pay range for this position based on full-time employment is: