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Child Care Development Specialist Jobs (NOW HIRING)

$20 - $23.50/hr

TheraCare is seeking dynamic for Child Developmental Specialist looking for a comprehensive and ... are, developmental and educational programs. Our philosophy reflects professionals working ...

TheraCare is seeking dynamic for Child Developmental Specialist looking for a comprehensive and ... are, developmental and educational programs. Our philosophy reflects professionals working ...

$20 - $23.50/hr

TheraCare is seeking dynamic for Child Developmental Specialist looking for a comprehensive and ... are, developmental and educational programs. Our philosophy reflects professionals working ...

TheraCare is seeking dynamic for Child Developmental Specialist looking for a comprehensive and ... are, developmental and educational programs. Our philosophy reflects professionals working ...

$40 - $55/hr

TheraCare is seeking dynamic for Child Developmental Specialist looking for a comprehensive and ... are, developmental and educational programs. Our philosophy reflects professionals working ...

TheraCare is seeking dynamic for Child Developmental Specialist looking for a comprehensive and ... are, developmental and educational programs. Our philosophy reflects professionals working ...

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Child Care Development Specialist information

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$33.5K

$81.6K

$141K

How much do child care development specialist jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 6, 2026, the average yearly pay for child care development specialist in the United States is $81,632.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $51,500.00 and $99,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a child care development specialist?

A Child Care Development Specialist is a professional who works to support the growth and development of young children, typically from infancy through early childhood. They assess children's developmental needs, create and implement educational activities, and collaborate with families to ensure children reach key milestones. These specialists often work in child care centers, preschools, or community organizations, and may also provide guidance on best practices for child care providers. Their role is crucial in fostering a safe, nurturing, and enriching environment for children during their formative years.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a child care development specialist?

To thrive as a Child Care Development Specialist, you need a strong understanding of child development, early childhood education, and program planning, often supported by a degree in early childhood education or a related field. Familiarity with developmental assessment tools, curriculum software, and state licensing standards is typically required. Patience, strong communication, and cultural sensitivity are crucial soft skills for building trust and fostering positive relationships with children and families. These skills ensure the delivery of high-quality care, promote healthy development, and support compliance with educational and safety standards.

How does a child care development specialist typically collaborate with families and other professionals to support a child's growth?

Child Care Development Specialists frequently work closely with families, teachers, and healthcare providers to create individualized plans that address each child's developmental needs. They conduct assessments, provide progress updates, and offer resources or strategies to parents and caregivers. Collaboration is a key aspect of the role, as it ensures consistency and a holistic approach to supporting children's cognitive, emotional, and social development. Regular communication and team meetings are common, fostering a supportive network for every child.

What is the difference between Child Care Development Specialist vs Preschool Teacher?

AspectChild Care Development SpecialistPreschool Teacher
CredentialsChild development certifications, CDA or early childhood education credentialsEarly childhood education degree or CDA
Work EnvironmentChild care centers, community programs, home settingsPreschools, daycare centers, private or public schools
Employer & IndustryChild care providers, social services, community organizationsEducational institutions, private preschools, daycare facilities

Child Care Development Specialists focus on assessing and supporting children's developmental needs, often working in community or social service settings. Preschool Teachers primarily instruct and supervise children in educational environments. While both roles require early childhood credentials and involve working with young children, the Specialist role emphasizes developmental support and assessment, whereas the Teacher role centers on classroom instruction and curriculum delivery.

What do you need to become a child care development specialist?

To become a child care development specialist, you typically need a high school diploma or equivalent, along with relevant postsecondary education such as an associate's or bachelor's degree in early childhood education, child development, or a related field. Certification or licensing may be required depending on the state or employer, and strong communication, organizational, and caregiving skills are essential.
More about Child Care Development Specialist jobs

What cities are hiring for Child Care Development Specialist jobs?

Cities with the most Child Care Development Specialist job openings:

Infographic showing various Child Care Development Specialist job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 2% As Needed, 70% Full Time, 21% Part Time, and 7% Contract. Highlights an 93% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $81,632 per year, or $39.2 per hour.

