Quality Improvement Specialist, New York City

New York Early Childhood Professional Development Institute

Date Posted: 12/16/2024

Location: Manhattan, New York

Salary/Wage: $82,000 a year

Job Type: Full-time

Work Arrangement: Hybrid

View Post Details and Apply

Description:

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

QUALITYstarsNY is New York State’s voluntary 5-Star early childhood quality rating and improvement system. Since its inception, QUALITYstarsNY has focused its evidence-based practices to ensure that young children in participating programs have access to excellence and families can trust the level of quality in the program they choose. Assessment, coaching, professional development, and a wide range of resources are made available to each site, enabling QUALITYstarsNY to support early childhood programs to earn higher star ratings.

The Quality Improvement (QI) Specialist is responsible for providing key support in the implementation of QUALITYstarsNY. The QI Specialist is assigned a caseload of participating programs to provide ongoing technical assistance and resources to as part of continuous quality improvement. The QI Specialist works in partnership with the leadership of participating programs to effectively use data to create and implement an individualized Quality Improvement Plan (QIP). The QI Specialist works in their assigned region(s), visiting participating program sites to support their continuous QIP. The central office provides each QI Specialist with the equipment needed to manage extensive record keeping and filing timely reports. QI Specialists also participate in regular virtual meetings and on-site meetings as needed. The Director of Quality Improvement and Regional Quality Improvement Coordinator supervise the QI Specialist. The QI Specialist collaborates with regional QI Specialist teams as well as the central office staff.

Qualified candidates will be considered for all boroughs:

Manhattan
Bronx
Queens
Brooklyn
Staten Island

Responsibilities:

Leadership & Case Management

Deliver on-site technical assistance and mentoring to program leaders (FCC Providers, Directors, Principals, Supervisors) aligned with QUALITYstarsNY program standards
Provide ongoing support to program leaders throughout the participation process; technical assistance and mentoring
Maintain up-to-date Quality Improvement Plans (QIP) in partnership with participants; analyze and monitor progress towards quality improvement
Provide orientation sessions, trainings, and develop ‘learning communities’ to support programs in meeting their goals
Build collaborative relationships with community partners to connect participants with necessary resources and professional development opportunities
Represent QUALITYstarsNY at local and regional events and conferences

Budget & Data Management

Maintain accurate records for allocating and tracking expenditures
Develop efficient systems to carry out responsibilities using effective time management strategies
Maintain an accurate and complete QIP for each participant that reflects goals, tasks, and appropriate expenditures
Research local and state resources that support continuous quality improvement efforts

Communication

Prepare timely updates about progress and challenges with participants for regularly scheduled supervision meetings
Manage schedule of visits and other priorities
Plan, prepare, and participate fully in regularly scheduled regional meetings
Plan, prepare, and carry out recruitment efforts to build QUALITYstarsNY waitlist and expand services
Participate in outreach efforts to increase awareness of QUALITYstarsNY

Other Duties

Attend staff meetings and trainings as required
Perform special projects and other duties as assigned

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications

Master’s degree in early childhood education, early childhood administration and supervision or child development
At least 6 years of experience in similar work, including mentoring and/or early childhood teacher preparation
Knowledgeable about NYS early learning documents, including the NYS Prekindergarten Learning Standards, NYS Early Learning Guidelines, and the Core Body of Knowledge: New York State’s Core Competencies for Early Educators
Experience with the Environment Rating Scales (ERS) and designing technical assistance and mentoring based on data and assessment results
Comprehensive understanding of a variety of early childhood settings, including center, family child care and school-based programs
Demonstrated competencies in delivery of technical assistance, on-site consultation and mentoring
A complete and current profile in The Aspire Registry, New York’s early childhood workforce registry
Excellent and effective oral and written communication skills
Strong organization and case load management skills
Ability to communicate effectively with diverse populations
Ability to listen and respond to others with insight, diplomacy, and respect
Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, and PowerPoint)
Proven accuracy entering information into databases and ability to track, analyze, and report on data
Ability to travel regularly to various QUALITYstarsNY locations, and other agencies/partners locally and across the state.

Preferred Qualifications

Bilingual, Spanish/English preferred (Required for Bronx position)

Physical Requirements

This position operates in a professional off-site office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as personal computers, laptops, tablets, smart phone, photocopiers, filing cabinets and other presentation materials
While performing these duties, the employee is required to perform physical activities such as, but not limited to, lifting items (up to 40 pounds), bending, reaching, sitting for prolonged periods of time. Reasonable accommodations will be made for employees with disabilities or other needs per RFCUNY policies.
Ability to travel to other sites including QUALITYstarsNY locations as needed.

Minimum Education Level: Master's Degree

Preferred Education Level: Master's Degree

Application Instructions:

How to Apply

Provide a resume and cover letter specifying your qualifications, experience, and interest relevant to this position.

View Post Details and Apply

Additional Information:

RFCUNY Benefits

RFCUNY Employee Benefits and Accruals

About the Research Foundation

The Research Foundation of The City University of New York (RFCUNY) was established as a not-for-profit educational corporation chartered by the State of New York in 1963. RFCUNY supports CUNY faculty and staff in identifying and obtaining external support (pre-award) from government and private sponsors and is responsible for the administration of all such funded programs (post-award).

RFCUNY stands between CUNY’s principal investigators (PIs) and the sponsors who support them and strives to fulfill its essential responsibilities to both groups. Working closely with individual PIs and Grants Officers on the campuses, RFCUNY oversees employment, accounting, audit, reporting, purchasing, and special responsibilities that include management of a planned giving program; liaison with governmental agencies and foundations; negotiation of agreements; facility construction and renovation; protection and commercialization of intellectual property; and compliance with applicable standards in research involving human subjects, animal care, environmental and radiological safety, and conflicts of interest.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

The Research Foundation of the City University of New York is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Americans with Disabilities Act/E-Verify Employer. It is the policy of the Research Foundation of CUNY to provide equal employment opportunities free of discrimination based on race, color, age, religion, sex, pregnancy, childbirth, national origin, disability, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, domestic violence victim status, arrest record, criminal conviction history, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.