Specialist, Early Care & Education

The Early Care and Education Specialist is a relationship builder and valued member of the Texas Rising Star program, responsible for developing close working partnerships with child care providers. Recruits new service providers and manages existing relationships through effective delivery of training, technical assistance and resource assessment, and distribution of developmentally appropriate materials and equipment. The Specialist conducts on-site technical assistance, mentoring, assessment and training visits to providers interested in Texas Rising Star (TRS) certification. Prepares inclusions plans for providers caring for children with disabilities, and monitors all providers to ensure compliance with contractual regulations.

CORE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Recruits providers for Texas Rising Star (TRS) certification
• Provides mentoring for Texas Rising Star (TRS) certification as assigned
• Performs technical assistance, training visits, and monitoring visits to providers’ facilities to ensure contractual compliance as well as Texas Rising Star (TRS) certification compliance and progress
• Works closely with Supervisor in developing inclusion plans for providers caring for children with disabilities
• Prepares and maintains updated paperwork for all records within the time frames specified by the Texas Workforce Commission and Board area directives, policies and procedures
• Updates The Workforce Information System of Texas (TWIST)
• Conducts monitoring of providers to ensure compliance with contractual regulations, and provides technical assistance as needed
• Conducts follow up visits on Service Improvement Agreements (SIAs)
• Follows unit procedures and guidelines and participates in meetings and other events to increase understand of the Workforce Solutions system
• Resolves any problems related to provider contracts and works well with management staff, account representatives, and Intake/Eligibility Specialists to resolve any provider complaints or issues
• Insures all provider files contain all the required documents pertaining to the service agreements, tax forms, deposit forms, state licenses, etc.
• Collaborates with other Child Care Services staff to enhance program operations
• Identifies and documents process improvement opportunities
• Performs other duties as may be assigned
• Must be able to work a variable schedule Monday through Saturday with some night and weekend training and travel

Experience
Required

• 1 year(s): One year of full-time early childhood classroom experience in a child care, Early Head Start, Head Star or prekindergarten through third grade school program is required. Three years is preferred.

Education
Required

• Associates or better in Early Childhood Education or related field

Preferred

• Bachelors or better in Early Child Development or related field
• Bachelors or better in Child Development or related field

Licenses & Certifications
Required

• Driver's License

Skills
Preferred

• Training
• Coaching
• Communication
• Multitasking
• Problem solving
• Critical thinking
• Customer Service
• Microsoft Office

Behaviors
Preferred

• Team Player: Works well as a member of a group

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)

Job Type: Full-time