Early Childhood Specialist - DeKalb County, Georgia

Early Childhood Specialist

The Early Childhood Specialist is responsible for providing technical assistance (TA) and training to child care providers and early education programs in designated service delivery area. The primary goal of technical assistance is program quality improvement and Quality Rated leveling. The service area for this position includes these counties: South Dekalb, Rockdale, Walton, Morgan, Newton, Jasper, Butts, Putnam, Baldwin.

Augusta University is Georgia's innovation center for education and health care, training the next generation of innovators, leaders, and healthcare providers in classrooms and clinics on four campuses in Augusta and locations across the state. More than 12,000 students choose Augusta for educational opportunities at the center of Georgia's cybersecurity hub and experiential learning that blends arts and application, humanities, and the health sciences. Augusta is home to Georgia's only public academic health center, where groundbreaking research is creating a healthier, more prosperous Georgia, and world-class clinicians are bringing the medicine of tomorrow to patient care today.

The Augusta University School of Public Health was established in 2023 to address Georgia's distinct public health challenges through exceptional education, innovative research, and collaborative community engagement. We are leveraging the strengths of Georgia's only public academic medical center, combining public health expertise with clinical knowledge to train future public health leaders.

The duties include, but are not limited to: Provide technical assistance/support to ECE professionals Provide technical assistance/support to ECE professionals by phone, e-mail, and regular on-site visits to assist program in improving program quality and/or achieving Quality Rated leveling. This includes, but is not limited to: Provide technical assistance/support to ECE professionals by phone, e-mail and regular on-site visits to assist program in improving program quality and/or achieving Quality Rated leveling. Complete formal assessments, develop and implement a plan of improvement, and maintain necessary documentation. Provide professional development training in accordance with state guidelines and national best practices. Complete all required reports, site visit documentation forms, etc. in compliance with state and program guidelines and national best practices. Provide career counseling to early learning professionals interested in returning to school. Facilitate PLC groups in conjunction with region-wide efforts. In coordination with program leadership, engage community partners in region by participating in meetings and facilitating partner events. Other Duties Perform all other related duties/tasks as assigned and necessary to meet program needs and provide high-quality services.

Educational Requirements Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in Early Childhood Education, Family and Consumer Sciences or related field; Must meet minimum requirements as a GA State Approved Trainer: minimum of three years' experience working directly with groups of children B-8. May be required to provide copy of college transcripts. Other Required Qualifications Must hold a valid driver's license and appropriate insurance.

Preferred Educational Qualifications Masters degree from an accredited college or university in ECE or related field. Preferred Experience Familiarity with the state of GA licensing regulations governing childcare facilities. Experience in a child care setting; Experience providing technical assistance/serving as a mentor; Experience providing adult education.

ABILITIES Ability to maintain confidentiality Strong knowledge of early childhood field Ability to forge a respectful partnership with providers Excellent interpersonal, written and verbal communication skills Proficient with Microsoft Office and other computer software/databases Ability to work in a team environment with various groups of people and in a variety of settings Must become a GA State Approved Trainer and must hold a valid driver's license and appropriate insurance

Shift: Days/M-F (work outside of the normal business hours will likely be required of an employee in an exempt level position). This position will likely involve travel around Augusta, the CSRA, and surrounding rural counties. Pay Band: 9 Salary Minimum: $48,800.00/Annually - $61,000/Annually Salary to be commensurate with qualifications of the selected candidate within the established range (generally minimum-midpoint) of the position This position is fully funded through external sources. Continued employment is contingent upon the availability of these funds. Recruitment Period: 9/16/26 Until Filled Augusta University offers a variety of benefits to full-time benefits-eligible employees and some of our half-time (or more) employees. Benefits that may be elected could include health insurance, dental insurance, life insurance, Teachers Retirement System (or Optional Retirement Plan), as well as earned vacation time, sick leave, and 13 paid holidays. Also, our full-time employees who have been employed with us successfully for more than 6 months can be considered for the Tuition Assistance Program.

All selected candidates are required to successfully pass a Background Check review prior to starting with Augusta University. If applicable for the specific position based on the duties: the candidate will also need to have a credit check completed for Positions of Trust and or approved departmental Purchase Card usage. Motor vehicle reports are required for positions that are required to drive an Augusta University vehicle. For Faculty Hires: Final candidates will be required to provide proof of completed academic degree(s) as well as post-secondary coursework in the form of original transcript(s). Those candidates trained by a foreign institution will also be required to provide an educational/credential evaluation. All employees are responsible for ensuring the confidentiality, availability, and integrity of sensitive [patient, student, employee, financial, business, etc.] information by exercising sound judgment and adhering to cybersecurity and privacy policies during their employment and beyond.

The Human Resources Division will request a driver's history report for the identified top candidate(s) for this position. We will initiate this through our Background Check Vendor; this report will come from the Department of Motor Vehicles. The selected candidate must have a valid driver's license.

This position is also responsible for promoting a customer-friendly environment and providing superior service to our patients, students, faculty, and employees. "Augusta University is a patient-and family-centered care institution, where employees partner every day with patients and families for success." Augusta University is a tobacco-free environment, and the use of any tobacco products on any part of the campus, both inside and outside, is strictly prohibited.

Augusta University is proud to be an equal opportunity employer welcoming applicants from underrepresented groups, including individuals with disabilities and veterans.