Child Development Specialist

Allies for Every Child

Culver City, CA • On-site

$26 - $29/hr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement

Re-posted 22 days ago


Key responsibilities

  • Schedule and perform observations and developmental assessments of children, including completing Desired Results Developmental Profile assessments.

  • Conduct home visits to families to provide resources, emotional support, and facilitate communication regarding children's development and needs.

  • Mentor, coach, and provide training and technical assistance to Family Child Care Home Education Providers in child development and curriculum support.


Job description

#BECOMEANALLYTODAY!

$2500 SIGN-ON INCENTIVE BONUS

FOR CONSIDERATION: Email cover letter and resume to humanresources@ alliesforeverychild .org

Full Benefits Package offered including:

Ø Competitive Pay

Ø 12 Holidays per calendar year

Ø 10 Sick Leave Days per year

Ø 10 Vacation Days per year (increases with tenure)

Ø 2 Personal Days - birthday and anniversary of employment

Ø 10 Jury Duty Days

Ø 100% Employer Contribution to: Health - Kaiser or Anthem, Dental, Vision

Ø Pet Insurance

Ø 401k Retirement Plan with 50% employer match for the first 4%

Ø 100% Employer Paid Life and Accidental Insurance

Ø Supplemental Life Insurance

Ø Employee Assistance Program (EAP) – for team members and dependents

Ø Discounts for movie tickets, amusement parks, travel, hotels, sporting events, shows, etc.

Ø Initial and ongoing training and professional development opportunities

Ø Opportunities for growth and advancement

Ø Employee referral incentive pay - $1500

Ø Public Service Loan Forgiveness

Ø Credit Union Membership

JOB SUMMARY:

The Child Development Specialist works under the supervision of the Director of Early Care and Education and with the guidance of the Head of Educational Excellence. The Child Development Specialist (CDS) partners with a team of CDS’s to ensure comprehensive, high quality early education experiences for children/families enrolled in Allies’ network of contracted licensed family child care home providers (Providers). The Child Development Specialist plays a critical role in client and Provider recruitment, ongoing training, health/safety monitoring, comprehensive family services and lesson plan processes.

ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills and/or abilities required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Early Education Duties

Children

· Schedule and perform observations and developmental assessments of children (include parent and provider input); responsible for completion of Desired Results Developmental Profile assessments for children in the FCCHEN and EHS Program.

· Complete semi-annual developmental screenings (Ages and Stages Questionnaires- 3 and Social-Emotional) with parents during home visits; assist in referring children to inclusion team and or local agency, if needed; partner with parents and families through the formal evaluation process

Families

· Conduct two home visits per fiscal year for each family on your caseload to ensure appropriate resources and provide emotional encouragement

· Identify child social or health needs and provide referrals to parents regarding public assistance, health, housing, counseling, etc. as needed

· Support completion of semi-annual 5 protective factors surveys, annual family survey, etc.

· Confer with parents on an as-needed basis, offering them resources and mediating parent/provider conflict, as well as discussing children’s assessments, needs and interests, and strategies to use in facilitating children’s growth and development

· Actively support parental involvement by planning and facilitating responsive and directed parent activities

· Facilitate opportunities for parents and families to participate in program’s education services and trainings

· Participate in implementation of program-wide parent advisory group

· Support Family and Community Specialist in assisting, guiding and educating each family during transition process to a preschool, Head Start Program and or Kindergarten.

· Assist in planning parent activities, encourage parent participation in program activities, and obtain feedback from parents regarding the level of satisfaction with the services they received

· Provide support in the follow-up and retrieval of health, nutrition, mental health and disability requirements

· Collaborate with Health Services Coordinator, Family and Community Specialist, Mental Health Specialist and/or Inclusion Specialist to ensure the health, nutrition and special needs of children are addressed

· Working closely with each family on caseload to support goals identified and provide needed referrals to community agencies and effectively communicate with Family and Community Specialist or other relevant team members

· Supports families in completion of paperwork and documentation requirement for Early Head Start and CDSS and provides follow-up

· Provides support and strategies to address any attendance concerns

Family Child Care Home Education Providers

· Mentor, coach, model, and provide individualized training and technical assistance for Providers and their staff in child development, and other areas identified; Ensure monthly meetings, semi-monthly home visits, telephone consultations as needed, and support monthly responsive trainings

· Provide curriculum support (age and developmentally appropriate activities for children; strategies to individualize activities; strategies for English Language Learners, etc.)

