Early Childhood Coach

Early Childhood Council of Larimer County; Fort Collins, Northern (CO, KY); Hybrid; USD 56,000 - 63,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

PTO & Holidays

Health, Vision & Dental

Retirement benefits

Job summary

Early Childhood Council of Larimer County in Fort Collins, CO, seeks an Early Childhood Coach to support quality improvement across state systems and local priorities. This full-time, salaried role emphasizes coaching, provider support, and implementation of strategic quality initiatives.

Qualifications include a Bachelor's and 2+ years in early childhood, Level 3 Credential or higher, and the ability to obtain a Coaching Credential. Strong communication and technology skills are essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree and a minimum of 2 years of experience in early childhood.
• Level 3 (or higher) Early Childhood Credential
• Ability to obtain a Coaching Credential, and certifications for assessment tools in an allotted time.
• Experience in an early childhood classroom or family child care home
• Strong working knowledge of PDIS and QRIS
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; detail oriented
• Proven ability to work independently, manage time, complete assignments and meet deadlines in a shared office space and out of the office or via tele-commuting.

Responsibilities

• Understand, promote, and implement quality improvement initiatives that meet the evolving needs of early childhood programs, educators, children and families.
• Provide coaching and technical assistance that supports high-quality early care and education, including classroom practice, learning environments, adult-child interactions, program operations, and continuous quality improvement.
• Support quality improvement work connected to Colorado Shines, Professional Development Information System (PDIS) and CDEC-aligned systems, as appropriate.
• Assist early childhood programs in developing and implementing quality improvement plans that are strengths-based and aligned with early childhood programs/provider goals.
• Provide information and referrals to resources that support early childhood programs, educators, children, and families.
• Communicate clear, respectful, and actionable guidance to early childhood educators on elements high-quality care and best practices
• Deliver practical guidance based on early childhood research, proven classroom strategies, and flexible learning methods
• Support program administrators and owners in navigating quality improvement systems, including Colorado Shines, PDIS, quality improvement funding, and locally available supports.
• Build respectful, strengths-based partnerships with diverse early childhood providers rooted in open communication, honest reflection, and confidential, practical problem-solving
• Support early childhood professionals in navigating the PDIS, credentialing, and professional development pathways to foster long-term career and program growth
• Interact regularly with professionals in centers and family child care settings to understand their strengths, needs, barriers, goals, and operating realities.
• Recognize the unique qualities of family child care homes, center-based programs, and other early childhood settings to ensure optimal outcomes for children and families.
• Use basic budget and financial information including spreadsheets, expenditure tracking and documentation related to child care grants or quality improvement funds.
• Identify and participate in training to strengthen coaching practice, early childhood knowledge, and understanding of local and state quality systems.
• Obtain and maintain coaching certifications, credentials, and assessment tool reliability as required.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Organizational skills

Written communication

Verbal communication

Adult learning

Technology proficiency

Driver’s license

Education

Bachelor’s Degree

Master’s Degree

Early Childhood Credential Level 3

Tools

Microsoft Office

Adobe

Google Suite

CRM databases

Job description

Reports To: Early Childhood Coaching Manager

Job Location: Fort Collins, CO (Hybrid Remote)

Work Schedule: Full-time; salaried (40 hours/week). May require occasional evening or weekend hours.

Hiring Range: $56,000-$63,000 annually depending on qualifications and experience

Northern Colorado Kids Thrive is a nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring every young child in our community has access to quality early childhood experiences. We manage significant public and private investments that support families, early childhood educators, and child care providers across Larimer County.

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Early Childhood Coach supports quality improvement work connected to state systems, including Colorado Shines, PDIS, coaching credentials, environmental rating scales, and other CDEC-aligned quality efforts. This role also supports locally designed quality improvement strategies connected to NoCo Kids Thrive’s 1B public funding responsibilities. This may include coaching, provider support, quality improvement planning, and implementation support that are specific to local priorities, provider needs, family access, workforce stability, and broader early childhood system goals.

