Early Childhood Quality Assurance Consultant- Remote

ICF’s Early Education Services Line of Business seeks an Early Childhood Systems Consultant to work for the National Center on Early Childhood Quality Assurance (NCECQA) to provide technical assistance to state and territory CCDF grantees. Technical assistance is focused on strategies that strengthen early childhood systems and impact the quality, health, and safety for children in the mixed delivery early childhood system.

The ideal candidate will have both a background in and experience with ECE systems at the state or national level; examples of preferred experience includes CCDF Administrator or staff, Quality Improvement System Administrator, Licensing Administrator, PD System Administrator, with proven experience and ability to implement an ECE system inclusive and responsive to the needs of families and focused on building or sustaining the workforce.

This position is full time and home based with up to 30 percent travel to provide TA and attend related conferences and meetings.

TA is defined as both onsite and offsite activities, such as consultation, meeting and conference presentation and facilitation, support of peer-to-peer opportunities, information gathering, review of materials, participation in and leadership for workgroups, strategic planning, and training design and delivery for a wide range of early childhood content areas, including mixed-delivery, early childhood systems building efforts.

Key Responsibilities

• Research and develop timely responses to state, territory, or Tribal requests and create written documents in approved formats.
• Leverage specialized depth and breadth of expertise and apply a broad perspective to identify solutions to complex tasks.
• Leadership
• Facilitate peer linkages between States and/or Territories.
• Expertise and Scope:
• Lead the development and delivery of complex tasks and deliverables on multiple ECE topics and activities.
• Build strong partnerships with Federal TA partners across multiple agencies and programs and coordinate TA as established by the contract and client, including participation in national workgroups and task forces as assigned.
• Communication, Collaboration, and Client Focus
• Submit claims for reimbursement of office and travel expenses in a timely manner.
• Plan for and deliver tailored, individualized technical assistance connected to early childhood systems building, quality improvement systems.
• Contribute to the development of group technical assistance opportunities focused on facets of early childhood systems building including the research, preparation and facilitation of peer learning groups, trainings, communities of practice, etc.
• Support OCC designated priorities and special projects, including development of TA materials (e.g. issue briefs, handouts, brochures, presentation kits, and webinars).
• Enter data on TA planning and provision within required databases, adhering to established timelines and protocols.
• Stay abreast of the latest research, tools, and resources that support the activities of NCECQA.
• Build strong, positive relationships with NCECQA Team for ongoing communication, collaborative planning, and shared problem solving to meet the needs of clients, states, and territories.
• Participate in presentations at national meetings and conferences.
• Participate in regular NCECQA team meetings and calls.
• Provide and/or coordinate technical assistance to States and Territories upon CCDF Administrators’ and regional office staff members’ requests.
• Assist in the planning of CCDF grantees meeting; communicate with states to encourage presentations and participation in the convening; facilitate breakout sessions and regional/state team meetings.

Basic Qualifications

• Content knowledge on types of care provided in a mixed delivery system, family childcare, workforce supports including strategies to support mental well-being for ECE professionals, professional development systems, health and safety standards, quality initiatives including QRIS, and early childhood systems development and alignment.
• A bachelor’s degree in early childhood education, child development, public administration, public policy, education, or related degree
• 12+ years of experience in the early childhood or public administration field

Preferred Skills/Experience

• Expertise with Smartsheet and other project management tools to track project plans, milestones, and timelines for project deliverables.
• Bilingual and able to read, write, and speak Spanish proficiently.
• Ability to develop T&TA content for state, territories and tribal childcare leaders, their partners, intermediaries, and providers.
• Experience providing T&TA at state, regional, or national meetings and TA to individual organizations.
• A master’s degree in early childhood education, child development, public administration, public policy, education, or related degree
• Experience supporting ECE professional development systems inclusive of systems of support for accessing benefits and services.
• Collaboration and partnership experience across early childhood education systems, including state and federal partners.
• Proficient in American Psychological Association (APA) citation style.
• Ability to use technology tools and platforms (such as Microsoft Teams and Zoom) for remote meetings, collaboration on document development, and other communications.
• A minimum of 10 years of experience at the state or national level, focusing on early childhood policies, regulations, and systems
• Experience working with multiple early childhood education partners as a participant, content advisor, and TA provider.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications (Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, Excel, and Teams)
• Experience supporting the implementation of the CCDF program at the federal, state, or local level.

Professional Skills

• Flexibility to handle multiple priorities and work limited overtime, as necessary.
• Excellent verbal, interpersonal, and written communication skills.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making capabilities.
• Demonstrated outstanding level of professionalism in providing team support, including ability to exercise good judgment, discretion, tact, and diplomacy.
• Ability to be a team player and multitask in a fast-paced environment.
• Sound business ethics, including the protection of proprietary and confidential information.
• Ability to apply detailed knowledge of organizational procedures to make independent decisions and serve as a credible resource for a senior management team.
• Ability to work with all levels of internal staff as well as outside clients and vendors.

Working at ICF

ICF is a global advisory and technology services provider, but we’re not your typical consultants. We combine unmatched expertise with cutting-edge technology to help clients solve their most complex challenges, navigate change, and shape the future. We can only solve the world's toughest challenges by building an inclusive workplace that allows everyone to thrive. We are committed to creating a culture where we embrace our differences in ideas and identities. Together, our employees are empowered to share their expertise and collaborate with others to achieve personal and professional goals. Learn more about what we dohttps://www.icf.com/ and our commitment to inclusionhttps://www.icf.com/company/about/diversity-inclusion.

We can only solve the world's toughest challenges by building an inclusive workplace that allows everyone to thrive. We are an equal opportunity employer, committed to hiring regardless of any protected characteristic, such as race, ethnicity, national origin, color, sex, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability status, or military/veteran status. Together, our employees are empowered to share their expertise and collaborate with others to achieve personal and professional goals. For more information, please read our EEO & AA policy.

Reasonable Accommodations are available, including, but not limited to, for disabled veterans, individuals with disabilities, and individuals with sincerely held religious beliefs, in all phases of the application and employment process. To request an accommodation please email [email protected] and we will be happy to assist. All information you provide will be kept confidential and will be used only to the extent required to provide needed reasonable accommodations. Read more about non-discrimination: Know Your Rights and Pay Transparency Statement.

Pay Range - There are multiple factors that are considered in determining final pay for a position, including, but not limited to, relevant work experience, skills, certifications and competencies that align to the specified role, geographic location, education and certifications as well as contract provisions regarding labor categories that are specific to the position. The pay range for this position is:

$82,673.00 - $140,544.00

Nationwide Remote Office (US99)