About the position
Builds content matter expertise and technical capacity of the Agency and disseminates to center staff through providing technical assistance, training, and mentoring. Provides support to counties in ensuring the quality and compliance of Agency programs. Each Content Specialist is responsible for service delivery in specified content area of expertise: Education – Infant Toddler: Early care and education services for children 0-3 years. Education – Preschool: Early care and education services for children 3-5 years. Family and Health Services: Family and Health Services for children 0-5 years. Mental Health/Inclusion and Special Needs: Mental Health Services for children 0-5 years or Inclusion for special educational needs of children 0-5 years. Head Start- Technical Expertise in Head Start Performance Standards, OAR’s, Data Analysis, PIR, Coaching/Mentoring and Quality Assurance systems. Relationship-Based Practice – Technical Expertise in Head Start Relationship-Based Practices, including coaching, motivational interviewing, reflective practice, and trauma-informed care.
Responsibilities
• Maintains subject matter expertise and disseminates such knowledge by providing ongoing quality technical assistance to staff
• Develops, updates, disseminates, and supports policies, procedures, forms, work plans, and guidelines in the assigned program/content area.
• Researches and incorporates national, state and local program priorities and program improvement initiatives into program services and activities as directed.
• Conducts research to develop and improve statewide systems to assist Agency in complying with mandated performance outcomes.
• Promotes Continuous Quality Improvement and Quality Assurance efforts for Agency at State and local level.
• Designs and delivers projects, processes/systems and initiatives that support excellence in service delivery including the self-assessment process
• Provides content area specific knowledge to support Agency’s resource development efforts.
• Develops and disseminates resources and best practices for the process of implementing quality improvement efforts.
• Develops and maintains in-house resources in program/content area such as research studies, resource manuals, internet resources, publications, journal articles, and statistics.
• Collaborates with counties to ensure timeliness and appropriateness of developmental screening completion.
• Develops and delivers group, regional, on-site trainings and conferences on program content and activities, including developing training materials, curricula, and learning assessment tools.
• Develops training resources that are linguistically and culturally appropriate.
• Supports county in-service and pre-service activities.
• Provides skill development and mentoring to staff progressing in their position by performing on-the-job technical assistance and mentoring of specific skills.
• Provides guidance to staff in building skills and competence in all areas of their work.
• Supports the professional development of all staff by delivering coaching and technical assistance.
• Supports staff in engaging parents with understanding their role in the advocating, planning, implementation, and individual services for children.
• Utilizes standardized assessment tools in accordance with established assessment calendars
• Delivers assessment scores and observation information to appropriate staff.
• Synthesizes assessment data for various audiences and provides analysis of data with recommendations for continuous quality improvement.
• Acknowledges needs of target population and develops and implements activities adapted from evaluation and assessment.
• Evaluates statewide and local processes to assess for quality and its impact on outcomes.
• Assists county staff in determining content area training needs to assure quality and compliance for target population.
• Participates in site visits, classrooms observations, and work groups to assess program needs and planning strategies to resolve identified areas for system/process improvement and/or development.
• Assesses the implementation of the OCDC work plan to ensure that program/content goals and objectives are met.
• Collaborates with counties to conduct quality assurance activities such as file reviews to ensure required documentation.
• Communicates effectively to build trust.
• Maintains a professional, mutually respectful and productive working relationship with all Agency personnel.
• Works with other program specialists to establish and update plans of action at Agency level
• Supports Agency’s ability to manage and implement programs independently within guidelines of performance standards and other requirements.
• Engages in positive and collaborative working relationships with certifiers, consultants and state programs.
• Works cooperatively with other agencies to meet the needs of families and children served.
• Develops, prepares, coordinates, and maintains relevant statewide meetings.
• Works with counties on recruitment and identification to ensure compliance with enrollment requirements.
• Collaborates with counties to ensure integration of special services throughout Agency.
• Writes and maintains reports, issue briefs, and documentation.
• Maintains records of site visits and correspondence between center staff, directors, and outside consultants.
• Reviews and assists in establishing and maintaining contracts, interagency agreements, and memoranda of understanding in complying with current policies, public laws, and Head Start.
• Monitors and approves allocation of the OCDC special needs fund.
• Maintains professional and technical knowledge in assigned subject area.
• Attends educational workshops, trainings and seminars, establishing personal networks to maintain expertise in field.
• Conducts best practice research for grant writing as directed.
• Supports Our Mission, What We Do, and Our Vision & Values in daily activities.
• Demonstrates and applies continually the principles and values of OCDC’s Code of Ethics, Code of Behavior, and Code of Conduct.
• Maintains confidence and protects agency operations by keeping information confidential in compliance with OCDC policy and procedures.
• Applies safety practices in all facets of the performance of duties in compliance with safety standards and immediately reports any unsafe or hazardous working conditions and/or any injury.
• Abides by the Head Start Standards of Conduct.
• Performs other work related or assigned duties.
Requirements
• Bachelor’s Degree in the following field: Education Content Area - Preschool or Infant Toddler - Early Childhood Education. Family and Health Services Content Area - Social services, public health or nursing. Mental Health/ Inclusion/Special Education Content Area Content Area - Social work, early intervention, infant/toddler mental; Disabilities or Special Education. Head Start- Business Administration, Communication Studies, Human Resources or related field. Relationship-Based Practice – Social Work, Human Development, Social Services, or Business Administration. OR A degree with related course work.
• Minimum 5 years' work experience in the following areas: Education Content Area - Preschool or Infant Toddler Required - experience in preschool or infant/toddler development and education including classroom teaching experience.
• Family and Health Services Content Area Required – experience in related field including working with low-income families.
• Mental Health/Inclusion/Special Education Content Area Required - experience in the early intervention field.
• Head Start Required - experience in following stringent regulation, quality assurance and system development.
• Relationship-Based Practice Required – experience in related field including working with low-income families.
• Master’s Degree in the following field: Education Content Area - Preschool or Infant Toddler - Early Childhood Education. Family and Health Services Content Area - Social services, public health or nursing. Mental Health/ Inclusion/Special Education Content Area Content Area - Social work, early intervention, infant/toddler mental; Disabilities or Special Education. OR A degree with related course work.
• Minimum 2 years' work experience: Education Content Area - Preschool or Infant Toddler Required - experience in preschool or infant/toddler development and education including classroom teaching experience.
• Family and Health Services Content Area: Required – experience in related field including working with low-income families.
• Mental Health/Inclusion/Special Education Content Area: Required - experience in the early intervention field.
• Head Start: Required - experience in following stringent regulation, quality assurance and system development
• Relationship-Based Practice: Required – experience in related field including working with low-income families.
Nice-to-haves
• Preferred - experience with working with Head Start and/or teaching adults.
• Preferred - experience in maternal health and pediatrics
• Preferred – experience working with Head Start.
• Preferred – experience in head start, quality assurance and system development.
• Preferred - experience in coaching in a professional development or performance management context.
• Preferred - experience with working with Head Start and/or teaching adults.
• Preferred - experience in maternal health and pediatrics.
• Preferred - experience with working with Head Start and/or teaching adults.
• Preferred – experience working with Head Start.
• Preferred – experience in head start, quality assurance and system development.
• Preferred - experience in coaching in a professional development or performance management context.
• Preferred - experience with working with Head Start and/or teaching adults.
Benefits
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Retirement plan with employer contribution
• Paid time off, sick leave, holidays, and paid leave programs
• Employer paid life and disability coverage, with voluntary options available
• Flexible Spending Accounts for healthcare and dependent care
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and wellness resources
• Optional benefits including pet insurance