Child Care Partnership Specialist

MATURA Action Corporation Job Description Job Title: Child Care Partnership Specialist **Position Created:** June 2022 Department: State Early Head Start (State EHS) **Revised:** August 2025 Reports To: Head Start Program Director Reviewed by: DB FLSA Status: Nonexempt (initials) SUMMARY The Child Care Partnership Specialist will bring together the strengths of child care centers and Early Head Start programming. Integrating Early Head Start comprehensive services and standards into traditional child care settings creates new opportunities to improve child outcomes for infants, toddlers, and their families. The position will work directly with child care center directors and staff, specifically infant and toddler staff, to provide coaching, consultation, on-site assessment, and support in MATURAs service area of Madison, Adair, Taylor, Union, Ringgold and Adams Counties. The position will work directly with child care centers directors and staff, specifically infant and toddler staff, to provide coaching, consultation, on-site assessment and support. Associate or Bachelors Degree in Early Childhood or related field with additional infant/toddler training preferred. Prefer two years experience in a child care setting that serves infants and toddler. This is a full-time Monday through Friday position. Benefits include: Health/dental/vision insurance, IPERS, 15 paid holidays, vacation and sick leave. ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES - Identify and engage with child care centers to form partnerships, delivering continuous support and training to enhance the quality of child care provided. - Develop and maintain positive, supportive relationships with center staff for the purpose of fostering staff growth through the mentoring process. - Must be able to relate to children, families and staff in a positive manner. - Provide on-site or virtual consultation, practice-based coaching and assistance to child care centers. - Utilize Relationship Based Coaching cycle (Practice Based Coaching) components for the purpose of assessing needs, engaging in focused observations, and providing reflection and feedback in order to set goals and develop action plans. - Develop and maintain schedules for observation for the purpose of determining training needs at the center. - Be knowledgeable of Head Start/Early Head Start (HS/EHS) Performance Standards, Iowa HHS Licensing regulations and USDA Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) regulations. - Utilize nationally recognized tools to assess classrooms. i.e. ITERS, CLASS, TPITOS, PITC, PAS, Infant/Toddler Fidelity Checklist, using results to mentor child care staff. - Provide constructive feedback, support and assist child care staff with classroom environment, age-appropriate activities, lesson plans, curriculum and child behaviors. This may include modeling, co-teaching, observing, providing reading materials, training or other resources as needed. - Provide follow up support to staff following any form of training for the purpose of increasing implementation of information and transfer of skill into practice. - Provide ongoing support to staff working on CDA or other continuing education programs. - Work with child care staff and Child Care Resource and Referral (CCRandR) to increase center Iowa Quality for Kids (IQ4K) ratings. - Develop and maintain community partnerships with Iowa HHS, CCRandR, Child Care Nurse Consultant, CACFP, IAEYC, etc. - Conduct evaluations of program results / outcomes to measure effectiveness and adequacy of activities. - Review and provide input on policies and procedures for child care centers. - Maintain appropriate documentation of activities and contacts. - Complete necessary paperwork in an accurate and timely manner. - Prepare reports for both internal and external requirements, reporting to the Head Start Director and the Head Start State Col aboration Office (HSSCO) as scheduled and requested. - Participate in initial and on-going professional development for the purpose of providing effective mentor/coach activities as well as provide expertise on theory and practices that support child development. - Attend meetings, training and professional development activities as appropriate or requested. - Contribute to a positive and productive work environment. - Able to work flexible hours without direct supervision, including occasional evenings. - Assist center directors with administrative tasks as needed or requested. - Other duties as requested. Duties described are intended to show the general nature and level of work being performed. This is not to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skill required of personnel so classified. KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES Displays integrity and sound ethical judgement; upholds organizational values. Strong interpersonal skills with an ability to foster professional relationships. Capacity to build trust and rapport with a variety of personalities. Able to build morale and group commitments to goals and objectives. Inspires and motivates other to perform well, giving appropriate recognition to others. Skilled in making frequent decisions and solving prob

Created: 2025-08-27