Working Title: Early Childhood Professional Development Specialist

Job Class: Human Services Program Consultant

Agency: Children Youth & Families Dept

• Job ID : 79551

• Location : St. Paul

• Telework Eligible : No

• Full/Part Time : Full-Time

• Regular/Temporary : Unlimited

• Who May Apply : Open to all qualified job seekers.This vacancy is open for bids and for all qualified job seekers simultaneously. Bidders will be considered through 9/9/2024. P reviously bidders were considered through 9/9 but the bid post was extended due to the State Careers website being down on Saturday 9/7 .

• Date Posted : 9/3/2024

• Closing Date : 9/16/2024

• Hiring Agency/Seniority Unit : Children Youth & Families Dept / DCYF Central Office MAPE

• Division/Unit : DCYF/Early Childhood Administration/Child Care Services Division

• Work Shift: Day Shift

• Work Hours : 8:00 am - 4:30 pm

• Days of Work : Monday - Friday

• Travel Required : No

• Salary Range: $35.43 - $52.53 / hourly; $73,977 - $109,682 / annually

• Classified Status : Classified

• Bargaining Unit/Union : 214 - MN Assoc of Professional Empl/MAPE

• FLSA Status : Exempt - Administrative

• Designated in Connect 700 Program for Applicants with Disabilities (https://mn.gov/mmb/careers/diverse-workforce/people-with-disabilities/connect700/) : Yes

The Department of Children, Youth, and Families is unable to provide sponsorship for work visas. Applicants must be eligible to work in the United States at the start of employment. DCYF does not participate in E-Verify.

The work you'll do is more than just a job.

At the State of Minnesota, employees play a critical role in developing policies, providing essential services, and working to improve the well-being and quality of life for all Minnesotans. The State of Minnesota is committed to equity and inclusion, and invests in employees by providing benefits, support resources, and training and development opportunities.

In the 2023 legislative session, the Governor’s Office, Minnesota legislature, and leaders for children and families worked in partnership to pass legislation establishing the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) to create a sustainable, public face for children’s issues in state government. This new cabinet-level agency brings together programs centered on children and families, including child care and early learning, child support, child safety and permanency, economic support and food assistance, and youth opportunity. Formerly a part of the Department of Human Services, the new Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) Agency became effective on July 1, 2024.

* Telework (https://mn.gov/mmb-stat/policies/1422-telework.pdf) (Within Minnesota or neighboring states) and flexible hours options are available .*

As an Early Childhood Professional Development Specialist, you will provide leadership, influence policy development and manage the development, implementation and oversight for a statewide comprehensive professional development system for early childhood care and education practitioners. Your focus will be on ensuring there are qualified trainers, coaches, consultants and mentors. Your duties will include policy development and implementation, contract management and facilitating collaboration between state and community partners. Responsibilities include:

• In partnership with other DCYF staff, direct the development and implementation of policies and procedures for coaching, consulting and mentoring ensuring that a high degree of rigor and standardization is achieved in order to improve the quality of programs and their ability to prepare children for school.

• Develop systems and strategies to administer and coordinate professional development grants/contracts.

• Direct the development and implementation of policies and procedures for improving the knowledge and skills of early childhood trainers working with early childhood educators resulting in increased numbers of educators moving up the career lattice.

Minimum Qualifications

To facilitate proper crediting, please ensure that your resume clearly describes your experience in the areas listed and indicates the beginning and ending month, day and year for each job held.

3 years specialized experience in early childhood systems, development and services. Experience must demonstrate:

• Knowledge of the early childhood system in Minnesota, early childhood development, the delivery of early childhood services, customer profiles and characteristics, and the relationship between child care, early childhood education, parental supports and practitioner training and education sufficient to assess the impact of professional development on the healthy development and school readiness of children.

• Knowledge of legislative and administrative process, procedures, and principles sufficient to coordinate and impact policy or procedural changes requiring legislation or statutory change.

• Experience to provide relationship based professional development, including skills unique to effective coaching, consultation, mentoring or advising within the broad array of early childhood and school-age care settings.

Preferred Qualifications

• A Bachelor's or Master's degree in early childhood education or a related field.

• Our employees are dedicated to ensuring cultural responsiveness. Preferred candidates will have a variety of experiences working effectively with others from different backgrounds and cultures.

Additional Requirements

REFERENCE/BACKGROUND CHECKS – DCYF will conduct reference checks to verify job-related credentials and a criminal background check prior to appointment.

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Minnesota State Colleges and Universities is an Equal Opportunity employer/educator committed to the principles of diversity. We prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their race, sex, color, creed, religion, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or membership in a local commission as defined by law. As an affirmative action employer, we actively seek and encourage applications from women, minorities, persons with disabilities, and individuals with protected veteran status.

Reasonable accommodations will be made to all qualified applicants with disabilities. If you are an individual with a disability who needs assistance or cannot access the online job application system, please contact the job information line at 651-259-3637 or email careers@state.mn.us . Please indicate what assistance is needed.