Quality/ Career Coach

About our organization

Since 1981, Options for Learning has been at the forefront of helping families break the cycle of poverty and improve their lives by providing tools to create a positive foundation for school, social, and life success. Our dedicated and passionate employees have helped our organization become one of Southern California's most innovative and progressive child development organizations, serving nearly 9,000 children throughout the San Gabriel Valley.

About this position

The quality/career coach is responsible for delivering coaching services with the goal of improving the quality of the organization’s child care programs.

The successful candidate must be able to communicate effectively, work both independently and collaboratively within a small, close-knit team, and thrive in a fast-paced environment. We are looking for someone with an upbeat, positive attitude who is eager to support the organization’s mission and achieve its strategic goals.

What you’ll be doing

• Recruiting home- and center-based child care providers to participate in quality improvement activities;
• Conducting onsite coaching visits for participants;
• Providing feedback to participants in conjunction with onsite visits;
• Modeling developmentally appropriate practices for participants;
• Providing information and resources on appropriate early education curricula;
• Maintaining effective documentation on work activities, including the progress of individual participants;
• Facilitating networking opportunities among participants;
• Building connections with and maintaining resources on local colleges and universities;
• Assisting providers with implementing a professional development plan and monitoring their progress in meeting established professional goals;
• Maintaining current knowledge of child care assessment tools;
• Maintaining current knowledge of resource and referral services and other community resources which support quality child care;
• Reading and implementing all organization and program policies and procedures;
• Ensuring and maintaining detailed knowledge of the Quality Counts CA Rating Matrix, the Continuous Quality Improvement Pathways Core Tools and Resources, the CA ECE Competencies, and other documents, as required;
• Developing Quality Improvement Plans (QIP) using SMART Goals at the site or classroom/session level and ensuring that coaching and technical assistance is provided to support participants on reaching their QIP goals;
• Providing coaching and technical assistance related to navigation of ECE professional development opportunities, such as obtaining a child development permit and training resources;
• Providing the program supervisor with required documentation and entering all data into Paylocity or specified database in a timely manner;
• Assisting the program supervisor in gathering the needed information to prepare timely, accurate reports for funders;
• Frequently driving throughout San Gabriel Valley to provide onsite coaching and attend trainings and meetings;
• Participating in events during the evenings or on weekends to implement the program;
• Attending designated community and other meetings;
• Actively participating in the annual in-service training;
• Assisting the program supervisor as needed;
• Performing other duties as assigned.

What you bring to the table

• Bachelor's degree in child development or a related field;
• Master's degree or equivalent experience in early child development, social work, psychology, public health, or another related field, as well as 24 ECE units or a program director permit (preferred);
• Three years of experience in a child care setting;
• Experience working with adult learners;
• Knowledge and understanding of quality rating tools, such as CLASS and the Environmental Rating Scales (ERS); CLASS Tool Reliability required on at least one age group (e.g., infant, toddler, or Pre-K through third grade;
• Familiarity with the Quality Counts CA Rating Matrix, the Continuous Quality Improvement Pathways Core Tools and Resources, the CA ECE Competencies, and community of practice frameworks (e.g., QSLA Peer 2 Peer Connections);
• Knowledge and understanding of child observation tools, such as the ASQ-3, ASQ:SE, and the DRDP;
• Knowledge and understanding of QRIS systems and quality improvement efforts of the early care and education field;
• Knowledge of strength-based and reflective and facilitative coaching methods and strategies;
• Familiarity with ECE professional development systems, approaches, content, and opportunities;
• Understanding of the needs of child care providers and families and the importance of high-quality child care;
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and meet required deadlines;
• Strong interpersonal and customer service skills, including the ability to work effectively with diverse client populations;
• Previous experience which demonstrates effective decision-making skills and ability to coordinate complex programs;
• Excellent time management and organizational skills with the ability to determine priorities and to perform work under pressing deadlines with great attention to detail;
• Excellent problem-solving skills;
• Experience providing coaching to others, group facilitation, and professional development presentations;
• Ability to work collaboratively with others at all levels of the organization and with other agencies;
• Ability to be flexible and innovative while adapting to the changing needs of the program;
• Ability to correctly and effectively communicate in written and oral English;
• California driver’s license, daily use of an automobile, and current automobile liability insurance;
• Command of Spanish, Cantonese, Mandarin or Vietnamese (preferred);

Job specifications

• Reports to the program supervisor for coaching;
• Exempt, full-time, twelve-month work year;
• Eight-hour workday; four-day workweek;
• Hybrid work schedule with approval from supervisor;
• Some evening or weekend hours required;
• Employment, responsibilities, compensation and other factors may be affected by changes in governmental regulations, the organization’s contracts, or at organization discretion.