Professional Child/Development Coach

With the goal of improving child care quality, the Professional Development/Child Development Coach is responsible for specialized technical assistance and support to child care providers, including on-site quality improvement coaching and promotion of professional development access and attainment. The Professional Development/Child Development Coach builds and maintains relationships with child care professionals, provides mentoring and resources to help providers integrate new information into child care practice, facilitates the development of an individualized professional development plan, and connects providers to professional growth opportunities.

Primary Responsibilities

1. Conduct on-site coaching visits, and build trust with participating providers.

2. Observe and gather information about child care sites.

3. Assist providers in developing a quality improvement and professional development plan, setting goals, and selecting strategies.

4. Model developmentally appropriate curriculum and practice, and act as a resource for participants on child development, quality child care, and professional development.

5. Share feedback and information, and help reflect on progress.

6. Build connections with and maintain resources on local higher education institutions.

7. Maintain resources on local professional development opportunities.

8. Maintain records of work activities and track/monitor progress of participants.

9. Encourage self-reflection and provider portfolio development.

10. Facilitate networking opportunities.

11. Provide customer service to internal and external customers by working cooperatively within the department, the agency, and with the agency’s community partners.

12. Represent the agency with professionalism in all interactions. This includes over the phone, in person, using electronic media, and written correspondence.

13. Exercises good time management skills in the execution of all specialist duties.

14. Utilizes resources to maintain industry knowledge including, but not limited to the use of technology, attending workshops, classes and meetings.

15. Contributes to the team effort by meeting set departmental goals within departmental deadlines.

Additional Responsibilities

1. Participate in events as needed to help maintain R&R visibility.

2. Attend designated community meetings and other meetings as needed.

3. Provides child care resource and referral services to parents.

• Assists parents in choosing appropriate child care and educates them in finding quality environments.
• Educates parents about resources available in the community.
• Provides technical assistance and information to families and providers.
• Updates provider records on a regular basis.

4. Perform other duties as assigned.

Knowledge and Skill Requirement

1. Bachelor’s Degree in Child Development, or related field.

2. Minimum of 3 years of experience in a child care setting.

3. Experience and ability to work with adult learners and diverse client populations.

4. Good problem solving skills.

5. Familiarity with child care provider population.

6. Effective written and verbal communication skills.

7. Knowledge of R&R’s and other community resources.

8. Familiar with various child care assessment tools.

9. Effective written and verbal communication skills.

10. Familiarity with higher education requirements.

11. Knowledge of developmentally appropriate practices for children.

12. Excellent reading, writing, and oral communication.

13. Experience working with diverse populations in a culturally sensitive manner.

14. Proven ability to work independently, maintain confidentiality and discretion.

15. Ease speaking in front of small and large audiences.

16. Computer Skills: Working knowledge of Word, Windows is required. MS Publisher is highly desirable.

17. Demonstrated ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously. Exceptional organizational skills are needed to meet designated deadlines.

18. Bilingual – as required to meet the needs of population served within R&Rs and Agencies

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer.