Job Description
STGi is currently seeking a Lead Early Childhood Specialist to support our Head Start Training and Technical Assistance (TTA) team in Region 9 (AZ, CA, NV) The position is remote with travel up to 50% as assigned.
JOB SUMMARY: The Lead Early Childhood Specialist provides professional expertise in early childhood education and development through assisting grant recipients with consultation, training, policy and procedure development, and statewide agency collaboration in areas such as ongoing child assessment, curriculum identification and implementation, dual language learners, school readiness outcomes, and family engagement. The Lead Early Childhood Specialist provides intensive training and technical assistance to Head Start/Early Head Start (HS/EHS) recipients based on Regional or Area Office assignments. These assignments require travel and the ability to work on-site for periods of time ranging from one day to several weeks.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
• Provide on-site, group, or virtual training and technical assistance (TTA) to HS/EHS grant 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, teaching, and learning environments that are age, developmentally and linguistically appropriate across the birth to five spectra.
• Support recipients to improve teacher/child interactions as described by the Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS) for center-based Head Start programs and other assessment data 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.
• Support 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 and 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, and Health Specialists to ensure effective integration of TTA across service areas, as directed by the Regional or Area Office.
• Provide content expertise in implementing national and regional priorities and initiatives.
• Maintain regular and timely communication with Regional or Area Office staff on delivery of TTA and progress toward corrective actions or quality improvement.
• Provide all data entry of action steps and progress in required OHS reporting systems such as SmartHub, and the Head Start Enterprise System.
• Participate in meetings including National TTA meetings, Regional or Area Office meetings, team conferences, and one-on-one meetings as directed by OHS and the ECS Manager
• Support emerging OHS initiatives and priorities.
• Provide ongoing support to team members under each Lead, as assigned by the supervisor and RTTAC. This includes assisting with executing technical assistance needs, offering guidance, and ensuring staff feel equipped and supported to deliver TTA to support a recipient's goals.
• Follow a regular schedule of individual and team support to help specialists achieve professional development goals and deliver high-quality TTA to recipients. This involves conducting one-on-one case management, leading team sessions, and tracking progress to promote both individual growth and professional development.
• Meet regularly with the management team to ensure specialist work remains aligned with organizational goals. Collaborates with leadership to share updates, address challenges, and confirm that team activities support broader strategic objectives.
• Utilize data from case management/case conferencing meetings to identify and inform professional development topics. Reviews trends, challenges, and outcomes discussed during case management/conference meetings to shape relevant, targeted support that strengthens both staff capacity and recipient outcomes.
• Coordinate and lead biweekly case conferences to review the status of Training Service Requests (TSRs), promote collaborative learning, and ensure consistent follow-through. Facilitates discussions that highlight progress, encourage problem-solving, and provide a space for knowledge-sharing across the team.
Required Skills
REQUIRED EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS:
• Ability to develop, train, and provide presentations to individuals, small and large groups.
• Familiarity with the Improving School Readiness for Head Start Act of 2007, Head Start and Early Head Start Programs, OHS Monitoring Protocols and processes, and knowledge of Head Start Program Performance Standards and Other Regulations as they apply to all facets of early childhood education, family engagement, collaboration, and professional development.
• Knowledge of software systems that hold career training data and child outcome data at the grant recipient level.
• Understanding developmentally appropriate curriculum and assessment.
• Ability to work both independently and in a team environment.
• Sustained concentration and attention to detail and accuracy.
• Ability to prioritize and manage workload and deadlines.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Sufficient flexibility to work on-site with HS/EHS programs for periods of time.
• Obtain and maintain CLASS TOT certification, as required by individual regions.
• Valid Driver License and access to transportation.
• A minimum of five years' experience working directly with young children ranging from birth to five years in age. The experience should include the provision of technical assistance to teachers, home visitors, family childcare providers, coaches, and/or management team members.
• Individuals proposed as birth to five specialists must have experience across the birth to five spectra.
• Individuals proposed as infant/toddler specialists must have experience with children of that age.
• Must be CLASS TOT certified.
• Experience providing training and technical assistance to programs in developing and/or implementing school readiness goals or plans and management systems that support early childhood education.
• Experience working with different learning environments, e.g., center based, home based and family childcare options.
• Experience with trauma informed care.
• Experience supporting children with special needs and dual language learners.
• Experience communicating, both orally and in writing, with the ability to adapt to different sizes and types of audiences.
• Intermediate to advanced level experience with recent versions of Microsoft Suite, such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Internet Explorer; ability to use current webinar technology and audio conferencing. Familiarity with Smart Sheets is preferred.
• Must be legally eligible to work in the United States.
Required Experience
REQUIRED EDUCATION:
• A minimum of a bachelor's degree in early childhood education/development or related field from an accredited university or college. Some Lead Early Childhood Specialists must have coursework specific to infants and toddlers.
WORKING CONDITIONS/PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
• Ability to sit at the computer for long periods of time.
• Frequent use of office technology such as computers, telephones, etc.
• Travel up to 50% as assigned.
• Extended periods of standing during training events.
• Cyclical, deadline and workflow driven.
DISCLAIMER:
The preceding job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job.
Pay rate: Starting at $100,000/Year
STGi offers a competitive benefits package which includes Medical, Dental, Vision, 401k with company match and a generous PTO policy.
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