Research Associate I Jobs in Alaska (NOW HIRING)

Agency Overview:

threadassists families in finding affordable, high-quality child care that meets their needs. We provide professional development, technical assistance, and financial support to early childhood educators and programs to ensure they are preparing children for lifelong success. By collaborating with communities and businesses, we work to achieve positive outcomes for families and young children through increased access to affordable, high-quality child care. We undertake research and advocate for child care policies. This work is guided by our core values of empowerment, access, child care professionalism, children's rights, and entrepreneurial incubator.

Specific Responsibilities:

The Professional Development Specialist provides professional development supports and services to early educators and early childhood education programs to improve the quality of early childhood education in Alaska.

1. Provide professional development services to early childhood and school age professionals including training, Child Development Associate (CDA) support and verification, technical assistance, consultation and coaching around a variety of early care and education topics.
2. Provide on and off-site professional development services and support informed by formal and informal assessment tools to early childhood and school age professionals and to early childhood education programs throughout Alaska.
3. Create, implement, and facilitate professional development training following principles of adult learning best practices including in-person and distance delivery.
4. Support early childhood educators in work toward and obtaining a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential through the Council for Professional Recognition.
5. Provide professional development career guidance to early childhood and school age professionals (i.e. working toward the Alaska Early Childhood Administrator Credential)
6. Perform on-site assessments of environment and operations as requested using a formal assessment tool.
7. Gather, input and maintain program data and reports through database systems and shared office communication and documentation tools.
8. Support early childhood educators and, at times, families to accommodate children, family members, and staff with special needs and/or challenging behaviors in the early childhood education program setting.
9. Support early childhood education programs in continuous quality improvement including working towards national accreditation standards.
10. Provide professional development services following Learn & Grow, Alaska's Quality Recognition and Improvement System, procedures, and practices.
11. Provide professional development services following team policies and procedures including data entry and document management.
12. Develop, coordinate or lead team projects as assigned.
13. Represent thread and promote thread services in community, events, partnership meetings and committees as assigned.
14. Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

1. BA/BS preferred in child development, education, health education, social work or related field, or equivalent Early Childhood Education experience, skills and competencies.
2. Prior professional experience in an early childhood setting preferred.
3. Previous experience coaching and teaching adults preferred.
4. Previous experience with early childhood development, mental health, or related work preferred.
5. Previous experience with early childhood and school age program assessment tools.
6. Current driver's license required; Alaska driver's license preferred.
7. Must have reliable transportation for commuting to and from centers/clients.
8. Must pass background check; references and valid identification required.

Key Competencies:

1. Passion and commitment to thread's mission and the importance of early childhood education.
2. Flexibility and adaptability as organizational needs change.
3. Strong analytical skills and attention to detail.
4. Strong interpersonal skills required.
5. Knowledge of early care and education, inclusive child care, children's health and social services and community resources.
6. Knowledge of child development, early childhood best practices and effective professional development models.
7. Knowledge of adult education practices and previous experience training and consulting; comfortable with public speaking.
8. Ability to communicate effectively with a diverse group of early childhood and school age professionals, parents, staff, and members of the community.
9. Ability to engage in collaborative teamwork with members across the state.
10. Ability to use database systems and general office programs with comfort and ease including Microsoft Word, Excel, Access, Zoom, PowerPoint, Salesforce, shared project management tools, and Outlook.
11. Ability to travel to meet job requirements, including travel to rural communities via small planes (generally 1-4 times per year).
12. Ability to work a varied schedule based on service delivery needs, including evenings and weekends as required.
13. Bilingual in speaking, reading, and writing a plus.

Physical Requirements

• Prolonged periods of sitting and working at a computer.
• Frequent use of hands and fingers to operate a computer, telephone, and other standard office equipment.
• Ability to communicate effectively in person, by telephone, video conference, and electronically.
• Frequent standing, walking, and moving between classrooms, offices, and training locations while providing coaching, consultation, assessments, and professional development services.
• Ability to bend, reach, stoop, and occasionally kneel while observing classroom environments or interacting with children and early childhood professionals.
• Ability to lift, carry, transport, and set up training materials, presentation equipment, and supplies weighing up to 25 pounds.
• Ability to travel regularly throughout assigned service areas, including driving personal or organizational vehicles and occasional travel by commercial aircraft and small planes to rural communities.
• Ability to work in a variety of environments, including office settings, child care programs, schools, and community training locations.
• Occasional evening and weekend work and travel to support training, meetings, conferences, and organizational events.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.

Schedule and Compensation:

Position Hours: Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm, occasional evenings and weekends required each (generally 2-5x/mo.).

Location: Alaska - Statewide

Position Type: Full-Time positions available

Classification: Exempt, Permanent

Supervisor: Professional Development Manager

Supervises: None

Compensation: $59,000 - $62,000/year

Full Time Benefits: 20 days of combined PTO & Sick leave (starting), paid holidays, 403b match, High-Deductible Health Plan with HSA option (employer contributes), Dental, Vision and Life. All premiums covered 100% for employee's health, dental, vision and life. Free thread services.