Infant/Toddler Education Specialist

Join our team and enjoy a work-life balance like no other! With up to 12 holidays, paid Fridays off in the summer, a generous winter break, longevity-based vacation and paid sick leave, you'll have the time to recharge and thrive. We invite you to join Southwestern Oregon Community College in fulfilling our mission by supporting the cultural and educational needs of our diverse communities. We also offer tuition and fee waivers for employees and dependents, a comprehensive retirement plan (PERS), and discounts at the campus store. Apply now and experience the benefits of a caring community college that values your time and well-being. 
 
PRIMARY PURPOSE

The position works with Baby Promise participants to improve the quality of infant/toddler care and education in Southwestern Oregon. This position supports early care and education programs to meet standards associated with infant and toddler care best practice that result in quality environments and experiences. The position provides coaching, consulting, training one on one, and large group training. Working closely with the Baby Promise Coordinator, the position will design, implement and monitor quality supports for Baby Promise participants. This position will provide infant/toddler expertise and knowledge to CARE Connections and those it serves and work to infuse infant/toddler supports throughout other CARE Connections services as appropriate.

Open Until Filled

First Consideration March 11, 2025

Quality support for Infant/Toddler programs (50% of time):

1. Create ongoing trusting relationships with infant/toddler programs to develop the most conducive environment for learning and reflection, while serving as an ambassador for Baby Promise in the community.
2. Work closely with the Baby Promise Grant Coordinator and CARE Connections team to implement and maintain infant/toddler quality and supply building.
3. Provide on-going consultation and support around Baby Promise Program Expectations and implementation, including but not limited to:
4. Provide job embedded professional learning through site visits to Infant/Toddler programs to develop plans, ongoing feedback, and recommendations to support improvements in environments, teacher-child interactions, and communication with families.  
5. Support Infant/Toddler programs to create Continuous Quality Improvement Plan goals, action steps and identify available resources to achieve goals, including Spark participation.
6. Conduct or coordinate workshops and trainings on infant/toddler development and appropriate practices.
7. Provide technical assistance, professional development, and resources in support of Baby Promise program small business owners to strengthen their business functions, including automation opportunities through technology and shared services; assist programs in applying for grants and other funding opportunities. 
8. Promote and support the development of new programs serving children in Baby Promise and their families. This includes, but is not limited to developing and implementing on-boarding plan and welcome tool kit materials for new Baby Promise grantees and hosting kick off events for new grantees.
9. Work with community partners such as South Coast Regional Early Learning Hub, The Office of Child Care, Early Head Start, South Coast Family Harbor, DHS, school districts, Tribal communities, health care partners, and community groups to promote Baby Promise. 
10. Share Infant/Toddler expertise with community through occasional workshops and presentations for childcare providers and parents.

 Instructional Coaching (50% of time):

1. Articulate and facilitate understanding of Baby Promise program expectations, especially in the areas of Supportive Environments and Ambitious Instruction, Continuous Quality Improvement, Leadership with Knowledge, and Inclusionary Practices.
2. Deliver regular one-on-one coaching sessions to educators and instructional leaders of Baby Promise programs, following the Oregon Early Learning Coaching Guidelines and employing specific coaching strategies to engage providers.
3. Support continuous quality improvement in practice especially around Baby Promise Program Expectations, NAEYC Professional Standards, and Competencies for Early Childhood Educators and implementation of best practices in early learning, inclusion, dual language learning, and social/emotional development.
4. Conduct regular direct observations and video review with the use of various technology, using formal and informal tools, and provide feedback to providers in Baby Promise programs.  
5. In partnership with Baby Promise administrators and teachers, use data to create technical assistance plans, coaching goals, program goals, and early educator goals through engaged data dialogues and reflective conversations, and provide materials, resources, and recommendations to strengthen practice implementation.  
6. Serve as a resource in identifying appropriate research-based instructional strategies and interventions to improve outcomes for Baby Promise children and families.

