Early Education Quality Specialist

Job Location:

Jacksonville, NC 28546,

Position Summary:

The Early Education Quality Specialist (EEQS) provides strategic support and expertise for early care and education quality across Onslow County and territory partnerships, advancing Smart Start and Child Care Resource & Referral (CCR&R) priorities. This role builds organizational and educator capacity by leading evidence-informed coaching, technical assistance, professional development, assessment, and cross-sector collaboration. Through data-driven planning and sustained stakeholder engagement, the Specialist strengthens instructional practice, inclusive learning environments, school readiness, workforce development, and equitable access to high-quality early education services.

The EEQ Specialist manages a regional caseload of early education programs and applies recognized quality frameworks, regulatory expertise, and validated assessment tools to generate measurable improvements in educator performance, program compliance, and child outcomes. The position also shapes career pathways, supports program start‑up and sustainability, and serves as a trusted advisor to administrators, educators, families, funders, and public‑sector partners.

Operating with substantial autonomy and accountability, the Specialist translates complex state requirements, grant commitments, and organizational objectives into scalable improvement strategies. Responsibilities encompass performance monitoring, outcomes evaluation, professional learning communities, community outreach, and disciplined documentation aligned with Smart Start, CCR&R, CQI, NC Pre‑K, Three School, DCDEE, and Early Years expectations.

• Lead a local and territory caseload of child care programs within the Eastern CCR&R Region, Territory 4—Onslow, Sampson, Duplin, Pender, New Hanover, Brunswick, and Columbus Counties—driving strategic quality‑improvement initiatives, delivering targeted technical assistance, and measuring progress against defined performance standards.
• Implement a comprehensive coaching model that includes collaborative planning, observation, guided practice, reflective inquiry, and strength‑based, data informed feedback to strengthen educator effectiveness and program quality.
• Provide specialized consultation, coaching, and technical assistance to teachers, administrators, and early childhood professionals to support continuous quality improvement and achievement of program goals.
• Develop and implement individualized Technical Assistance Plans with measurable goals, timelines, and success indicators to support sustainable improvement.
• Conduct classroom and program assessments using validated observation and evaluation tools, including CLASS™ ITERS, ECERS, SACERS, and PAS, to identify strengths, improvement opportunities, and quality benchmarks.
• Serve as a subject matter expert in evidence-based early childhood practices, including instructional quality, teacher‑child interactions, social‑emotional learning, trauma‑informed care, responsive teaching, and classroom environment enhancement.
• Support programs in achieving and maintaining quality standards, including efforts to improve facility star ratings and compliance with state expectations.

• Design, develop, and facilitate comprehensive professional development initiatives aligned with IACET standards and organizational priorities, incorporating measurable learning objectives, evidence-based instructional strategies, participant assessment, and evaluation of training effectiveness.
• Serve as a lead trainer for early childhood professionals, administrators, and community partners to strengthen workforce…