QRIS Program Coordinator - Bilingual

Maryland EXCELS is a Quality Rating Improvement System (QRIS) initiative sponsored by the Maryland State Department of Education to rate and improve the quality of participating in early childhood and school-age educational programs across the State. This program provides a uniform way for consumers, policymakers, researchers, and educational leaders to analyze and compare the educational experiences of children and ideally improve them to promote positive learning and developmental outcomes.

The Maryland EXCELS is seeking a QRIS Program Coordinator - Bilingual who will maintain a caseload of assigned programs and providers and facilitates the process of participation in the Maryland EXCELS QRIS through review, rating, and verification of evidence of quality level attainment submitted electronically via an online tool created by JHU that enables programs to achieve a quality rating.

Candidates must maintain subject matter expertise on childcare and early education programs and have direct experience working in early childhood education (ECE) at the state or national level. Ideal candidates will also have first-hand experience of the operations of the systems in Maryland, particularly with experience/deep understanding of the state management and policy-setting roles related to ECE.

These employees are primarily based remotely with required travel to the JHU campus, as needed. Attendance at scheduled meetings is expected whether they are held in-person or virtually.

Specific Duties & Responsibilities

• Providing review of evidentiary artifacts of program quality submitted by programs participating in Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) models.
• Maintain a caseload of assigned programs and facilitate the process of participation in the Maryland EXCELS QRIS through review, rating, and verification of documentation. submitted electronically via an online tool created by IDEALS that enables programs to achieve a quality rating.
• Facilitate the progress of assigned programs as they move through the Maryland EXCELS quality ratings.
• Providing review of evidentiary artifacts of professional competency submitted by workforce members participating in competency-based educational models.
• Creating, researching, and/or delivering training in a variety of mediums, providing content subject-matter expertise and serving as an instructor in person and via virtual platforms.
• Supporting applications for new funding related to subject expertise.
• Producing products related to subject expertise in a variety of formats.
• Serve on other projects related to role as assigned.
• A Program Quality Specialist will be assigned to a programmatic team aligned with their subject-area and funded projects, with a variety of potential reporting relationships, but most often in support of a Project Manager/Team Supervisor.

Additional Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

• Required to have reliable high-speed internet access, a computer, and regular office hours.
• Must be able to schedule and facilitate conference calls and web-based conferencing.
• Must be available to meet face-to-face at least once per month at the JHU Baltimore campus, and to attend other virtual or onsite meetings as needed.
• Bilingual in English/Spanish. 

• Bachelor's Degree in Early Education/Child Development or related field.
  
• Three years related experience.

• MA/MS in Early Childhood or related field.
• Experience working directly in or with programs participating in ECE systems in Maryland, including but not limited to, Maryland EXCELS, Childcare Scholarship, Maryland Accreditation, and the Childcare Credential program.
• Candidates without direct educational requirement but have significant experience in the field of early childhood may be considered.
• Self-directed with a teamwork orientation.
• Strong oral and written communication skills, with the ability to develop concise and clear feedback.
• Knowledge of requirements for ECE systems in Maryland, including but not limited to: Maryland EXCELS, Childcare Scholarship, Maryland Accreditation, and the Childcare Credential program.
• Provide feedback to a program that indicates a rationale for a given rating in a professional and beneficial way.
• Strong online proficiency; including downloading and attaching files; document/file management and organization; and web and computer troubleshooting skills and competency in reporting.
• Proficiency with technology platforms such as Google, Microsoft 365, Smartsheet, WordPress, and Jira/Confluence preferred.

Classified Title: Program Quality S