 Performs Other Duties and Special Projects as Required/Assigned 

1. Attend staff meetings and liaison meetings with the Early Learning Division.
2. Contribute to newsletter.
3. Provide community training at Retreat by the Lake and other opportunities throughout the year.
4. Actively participate in staff professional development.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor degree in ECE or related field (Human Development, Child and Family Studies, Social Work, Sociology, Psychology) with coursework in age zero to three (0-3) development

OR

A Step 10 on the Oregon Registry

• Three (3) years of experience working in early care and education with at least two (2) years of experience working directly with infants and/or toddlers.
• One (1) year experience coaching and supporting adult professional development.
• Experience supporting the primacy of families, their home languages, and their cultures, and an understanding of how to engage them.

Successful applicants for this position must possess the following knowledge, skills, and abilities, or be able to explain and demonstrate that they can perform the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation:

• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, using the English language with or without the use of an interpreter. Ability to effectively communicate orally with groups and/or individual, and deal with peers, the public and the community in a positive, empathetic, and professional manner.
• Ability to work effectively with populations representing diverse social, economic, cultural, ideological and ethnic backgrounds, life experiences and abilities, including community members, students, faculty, and staff.
• Knowledge of how children birth to five (5) learn within the context of ongoing, meaningful relationships with important adults in their lives and strong knowledge of effective teaching practices.
• Knowledge of inclusive practices in preschool programs
• Knowledge of how to best support the early learning workforce in all settings, and effective techniques of adult learning and relationship-based coaching practices
• Models and ensures diversity and cultural competency (respect, inclusiveness, reflecting, valuing, and welcoming cultural differences) in all position responsibilities regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, gender, social class, sexual orientation, ability, nationality, age, language, origin, or employment status
• Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of issues surrounding systemic inequity, systemic racism and the ongoing pursuit of methods to address these both individually and within group process
• Knowledge of early learning tools, including:
  1. Classroom Assessment Scoring Scale (CLASS™)
  2. Environmental Rating Scale (ERS) (specifically, Early Childhood Environmental Rating Scale-3 and Family Child Care Environments Rating Scale Program Assessment Scale (PAS))
  3. Teaching Strategies Gold
  4. Teaching Pyramid Observation Tool
  5. Ages and Stages Questionnaire
  6. Ages and Stages Questionnaire-Social Emotional
• Ability to follow established procedures and work independently to accomplish those procedures.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality of all participants records. 
• Ability and willingness to manage a flexible work schedule with self-discipline, including travel, various hours and possible weekends/evenings, as well as work days at other college locations.
• Exhibit a high level of computer literacy, sufficient to use software such as email, word processing, spreadsheets, and databases to produce correspondence, documents, and reports. Ability to use Internet, Microsoft Outlook, Word, and Excel as needed. 
• Must possess the skills and ability to use equipment necessary to carry out job responsibilities (e.g. computer and virtual training software, cell/telephone, facsimile machine, projectors, digital cameras, and video recorders).
• Ability to follow established college and department procedures and work independently to accomplish those procedures. Ability to implement general directives and Board policies in the assigned areas of responsibility. Ability to explain established policies and procedures using judgment and diplomacy.
• Ability to plan, organize, and carry out activities independently. Strong time management skills to support efficient work production and meet deadlines.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Applicants for this position possessing one (1) or more of the following knowledge, skills, and abilities with receive preferred consideration through the selection process.

• Bilingual Spanish
• Able to obtain Oregon Registry Master Trainer Certification
• Five (5) years of experience working in child care and education, with at least three (3) years working directly with infants and/or toddlers.
• Infant Mental Health Certificate 
• Knowledge of community childcare programs, subsidies, community resources, and state regulations pertaining to childcare 
• Experience in a leadership role related to early childhood education.
• Preference will be given to candidates match the cultural and linguistic needs of Baby Promise programs in Coos, Curry, and Western Douglas Counties regardless of a need for additional training or education. Successful candidates who culturally and linguistically align with the populations represented in Preschool Promise will be granted time to complete additional educational requirements, if hired.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS OR LICENSES

