Professional Development Specialist

Cayuga County Chamber of Commerce; City of Syracuse (NY); On-site; USD 34,000 - 41,000; Full time

Job summary

Child Care Solutions in Syracuse is seeking a Professional Development Specialist to design and deliver culturally and linguistically appropriate educational programs for child care providers and early childhood professionals.

You will write curricula, conduct trainings at offices and community sites, provide on-site technical assistance, and help plan conferences while staying current with research and regulations in early childhood education.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education or related field with 12 credits in early childhood education.
• 3 years of experience with children birth to five and families in an early care setting or school-age program.
• Ability to write curricula, develop training materials and present to diverse audiences.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement professional development programs for local early childhood professionals.
• Provide one-to-one technical assistance to providers by phone, email, and in person.
• Conduct on-site program assessments using standardized observation scales.
• Facilitate online distance learning classes for providers.
• Develop, market and run conferences and professional development events.

Skills

Curriculum design

Training delivery

Communication skills

Program design

Computer proficiency

Customer service

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education

Tools

Standardized observation scales

Job description

Starting salary range – $24.96 – $29.8
Child Care Solutions is currently recruiting for one (1) Professional Development Specialist in the Syracuse Office.

Job Summary:

Summary Description:
The Professional Development Specialist provides culturally and linguistically appropriate
educational and consulting programs for child care providers and other early childhood professionals
and parents of children birth to five, with the goal of enhancing the quality of early care and education
available in the communities we serve.

Essential Functions:

• Design and implement professional development programs that meet the diverse needs of
  local early childhood professionals. This includes writing curricula; developing training
  materials; teaching classes at our offices and community sites; and evaluating and improving
  delivery of these services.
• Provide one-to-one technical assistance and consultation to providers on child development
  and professional development issues by telephone, e‑mail and in‑person at our office and at
  community sites.
• Participate in training, as assigned, to learn and implement on‑site program assessments
  using standardized observation and evaluation scales.
• Assist in facilitating on‑line distance learning classes for providers.
• Assist in development, marketing and implementation of conferences and professional development events sponsored by Child Care Solutions.
• Stay current with research, regulations and best practice in the early childhood education
  field.
• Respond to incoming child development and child rearing questions from parents.
• Design and present parenting seminars upon request, on child development and child
  rearing issues.
• Maintain participation and service records per agency and funder standards.
• Maintain knowledge of community resources to which providers and parents can be referred
  for additional services and support.
• Participate in outreach efforts in the community representing Child Care Solutions and its
  provider services.
• Perform these responsibilities with the understanding that responsibilities and tasks may be
  modified or expanded over time.

Qualifications:

Education: Minimum – Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education, Education: birth-grade
2 or N- grade 6, Child & Family Studies or related field that includes a minimum of 12 credits in
early childhood education; must possess NYS Training and Technical Assistance Professional Credential or achieve credential within one two years of initial employment.

Experience: 3 years of experience working directly with children birth to five and families in a
child care or early education program or school aged child care centers; adult education experience training and/ or providing coaching and technical assistance to child care staff and providers preferred.

Competencies: Solid background in child development and early childhood theory and practice;
effective oral and written communication skills; presentation skills; knowledge of curriculum development and program design; knowledge of child care operations regulations and best practices in a variety of child care settings; creativity; computer proficiency; strong customer service skills; knowledge of community and educational resources; and ability to work with people from a wide range of economic, ethnic and cultural backgrounds.

Level of responsibility: Works with moderate supervision, exercises high degree of discretion and independent judgment.

Working Conditions

Schedule: Requires flexibility, frequent evening and occasional weekend hours

Environment: Agency’s Syracuse and Auburn offices and on‑site training venues at community sites within both counties.

Travel: Local travel throughout Onondaga and Cayuga County, some regional meetings and training presentations, infrequent out‑of‑state travel to conferences or to conduct training.

Customer Responsibilities and Contacts: Extensive contact with providers, some contacts with children and parents and community service agencies; frequent service collaborations with other Child Care Solutions teams; some contact with NYS Office of Children & Family Services, SUNY PDP representatives and occasional contact with early childhood equipment and supply vendors.

Starting salary range – $24.96 – $29.87