Early Childhood Coach - Upstate

Thank you for considering a career with the Research Foundation of The City University of New York (RFCUNY).

The team at RFCUNY is made up of dedicated, talented professionals committed to providing the services that allow CUNY researchers, faculty, and staff to focus on their intellectual curiosity and scientific discoveries.

We are pleased that you are interested in exploring opportunities to join RFCUNY.

Primary Location:

OFFICE OF SR. UNIV DEAN FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS

Bargaining Unit:

No

MISSION

Children thrive when they spend their most critical years with dedicated, educated, trained, and well-compensated individuals. The New York Early Childhood Professional Development Institute leads the work to establish and implement an early childhood workforce system to ensure funding, standards and competencies, career development resources, qualifications and credentials, professional development (training and strengths-based coaching), and program quality assurance and improvement for individuals who work with young children throughout New York. Housed at the City University of New York, the Institute is a fast-paced, dynamic public/private partnership that is committed to the early childhood workforce across New York State.

 

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

The Institute’s Professional Development team ensures that New York’s early childhood workforce has access to a comprehensive suite of high-quality training and technical assistance aligned with professional competencies and designed to support children’s well-being, learning, and development.

Reporting to the Coaching Manager, the Early Childhood Coach plays a critical role in this work by partnering with educators and program leaders to strengthen practice, close gaps in knowledge and implementation, and advance overall program quality.

 

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Coaching and Professional Learning

• Provide in-person, virtual, and hybrid coaching to teachers, program leaders, center- and school-based classroom staff, and family childcare providers in alignment with the Institute’s coaching model and project scope

• Partner with coaches to develop and implement standards-aligned action plans that advance educator practice and program quality

• Use data to monitor progress toward goals and inform differentiated coaching support

• Maintain regular communication with coaches and program leaders, including scheduling sessions and site visits, sending follow-up communication, and sharing written reports as required

• Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of coaching sessions, professional learning activities, action plans, and progress toward goals in the Institute’s coaching database

• Prepare clear, concise coaching summary reports for educators and program leaders

• Design and facilitate professional learning experiences, including training sessions, professional learning communities, communities of practice, and peer learning groups

• Collaborate with Institute teams, statewide stakeholders, and agency partners to align coaching efforts with broader program improvement goals

• Contribute to the development and implementation of new professional learning content and coaching strategies

 

Additional Responsibilities

• Attend team meetings, learning communities, and Institute-wide events

• Contribute to the development and maintenance of training and coaching resources

• Represent the Institute at local, regional, and statewide events and conferences

• Perform other duties as assigned

 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education or related field

• NYAEYC Training and Technical Assistance (T-TAP) Credential - Coach Designation, or the qualifications required to obtain this credential within six months of hire

• At least six years of direct service experience in early childhood education as a teacher or family childcare provider

• Minimum of two years of relationship-based coaching experience

• Deep knowledge of early childhood development, pedagogical practice, and adult learning theory

• Demonstrated ability to build trusting, collaborative relationships with educators and program leaders

• Strong interpersonal, reflective, and communication skills

• Commitment to continuous improvement in early childhood programs and ongoing professional growth

• Demonstrated adaptability, flexibility, and growth mindset in diverse and evolving coaching contexts

 

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bilingual in Spanish, Bengali, Russian, and/or Mandarin

• Active and current profile in The Aspire Registry, New York’s early childhood workforce registry

• Working knowledge of National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) guidance documents (e.g., Code of Ethics, Early Childhood Program Standards, Advancing Equity), Head Start Program Performance Standards, the NYS Core Body of Knowledge, and the NYS Early Learning Guidelines

• Experience as a Family Child Care Provider or providing consulting or coaching services to family childcare providers

• Knowledge of NYS T-TAP Coaching Competencies

• Leadership experience preferred

• NYAEYC Training and Technical Assistance (T-TAP) Professional Development Specialist (PDS) Designation

• Commitment to ongoing learning, reflective practice, and skill development in coaching

• Ability to contribute to a collegial, collaborative coaching culture grounded in shared learning and mutual support

 

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT

• This position operates in a professional off-site office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as personal computers, laptops, tablets, smart phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and presentation equipment.

• While performing these duties, the employee is required to perform physical activities such as, but not limited to, lifting items (up to 20 pounds), bending, reaching, and sitting for prolonged periods of time. Reasonable accommodations will be made for employees with disabilities or other needs per RFCUNY policies.

• Access to reliable transportation is required.

• Ability to travel to sites across designated upstate regions throughout New York State is required.

Pay Range:

$75,000

RFCUNY Benefits
RFCUNY Employee Benefits and Accruals

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.