• Able to obtain Oregon Early Learning Coaching Certificate (when available)
• Hold or ability to hold an Infant Child CPR/First Aid certification
• Must be able to pass Oregon Child Care Central Background Registry/finger printing and SWOCC background check.
• Recognizing and Reporting Child Abuse & Neglect training must be completed within thirty (30) days of hire date 
• Introduction to Child Health and Safety training must be completed within thirty (30) days of hire date
• Safe Sleep for Oregon’s Infants must be completed within thirty (30) days of hire date

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

Southwestern Oregon Community College only accepts applications through this online application system. We want you to be successful in applying with us. We highly encourage you to complete and submit your application in advance of the deadline. For assistance with this, please email hr@socc.edu. For technical assistance with your application, please call (855) 524-5627.

Please note: We recognize that our application process can be lengthy, so before you begin, please read all of the stated requirements to determine if you meet them. Applicants must meet all of the stated minimum/special qualifications and additional requirements to be considered for this position. Based on your responses to the qualifying questions, the system may automatically screen you out from further consideration. 

Required documents must be provided at the time of application. Please remove any personal information such as photographs, date of birth, gender, social security number, and other protected information from your documents. Documents containing protected information will be considered incomplete. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Positions are subject to budget consideration and approval. For the candidate who is hired into this position, salary placement will be based on guidelines in administrative policies and procedures or collective bargaining agreements (as applicable). For this reason, please be sure to include everything in your application that you want the college to consider towards placement. 

The college does not sponsor employees in the visa application process if they intend to use this as their means to work in the United States. This means that all required work visas must be in place and supported by appropriate evidence to be employed by Southwestern.

Final candidates will be subject to a criminal background check as part of the employment process.

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REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION STATEMENT

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this job.

This job description is a general description of essential job functions. It is not intended as an employment contract nor is it intended to describe all responsibilities, skills, effort, or work conditions associated with the job someone in this position would perform. All employees of Southwestern Oregon Community College are expected to perform tasks as assigned by Southwestern Oregon Community College supervisory/management personnel regardless of job title or routine job duties.

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VETERAN'S PREFERENCE STATEMENT

Applicants are eligible to use Veteran's Preference when applying with Southwestern Oregon Community College in accordance with ORS 408.225, 408.230 and 408.235; and OAR 105-040-0010 and 105-040-0015. Preference will only be given if the applicant meets the minimum qualifications and any special qualifications for the position and electronically attach the required documentation at the time of application.

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED:

• MEMBER COPY 4 of the Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (DD Form 214 or 215) – OR – Letter from the US Dept. of Veterans Affairs indicating a non-service connected pension.
• Disabled Veterans must also submit a copy of their Veterans disability preference letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs. 
  • You can request copies of your military service record through the National Archives website at: http://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/

For information regarding Veteran's Preference qualifications, visit the following website: http://www.oregonjobs.org/DAS/STJOBS/vetpoints.shtmlq

NON-DISCRIMINATION:

It is the policy of Southwestern Oregon Community College Board of Education that there will be no discrimination or harassment on the grounds of race, color, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, age, political affiliation, parental status, veteran status or disability in any educational programs, activities or employment. Persons having questions about equal opportunity and nondiscrimination should contact Vice President of Administrative Services in Tioga 512. Phone 541-888-7206 or TDD 541-888-7368. All other issues, concerns, and complaints should also be directed to the Vice President of Administrative Services for referral to the appropriate Manager. 

Annual Campus Crime/Annual Fire Safety (Clery Act) Report

The “Jeanne Clery Disclosure for Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act” (formerly the Campus Security Act) is a federal law that requires institutions of higher education to disclose campus security information, including crime statistics for the campus and surrounding area. As a current or prospective Southwestern student or employee, you have a right to obtain a copy of this information. You may review this information here: Annual Campus Crime/Annual Fire Safety (Clery Act) Report. You may also obtain a hard copy of this information upon request by contacting Administrative Services at 541-888-7206.

Salary : $47,229 - $51,122