Early Childhood Regional Coordinator-Nassau County (Long Island)

MISSION

Children need to spend their most critical years with dedicated, educated, trained, and well-compensated individuals in order to thrive. The New York Early Childhood Professional Development Institute leads the work to establish and implement an early childhood workforce system to ensure funding, standards and competencies, career development resources, qualifications and credentials, professional development (training and strengths-based coaching), and program quality assurance and improvement for individuals who work with young children throughout New York. Housed at the City University of New York, the Institute is a fast-paced, dynamic public/private partnership that is committed identifying, establishing, and implementing the services, supports, and systems that the early childhood workforce across New York State needs.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

The Institute operates the Career Development Center, which provides comprehensive career development services to all current and aspiring early childhood professionals. The Center’s services include academic planning and advisement, career and vocational assessment and planning, teacher certification supports, professional development opportunities through the Early Childhood Leadership Initiative, and higher education opportunities in partnership with institutions of higher education. The Institute launched a Leadership Initiative in 2017 aimed at strengthening current early childhood leadership and management as well as to identify and support the development of future early childhood leaders. Since 2019, the Institute has replicated the Career Development Center and the Leadership Initiative across New York State.

The Institute has established a Career Development Center and Leadership Initiative in the Long Island region. The Regional Coordinator will be responsible for leading both projects in conjunction with the leadership team at the Career Development Center and the Institute. The Regional Coordinator will work closely with the local partner agencies to engage stakeholders, recruit members, identify local professional development resources and leadership needs, and craft appropriate and effective responses to those needs. This position will be based in Nassau County and the projects will serve Nassau and Suffolk Counties.

The Regional Coordinator will report to the Institute’s Senior Director of Career Development and Higher Education, to coordinate a system of career development supports for individuals in the pursuit of a career in early childhood and those seeking to develop their leadership skills and competencies. The Regional Coordinator will work with a statewide team of colleagues at the Institute who are providing these same services in other regions.

Equipped with a wide range of experience in the field, the ideal candidate will have intimate knowledge of the professional development needs of the early childhood workforce, with particular focus on early childhood leadership, and in their region specifically. Knowledge of the academic and professional development resources available in their community and region is also an important aspect of the role.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Career Development

• Conduct local needs assessments and lead the design, coordination, implementation, and evaluation of career development supports and services relevant to aspiring and current early childhood educators and leaders based on the Career Development Center model, including scholarships, teacher certification, test preparation, and job search in the region
• Provide career development supports and services to participants in their region.
• Provide dynamic and collaborative direction to the development and piloting of new initiatives as they become appropriate for inclusion in the project’s work

Leadership Initiative

• Lead and organize the local Leadership Initiative planning process and serve on the Institute Leadership Initiative team
• Recruit individuals and assess their needs to maximize their participation in Initiative activities.
• Identify qualified coaches and mentors to support the Initiative
• Create professional development programming for current and future early childhood leaders
• Organize and lead the Leadership Initiative advisory council
• Facilitate Leadership Initiative participant meetings and events and identify experts to facilitate topic-specific groups and activities

Data Collection, Analysis, and Reporting

• Collect and analyze participant and needs assessment data to inform, adjust and strengthen supports and services to remain responsive and relevant to regional needs
• Work with Institute staff to manage data collection efforts and utilize data system to produce regular progress and grant reports and contribute to proposals

Communications and Partnerships

• Create and facilitate partnerships with local stakeholders, including institutions of higher education, early childhood providers, local school district, child care and education funders and agencies, workforce development agencies or initiatives, and QUALITYstarsNY
• Utilize communication tools and software to communicate with participants and partners (flyers, newsletters, emails, phone calls, mailings, etc.)

Other Duties

• Assist with additional fundraising efforts for the project as needed
• Attend staff meetings and trainings as required.
• Perform special projects and other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Master's degree in Early Childhood Education or a relevant field of study
• At least 8-10 years of leadership experience in the field of early childhood education or a comparable field or work, with some experience helping professionals build competency in teaching and leadership skills through mentoring, training, staff development, coaching, career counseling, etc.
• Strong knowledge base in both child and adult development
• Familiarity with the structure and dynamics of higher education, early childhood workforce qualifications and the NYS teacher certification process
• Demonstrated skill in project management with excellent analytical, organizational and management
• Demonstrated ability to work with underserved populations and people of all ages.
• Experience helping professionals build competency in leadership skills through training, staff development, coaching, etc.
• Strong managerial, supervisory and interpersonal skills
• Ability to develop and sustain successful collaborative partnerships, working with a diverse group of stakeholders that includes colleagues and external partners
• Experience managing budgets
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Willingness and ability to travel
• Some availability during weekend hours
• Availability during evenings to attend associated/sponsored events

Preferred Qualifications

• Fundraising experience

Physical Requirements

• This position operates in a professional office environment located in Nassau County, NY, and is currently hybrid, working 70% in the office. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as personal computers, laptops, tablets, smart phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and presentation equipment.
• While performing these duties, the employee is required to perform physical activities such as, but not limited to, lifting items (up to 20 pounds), bending, reaching, and sitting for prolonged periods of time. Reasonable accommodations will be made for employees with disabilities or other needs per RFCUNY policies.
• Ability to travel to other sites as needed.
• As of May 27, 2022, all candidates will be required to provide proof of being fully vaccinated against COVID-19 upon commencing employment. Exemption (medical or religious) requests to this requirement will be considered in accordance with applicable law and criteria. Being fully vaccinated is defined for this purpose as two weeks after a final dose in primary series of an authorized COVID-19 vaccine (example: two weeks after the second dose of a two-dose vaccine such as Moderna or Pfizer, or two weeks after a single dose vaccine such as Johnson and Johnson). Final candidates must be fully vaccinated as of their first day of employment. Newly hired employees will be sent an email with instructions on how to upload their vaccine information on the Research Foundation portal.

 How to Apply

Provide a resume and cover letter specifying your qualifications/experience relevant to this position.

EEO Info (standard language to be included on all job postings)

We are committed to enhancing our diverse academic community by actively encouraging people of all race, color, religion, gender, gender identities or expressions, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disabilities, age, or protected veteran status to apply. We take pride in our pluralistic community and continue to seek excellence through diversity and inclusion. The Research Foundation of the City University of New York is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Americans with disabilities act/E-Verify employer.