Bilingual Senior Early Childhood Specialist

About the position Championing Young Futures Work For Collaborative. BILINGUAL Early Childhood Specialist Centers of Excellence Instruction team LOCATION: HOUSTON, TEXAS HYBRID POSITION – Requires driving to and meeting with early learning center directors and teachers on weekdays. THE CHALLENGE AND THE OPPORTUNITY: A child's earliest years shape every milestone that follows: school success, workforce readiness, and economic opportunity. We are creating an ecosystem of the highest quality child care in the communities that need it most, so Houston gains a stronger and better skilled future labor force. Are YOU ready to help more young children enter kindergarten curious, confident, and ready to learn? If you have a minimum of 3 years of experience working in an early childhood setting, have oral and written bilingual English/Spanish fluent, possess experience coaching adults in teaching/learning situations, and have knowledge of best practices in early childhood education, we encourage you to apply for this amazing opportunity!QualificationsWhen you join our Centers of Excellence Instruction team, some of the essential work and responsibilities you will manage and handle will include: Interface with technology to document work, analyze data, and support progress-monitoring systems for Early Learning Programs. Oversee the implementation of research-based curricula and frameworks to successfully meet child outcomes and specialist’s goals. Conduct observations to assess and analyze service delivery methods for quality indicators to initiate diagnostic troubleshooting. Observe key indicators to deliver coaching support and targeted interventions aimed at enhancing teacher competency. Use measured data to develop implementation plans to increase program effectiveness and support child outcomes. Cultivate synergetic working relationships with CC program team members, ECE teachers and directors to support collaboration and participation in CC programs. Serve as an advocate for 21st-century learning, school readiness, and the adoption of AI technologies for streamlined teaching, program management, community awareness, parental support extensions, and childcare center committees. Support Early Learning Programs and families with facilitation of services related to inclusive environments for all learners. Leadership and Development Demonstrate the ability to implement constructive feedback from supervisors and peer learning communities to enhance work performance Assist with the planning, coordination, and execution of CC or community-based events. We embrace diversity in backgrounds, talents, experiences, interests, and ideas. Attributes that resonate in our most successful employees include: passion for our mission, drive for results, high level of organization and detail orientation, resilience and authenticity. Other traits, knowledge, skills, and abilities needed and desired for these positions include:

Responsibilities

• Interface with technology to document work, analyze data, and support progress-monitoring systems for Early Learning Programs.
• Oversee the implementation of research-based curricula and frameworks to successfully meet child outcomes and specialist’s goals.
• Conduct observations to assess and analyze service delivery methods for quality indicators to initiate diagnostic troubleshooting.
• Observe key indicators to deliver coaching support and targeted interventions aimed at enhancing teacher competency.
• Use measured data to develop implementation plans to increase program effectiveness and support child outcomes.
• Cultivate synergetic working relationships with CC program team members, ECE teachers and directors to support collaboration and participation in CC programs.
• Serve as an advocate for 21st-century learning, school readiness, and the adoption of AI technologies for streamlined teaching, program management, community awareness, parental support extensions, and childcare center committees.
• Support Early Learning Programs and families with facilitation of services related to inclusive environments for all learners.
• Demonstrate the ability to implement constructive feedback from supervisors and peer learning communities to enhance work performance
• Assist with the planning, coordination, and execution of CC or community-based events.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university in early childhood education, child development, special education, child psychology, educational psychology, elementary education, or family consumer science, or Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university with at least 18 credit hours in early childhood education, child development, special education, child psychology, educational psychology, elementary education, or family consumer science with at least 12 credit hours in child development.
• Minimum of 3 years of experience working in an early childhood setting
• Requires conversational and written fluency in English/Spanish
• Ability to work collaboratively with adults in teaching/learning situations
• Demonstrated knowledge of Texas Minimum Standards, NAEYC Professional Development Standards, Texas Core Competencies, and Early Learning Guidelines
• Knowledge of best practices in early childhood education
• Ability to work with minimal supervision – self-motivated & confident
• Ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously.
• Ability to work well with people from all backgrounds with varying degrees of experience.
• Schedule and personal transportation flexibility to travel around greater Houston
• Minimum intermediate proficiency with Microsoft Office software (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint)
• Intermediate proficiency with email/communications/scheduling software (Outlook).
• Demonstrated experience with data capture using a database and tablets
• Hybrid work schedule as this position will require in-person visits to early learning centers, occasional attendance at team and Collab meetings in-person, and work from home
• Must be able to work a 40 hour, Monday – Friday schedule
• Schedule flexibility to accommodate occasional weekday evening hours and weekend hours (i.e. assisting Centers of Excellence (COEs) activities and the Collab-Lab, a mobile education unit that goes to community outreach events)
• Must have reliable, personal transportation because this position requires driving to different locations throughout the greater Houston area
• A valid Texas Driver’s License, and current vehicle insurance coverage
• Adherence to Collaborative for Children’s Core Values and Core Competencies
• We relentlessly pursue excellence.
• Core competency: Continuous improvement
• We respect and promote diverse points of view.
• Core competency: Interpersonal relations
• We innovate boldly, fearlessly, and courageously.
• Core competency: Problem-solving
• We celebrate transparency.
• Core competency: Effective communication

Nice-to-haves

• Demonstrated use of generative AI tools very beneficial (Copilot, ChatGPT)
• Experience utilizing virtual platforms such as ZOOM and TEAMS, etc. preferred

Benefits

• Mileage reimbursement paid at IRS rate is available for eligible business travel because this position requires in-person meetings with early learning center directors and teachers.
• Work hours: flexible scheduling. Some remote work at home.
• Compensation: This is a Non-Exempt, Hourly, Full-Time position.
• Hourly pay rate range, based on experience, is $26.45 - $27.00 ($55,016 – $56,160 annualized).
• Paid bi-weekly on Fridays.
• Annual Merit Adjustments: Increase to base pay rate is based on the prior year’s performance.
• Health and Supplemental Insurance: HDHP medical option that includes $1400/year employer-paid contribution to a Health Savings Account (HSA), prorated based on hire date. Also, a lower deductible PPO medical option. Other insurance options: Dental, Vision, Voluntary Life/AD&D, Accident, and Critical Illness, AFLAC Cancer and Life policies. Employer-paid STD, LTD, Basic Life/AD&D insurance. First of month after hire eligibility.
• Retirement Plan: 1:1 employer matching contribution up to 6%. Eligible for employer match after 90-days from start date.
• Generous paid leave time: (Personal Time, Vacation and holidays)
• Section 125 Flexible Spending Account (FSA): Dependent Care expenses
• Professional Development: Collaborative values high levels of performance and service over time. We invest in developing our people and nurturing their career trajectory success through coaching and ongoing skills and leadership development.
• Our Culture: mission-driven, family-friendly, inclusive, collaborative, fun
• When you work at Collaborative you can make a difference every day. All of our staff play critical roles in executing our mission.