Job Description:

ICF’s Early Education Services Line of Business seeks an Early Childhood Training Specialist to develop and deliver high quality training and technical assistance (TTA) that improves the capacity of Tribal early childhood programs. The Tribal Early Childhood Training Specialist will support the Regional Technical Assistance Specialist Team and the Subject Matter Expert Team to develop and deliver training and technical assistance to Tribal Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) grantees that reflect the diversity of languages and traditions that exist in American Indian and Alaska Native cultures. The programs are geographically diverse and provide comprehensive services to children and families that are culturally responsive and respectful of Tribal sovereignty.

The ideal candidate will have both a background and experience in Child Development or Early Childhood Education with extensive knowledge of the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) regulations and program implementation. The Tribal Early Childhood Training Specialist will develop and provide training to a combination of CCDF-funded and Head Start-funded early childhood programs, with a focus on supporting effective CCDF administration and the full implementation of CCDF requirements. Specialists will provide professional-level expertise and training to support the development of early childhood programs, policies, and systems that that meet the needs of Tribal children and families. Specialists will have knowledge of strategies to support a system of high-quality childcare which includes, building the supply of care, workforce development, and expanding access to child care services. Understanding of developmentally appropriate practice in early childhood education and the ability to support its use as well as cultural and linguistic responsiveness is required. The ideal candidate will have experience with providing culturally respectful engagement strategies to CCDF Administrators, childcare program directors, early childhood education managers, teachers and parents of Tribal children. This position is home based with 30% travel required to provide technical assistance to assigned states/territories and to attend related conferences and meetings.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Support Office of Child Care (OCC) designated priorities and special projects, including development of T/TA materials (e.g. issue briefs, handouts, brochures, presentation kits, and webinars).
• Work with the Training and Resource Development Coordinator and team members to develop and execute targeted and universal training events (national and cross-regional face-to-face trainings and webinars, peer learning groups and communities of practice), including coordination of event production calendar and tracking logistics for the events.
• Maintain close communication with Regional TA Specialists, Subject Matter Experts (SME), Deputy Project Director, and Project Director to ensure targeted and universal training events are planned and offered effectively and meet the needs of participants.
• Work with the Deputy Project Director and SME Team to develop workgroup planning meeting schedules to ensure timely development of T/TA materials, peer learning groups, community of practices and webinars.
• Ensure that targeted and universal training events (national and cross-regional) are evaluated in a consistent and timely manner and that staff are notified and follow-up on any issues or questions that surface.
• Work in coordination with SMEs, Regional TA Team and other project staff to design, develop, and deliver T/TA activities.
• Work with the Training and Resource Development Coordinator to ensure that timely resources are created regularly to support training and T/TA delivery.
• Ensure development of all T/TA materials are tracked and reported according to established project procedures.
• Work closely with the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) Early Childhood National Centers, Child Care State Capacity Building Center (SCBC), Office of Head (OHS) Start Region XI, the Head Start State Collaboration Offices, Early Childhood Advisory Councils, community organizations, childcare programs, and other early childhood providers state-wide and regionally, as appropriate.
• Work with Tribal Child Care Building Center (TCBC) team to develop a draft national Tribal T/TA strategy, based on input from OCC leadership and Regional Offices, which focuses on issues of common concern around CCDF implementation across Tribal CCDF programs to present to OCC for approval.
• Work closely with the OCC Regional Program Manager (RPM), OHS Region XI T/TA Team, and the OCC TA System partners to develop, deliver, and facilitate (remote and onsite) T/TA for CCDF grantees and their partners, according to the TCBC work plan.
• At the direction of the COR, in consultation with the OCC Central and Regional Offices, and in collaboration with other OCC TA providers, the Training Specialists will assist in the development of content for regional Plan Preprint Trainings.
• Work with other OCC TA providers to prioritize and develop and/or adapt written TA materials to assist Tribal CCDF administrators in advancing the OCC and Lead Agency goals.
• Assist the Training and Resource Development Coordinator in maintaining an inventory of products developed and creation of a transition plan in preparation for contract completion.
• Maintain the OCC Tribal CCDF contact information spreadsheet by working with the TA Specialists monthly.
• Assist the Deputy Project Director and Training and Resource Development Coordinator in the completion of the TCBC monthly and annual reports.
• Ensure all special projects and T/TA materials are tracked and reported according to established project procedures.
• Participate in weekly Training Team and full-team calls.
• Participate in scheduled TCBC full-team meetings. Participate and sometimes facilitate weekly internal meetings.
• Implement all plans and protocols as expected, according to the TCBC Project Work Plan.

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education or Child Development, Social Work, Business Administration, or related field.
• 5+ years of experience developing and offering training within early care and education, including strong consultation, presentation and facilitation skills.
• 5+ years of demonstrated experience in early childhood services working with children and families from diverse cultural and economic backgrounds.
• Knowledge of Child Care Development Fund (CCDF) regulations, Head Start performance standards, and all applicable federal, state and local laws, rules and regulations.
• Ability to maintain up to date knowledge of current child development practices and research based early childhood quality improvement methods and approaches.
• Ability to develop training and TA content, including excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficient in MS Office Applications (Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, Excel, SharePoint, Skype) and other E-learning, webinar, and project management tools including SmartSheet.
• Experience within American Indian and Alaska Native federally recognized tribes and native communities.
• Deep understanding American Indian and Alaska Native communities.
• Native Language Revitalization and/or dual language program knowledge.
• Experience in a leadership position within a Child Care Development Fund (CCDF)/Head Start Program.
• Experience providing training at state, regional, or national Meetings and technical assistance to individual organizations preferred.
• Experience at state and/or national level with policies, early care and education regulations, and systems, particularly the implementation of the Child Care Development Fund (CCDF) and/or other state early learning programs.
• Experience with content knowledge related to childcare licensing, subsidy administration, Quality Rating and Improvement Systems (QRIS), child assessment, and other early childhood programs and initiatives.
• Experience with partnership-building and leading small, collaborative committees, workgroups, or task forces to develop projects or resources preferred.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Excellent verbal, interpersonal, and written communication skills.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making capabilities.
• Team player with the ability to multi-task in a fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrated outstanding level of professionalism in providing administrative support, including the ability to exercise good judgment, discretion, tact, and diplomacy.
• 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.
• Ability to be flexible to handle multiple priorities and to work limited overtime as necessary

Working at ICF

Working at ICF means applying a passion for meaningful work with intellectual rigor to help solve the leading issues of our day. Smart, compassionate, innovative, committed, ICF employees tackle unprecedented challenges to benefit people, businesses, and governments around the globe. We believe in collaboration, mutual respect, open communication, and opportunity for growth.

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.

COVID-19 Policy: New or prospective U.S. employees must provide proof of complete vaccination on the date of their commencement of employment. If selected for employment, you will provide proof of your full vaccination status, defined as vaccinated two weeks after receiving the requisite number of doses of a COVID-19 vaccine approved or authorized for emergency use by the FDA.

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 icfcareercenter@icf.com 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:  EEO is the law and  Pay Transparency Statement.

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