EHS Education & Program Quality Specialist

About One Place

One Place, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, believes that one child hurt is too many. We focus on ending child abuse, increasing capacity for child mental health, and ensuring educational readiness. We create hope for children and families by connecting our community to resources. We seek employees with an entrepreneurial mindset who see transformation possible in our community. We emphasize organizational health and a supportive work environment for employees.

Position Summary

Under the direction of theEHS Education and Disabilities Manager, the Early Head Start (EHS) Education and Program Quality Specialist strengthens education, safety, and continuous quality improvement across One Place Early Head Start–Child Care Partnership (EHS-CCP) sites in Onslow County. The position partners with educators, site leaders, families, and community agencies on teaching, curriculum, individualized learning, family engagement, and compliance.

The Specialist provides coaching, training, data review, and routine facility-wide compliance checks; coordinates One Place services; and refers needs beyond its scope to Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R), Training and Technical Assistance (T/TA), or appropriate program teams.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Coaching:Implement Practice-Based Coaching through shared goals, focused observations, reflection, and feedback; develop individualized coaching plans and SMART goals using observations, needs assessments, and data, document actionable feedback and progress in coaching logs, and support teacher retention.

Professional development:Design, deliver, and evaluate training in instructional strategies, classroom management, positive behavior supports, responsive caregiving, and trauma-informed practices. Apply adult learning principles, reflective practice, and strengths-based coaching; support Infant-Toddler CDA and degree advancement toward required staff qualifications.

Curriculum and instruction:Support fidelity of Creative Curriculum and developmentally appropriate lesson planning aligned with the Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework (HSELOF) and North Carolina Foundations for Early Learning and Development (NCFELD). Strengthen teacher-child interactions and social-emotional support.

Child assessment:Train and support staff in Teaching Strategies GOLD, review checkpoint data, and help educators use assessment results for individualized instruction, child outcomes, and school readiness progress.

Screenings and referrals:Support administration, scoring, documentation, rescreening, and follow-up for ASQ and ASQ:SE developmental and social-emotional screenings; coordinate release authorizations and referrals with CDSA, EDIS, or LEA–Thompson Early Childhood Center, and integrate IFSP or IEP goals into classroom practices.

Site quality and safety:Conduct documented classroom observations and routine facility-wide checks using approved tools; monitor health, safety, sanitation, environmental conditions, licensing, active supervision, and risk mitigation, and coordinate follow-up with site leadership and appropriate One Place staff.

Inspections and incidents:Support daily playground checks, monthly facility inspections, and equipment safety checks; ensure incident and accident reports are completed, submitted, and tracked. Report suspected child abuse, neglect, and reportable incidents to appropriate agencies and the EHS Director under applicable requirements.

Monitoring and corrective actions:Participate in scheduled and ongoing monitoring through data collection, file review, observations, corrective-action follow-up, and verification. Support partnership expectations and agreements and assist with Office of Head Start (OHS) reviews, NC DCDEE inspections, and internal audits, including program, fiscal, safety, and school readiness requirements.

Scope and referrals:Refer formal ERS or QEI assessments to CCR&R/T/TA unless specifically trained, certified, and assigned. Refer intensive T/TA and other specialized needs to appropriate teams; make warm referrals for sites, educators, and administrators, documenting follow-up to coordinate services and reduce duplication.

Family engagement and transitions:Support individualized, documented, culturally and linguistically responsive home visits, parent-teacher conferences, and transition plans that promote continuity of care and school readiness. Use ReadyRosie and approved resources, classroom strategies, and data sharing to support family goals and home-school connections.

Raising a Reader:Complete Coordinator training and serve as the EHS implementation liaison; support site and teacher onboarding, fidelity, materials and book-bag circulation, family engagement, participation tracking, and CCR&R communication. CCR&R retains funder/grant reporting, program-level reporting, and central administration.

Materials and internal controls:Support classroom inventories, identify material needs, and distribute educational and health supplies. Follow controls for ordering, receiving, tracking, storing, and distributing resources to prevent loss, waste, and misuse under One Place policies, Uniform Guidance, and program requirements.

Records and reporting:Document coaching, observations, training, action plans, and follow-up in ChildPlus or designated systems; verify data in ChildPlus, Teaching Strategies GOLD, and approved systems against source records. Maintain accurate, timely reports and confidential staff and family information.

Continuous improvement:Analyze data, observations, and stakeholder feedback to identify trends, root causes, barriers, and corrective actions; monitor School Readiness Goals, Program Improvement Plans, and Five-Year Goals, and contribute to Self-Assessment, Program Information Report (PIR) submissions, evaluation, and grant planning.

Coordination and compliance:Prepare summaries for leadership, Policy Council, and the Board; collaborate with Education, Disabilities, Health and Wellness, Family and Community Outreach, ERSEA, Fiscal, and Program Management to integrate services. Apply the Head Start Act, Head Start Program Performance Standards (HSPPS), OHS requirements, North Carolina Division of Child Development and Early Education (NC DCDEE) licensing rules, and applicable federal, state, and local requirements.

Professional responsibilities:Uphold One Place’s mission, values, policies, professional standards, and respectful relationships; participate in meetings, conferences, training, and reflective supervision; and adapt to program changes and related assignments from the EHS Director.

Qualifications

Qualifications and Requirements

Education:Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, or a related field required.

Experience:At least two years working with infants, toddlers, and families in an early childhood education setting required. Experience working with families, agencies, and organizations; coaching or mentoring early childhood educators preferred.

Program knowledge:Knowledge of HSPPS, HSELOF, NCFELD, and NC DCDEE licensing rules.

Technology and data:Proficiency with Teaching Strategies GOLD, ChildPlus, and technology; ability to interpret and report data, evaluate and implement programs, track activities and outcomes, and use data to inform decisions.

Communication and judgment:Strong interpersonal, communication, and reflective coaching skills; critical thinking, independent judgment, discretion, and effective collaboration with educators, families, and partners.

Organization and initiative:Ability to manage competing tasks and deadlines with minimal supervision; initiative, adaptability, teamwork, and commitment to continued learning.

Training and compliance:Willingness and ability to complete Raising a Reader Coordinator and other required role-specific training. Must pass required background checks and meet applicable Head Start and NC DCDEE health and safety requirements.

Schedule and travel:Ability to travel between sites and attend occasional evening or weekend meetings, training, and program activities as needed.