This position requires strong knowledge of early care and education, adult learning, early childhood quality practices, child care licensing, social-emotional development, classroom environments, and family child care and center-based program operations. The Early Childhood Coach works as part of the Specialist Consultation portfolio, helping ensure that providers experience NoCo Kids Thrive as a coordinated, responsive, and practical partner.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Understand, promote, and implement quality improvement initiatives that meet the evolving needs of early childhood programs, educators, children and families.

Provide coaching and technical assistance that supports high-quality early care and education, including classroom practice, learning environments, adult-child interactions, program operations, and continuous quality improvement.

Support quality improvement work connected to Colorado Shines, Professional Development Information System (PDIS) and CDEC-aligned systems, as appropriate.

Assist early childhood programs in developing and implementing quality improvement plans that are strengths-based and aligned with early childhood programs/provider goals.

Provide information and referrals to resources that support early childhood programs, educators, children, and families.

Communicate clear, respectful, and actionable guidance to early childhood educators on elements high-quality care and best practices

Deliver practical guidance based on early childhood research, proven classroom strategies, and flexible learning methods

Support program administrators and owners in navigating quality improvement systems, including Colorado Shines, PDIS, quality improvement funding, and locally available supports.

Build respectful, strengths-based partnerships with diverse early childhood providers rooted in open communication, honest reflection, and confidential, practical problem-solving

Support early childhood professionals in navigating the PDIS, credentialing, and professional development pathways to foster long-term career and program growth

Interact regularly with professionals in centers and family child care settings to understand their strengths, needs, barriers, goals, and operating realities.

Recognize the unique qualities of family child care homes, center-based programs, and other early childhood settings to ensure optimal outcomes for children and families.

Use basic budget and financial information including spreadsheets, expenditure tracking and documentation related to child care grants or quality improvement funds.

Identify and participate in training to strengthen coaching practice, early childhood knowledge, and understanding of local and state quality systems.

Obtain and maintain coaching certifications, credentials, and assessment tool reliability as required.

Bachelor’s Degree and a minimum of 2 years of experience in early childhood

Level 3 (or higher) Early Childhood Credential

Ability to obtain a Coaching Credential, and certifications for assessment tools in an allotted time.

Experience in an early childhood classroom or family child care home

Strong working knowledge of PDIS and QRIS

Strong interpersonal and organizational skills

Strong written and verbal communication skills; detail oriented

Ability to support the specific and unique needs of adult learners in a professional setting.

Proven ability to work independently, manage time, complete assignments and meet deadlines in a shared office space and out of the office or via tele-commuting.

Confident with technology, including Microsoft Office, Adobe, Google Suite & CRM databases

Valid CO Driver’s License and Vehicle Insurance; ability to drive throughout the region when needed in a reliable personal vehicle

Master’s degree in a field related to early childhood or similar field

An affinity for non-profit, community-based work environment

Because of our goal to provide more equitable services in the community, the ability to speak, read, and write in a second language (Spanish or Arabic preferred) is desired for this position.

Note: Research suggests that women and BIPOC individuals may self-select out of opportunities if they don't meet 100% of the job requirements. We encourage anyone who believes they have the skills and the drive necessary to succeed here to apply for this role.

JOB BENEFITS

NoCo Kids Thrive offers a comprehensive benefits package, including PTO, paid holidays, health, vision and dental, and retirement benefits. For more information on our benefits package, click here.

NoCo Kids Thrive enhances diversity through inclusion of individuals reflective of characteristics including, and not limited to, race, ethnicity, age, culture, different ideas and perspectives, disability, first generation status, familial status, gender identity and expression, geographic background, marital status, national origin, religious and spiritual beliefs, sex, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, and veteran status. Discrimination based on physical traits that are associated with a person's race or ethnicity, including hair texture, type, style and headwear is prohibited in the State of Colorado by the Crown Act of 2020.