· Emphasize effective teaching practices and learning environments with parents and providers

· Monitor ratio, health and safety, child’s files; contract/licensing compliance; attendance sheets; nutrition observations, etc.

· Conduct home visits, coaching, and individualized follow up to ensure the appropriate resources and emotional encouragement is there for each child and family as needed and to ensure proper implementation of federal regulations

· Visit EHS family childcare homes to both ensure that family goals are fully supported by providers as well as to support comprehensive services for each family

Quality Assurance/Programmatic

· Maintain records of home visits, parent conferences, children’s assessments, family referrals, corrective action plans

· Maintain comprehensive child records in hard copy and/or ChildPlus database and ensure an effective system of tracking

· Review outcomes of assessments with family childcare home education providers

· Document all parent, provider and community referrals including health documentation

· Participate in internal audits and quality assurance file review

· Perform annual and ongoing assessment of each provider using the Family Child Care Environment Rating Scale to ensure that services are of high quality and are educationally and developmentally appropriate

· Creatively assist in recruitment of prospective client families and Providers

· Attend child development conferences, interagency meeting and community events as appropriate and assigned

· Conduct annual evaluation for all Providers on caseload

Other

· May be required to work evenings and weekends as needed.

· Perform other relevant responsibilities as required by the agency and as assigned

· In accordance with our "team" philosophy, the person filling this position may occasionally be required to carry out or assist with other tasks in addition to the duties listed on this job description

· Model the Standard of Conduct Policy when interacting with parents, community members and Colleagues

· Ensure safety is a priority in performing all job responsibilities

· Staff must believe in and act in accordance with both the Agency's and the program's mission/vision statements, adopted theoretical frameworks, and philosophy.

EDUCATION & QUALIFICATIONS:

· Bachelor’s degree in child development or early education, or in a related field with two years’ of post-graduate experience in early childhood education (related fields include elementary education, early childhood special education, psychology, family consumer sciences, home economics, social work, social services)

· Infant/toddler units, a plus

· Two (2) years’ experience working in Early Education programs as a lead or supervisor a plus

· One (1)-year experience providing services to low-income families as a case manager

· Knowledge of Head Start Early Learning Child Outcomes Framework preferred

· Ability to plan, organize and oversee high quality early childhood programming and comprehensive services

· Ability to communicate effectively – verbally and in writing

· Strong organizational skills

· Commitment to teamwork

· Basic computer skills required – Word, Excel, Software applications

· Experience working with diverse groups and populations

· Bilingual in English and Spanish preferred

· Passionate about learning and possesses curiosity about issues affecting children and families

· Align with Allies for Every Child’s mission and philosophy

· All employees, regardless of position, serve as role models for children and families who are served by our agency

· Fingerprint background clearance (DOJ, FBI & Child Abuse Clearance Index), or approved exemption

· Successful completion of pre-employment physical, PPD risk assessment, proof of immunizations for pertussis (Tdap), measles (MMR) and influenza (can decline)

· Class “C” driver’s license, proof of automobile insurance and access to reliable transportation

Allies encourages all applicants. We seek to hire qualified staff who reflect the rich diversity of the communities we serve and can advance our mission. We define diversity in broad terms to include race, ethnicity, nationality, age, gender, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disability, geography, socio-economic status, lived experience that relates to our mission and the communities we serve, etc. This is a priority for every one of our hires, inclusive of management and senior management level roles.

Company Description

Every child needs a childhood. Allies for Every Child (Allies) exists to give at-risk children and children living in poverty the foundation they need to increase their life choices and lead fulfilling lives. For nearly 40 years, Allies has been providing thousands of at-risk children and their families with critical, high-quality child development and family wellness programs (including comprehensive early education and Early Head Start services), family strengthening interventions, foster care and adoption services, and a range of vital, integrated services, including mental health services, educational assessments, trauma and disabilities screenings/advocacy, nutrition services, dental and vision screenings, and pediatric health consultations. In 2024, Allies expanded its reach, serving even more children and youth in foster care and those transitioning to adulthood through Extraordinary Families, a program of Allies for Every Child.