University of Nebraska System

Early Childhood Specialist

The role of an Early Childhood Specialist is to support and advance Institute projects by collaborating with families, early childhood educators, district and school leaders, community-based organizations, local, state and federal government and other stakeholders to strengthen care and learning opportunities of children birth to third grade.

Envisioned as a new model for how public higher education is engaged in the first years of life, the Buffett Early Childhood Institute is a four-campus, university-wide, multidisciplinary research, education, outreach, and policy institute of the University of Nebraska committed to helping transform early childhood development and education in Nebraska and across the nation. A long-term goal of the Institute is to be a leading center where scholars, practitioners, community members, and policymakers collaborate to advance a unified approach that can improve the lives of young children and families and the systems that support them.

Applicants should note that the goals of the Institute are university-, state-, and nation-wide, but the location of the Institute administration is in Omaha. This position will work primarily out of the Omaha office.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree
• 5 years experience in one or more of the following:
  Developmentally appropriate pedagogy for birth to third grade
• Research and data analysis focused on birth through third grade
• Child care partnerships, including transition practices
• Family and community partnerships focused on birth through grade three learning and development
• Teaching and/or leading in child care or elementary school settings
• Demonstrated proficiency in verbal and written communication skills with attention to detail
• Demonstrated ability to work with various stakeholders
• Knowledge and insights to design, implement, and sustainable professional learning

Equivalent combination of education, experience, that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities may be considered.

Required Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree
• College coursework in early childhood education or elementary education
• Experience with coaching a professional community of adult learners that directly affected instructional practices
• Demonstrated experience working in birth through grade three settings
• Certified in elementary teaching with an early childhood education certificate or an endorsement
• Bilingual (Oral and Written)

Ideal candidates will demonstrate and model a passion for early childhood reform and leadership; excellent independent judgement and analytical skills; strong interpersonal skills; a track record of timely completion of projects and the ability to responsibly manage competing priorities; success in collaboration with distributed resources and/or project teams; and commitment to the quality and continuity of early childhood development and education.