Early Childhood Educational Advisor

Do you want to play an integral role in assisting individuals and program administrators in achieving and tracking their professional goals?

Do you want to help build an early care and education system that helps to ensure all young children in Connecticut are safe, healthy, learning and thriving?

If so, this opportunity might be for you!

The State of Connecticut, Office of Early Childhood (OEC) is seeking an organized, hard-working, solutions-oriented  professional to support Connecticut's Early Childhood Professional Registry Team and the Quality Improvement Division. Connecticut's Registry has been in operation since 2007 and currently has over 40,000 participants in roles including early childhood educators, program administrators, trainers and consultants. The Registry is a statewide, secure, online database that tracks verified professional development and employment experience of its members. It captures data including course credit and degree attainment, career ladder level, occupation, role, program details, and funding sources. The Registry also serves as the application portal for OEC scholarship, licensing Head Teacher, Early Childhood Teacher Credential (ECTC), and technical assistance provider.The position is located in Hartford, CT, with a Monday - Friday schedule.

In-state travel may be required to participate in cross-agency collaborations and to fulfill the requirements of the position.

If you are selected for an interview, you will be required to provide a resume, cover letter and documentation regarding on the job performance reviews for the current year and past two years. 

Please contact the hiring agency's human resources office:  Ellen Morris, ellen.morris@ct.gov, with general questions regarding this recruitment (Please Note:  All updates to an applicant's application status will only be provided thought their registered JobAps account).

In the Office of Early Childhood, this class is accountable for independently providing consultation and assistance to participants seeking career development opportunities in Early Care and Education programs.

Advises participants in the formulation of career development plans, goals and professional development opportunities; analyzes educational transcripts to determine placement on career development ladder; assesses deficiencies and recommends educational plan to develop competencies; guides participants through the process of identifying navigating, obtaining and coordinating educational opportunities; instructs participants in the utilization of the Registry system; assesses eligibility for Scholarship Assistance; assists participants with finding other resources that would remove barriers to achieving educational goals; serves as a liaison between colleges, students and academic advisors; provides information about the agency to participants and invested parties; keeps current with organizations that provide specialized training and institutions of higher education; prepares reports and maintains relevant documentation; may recommend necessary testing, accommodations or educational modifications to further plan and develop a successful educational plan; may present at work shops and attend conferences; performs related duties as required.

Considerable knowledge of early care and education programs, training opportunities and alternative scholarship programs; knowledge of relevant agency policies and procedures; knowledge of career development milestones; knowledge of community resources that would eliminate barriers to career development success; considerable oral and written communication skills; interpersonal skills; ability to support diverse ability levels, learning styles, cultures and languages; ability to assess participants experience and education and develop attainable career development goals; ability to solve problems that interfere with the participant’s ability to advance through the career development goals; ability to conduct presentations and facilitate workshops; ability to utilize computer software.

Six (6) years of professional experience providing advice on career development opportunities in an educational setting.

1. College training may be substituted for the General Experience on the basis of fifteen (15) semester hours equalling one-half (1/2) year of experience to a maximum of four (4) years for a Bachelor's degree.
2. A Master’s degree in education, education counseling, rehabilitation counseling, vocational guidance or a closely related field may be substituted for one (1) additional year of the General Experience.

The successful candidate will possess:
• Strong oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills;
• Ability to respectfully support diverse competency levels, learning styles, cultures, and languages;
• Ability to effectively and efficiently utilize computer software and navigate computer systems;
• Ability to enter data into an electronic system consistently using established protocols;
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, team-centered environment handling multiple streams of work in a timely manner;
• Considerable knowledge of early care and education programs, workforce training opportunities and state and federal scholarship programs;
• Knowledge of career development milestones, and resources that eliminate barriers to career development;
• Ability to assess individual experience and education to support career development goals, and to assess at a program staffing level for requirements and goals;
• Ability to solve problems and support individual advancement of career development goals;
• Ability to conduct presentations and facilitate workshops; and
• Knowledge of OEC key work, initiatives, requirements, policies and procedures.

In addition, candidates will benefit from having a working knowledge of the requirements for Early Childhood positions and early care and education programs across settings (including licensing, Head Start, and accreditations – NAFCC and NAEYC); training in adult learning and development; experience in providing resource and referral strategies to promote career planning; demonstrate communication and interpersonal skills including interaction sills via telephone and the internet.  Proficiency in Spanish is desirable.

1. Incumbents in this class may be required to travel.
2. Incumbents in this class may be required to possess and retain a valid Motor Vehicle Operator’s license.
3. Incumbents in this class may be required to possess fluency in a foreign language for designated positions.

AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.