Professional Development Manager

Job Goal:

The Professional Development Manager provides leadership and oversight for the implementation of high-quality coaching, professional development, and mental health services across all early childhood programs. This position is responsible for strengthening staff capacity, supporting contracted site quality, and advancing school readiness goals through data-informed strategies. The Manager will supervise coaching staff, the Early Childhood Specialist overseeing contract sites, and ensure integration of mental health supports within the broader early childhood education framework.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Professional Development and Coaching

• Oversee mentoring and training of education staff to support school readiness and improve program quality.
• Supervise and support the Birth to 5 Coaches.
• Ensure high-quality coaching practices, reflective supervision, and instructional support are implemented to improve child outcomes and classroom quality.
• Use evidence-based observation tools such as CLASS, ECERS, and ITERS to guide improvements.
• Plan and deliver professional development aligned with staff goals, program data, and best practices.
• Develop and facilitate workshops, obtain ORO approval, and maintain the agency's online training platform.

Mental Health Component Oversight

• Provide leadership for the mental health component across Head Start and Early Childhood programs.
• Ensure mental health strategies are embedded in classroom practices and aligned with Head Start Performance Standards.
• Support staff in identifying and addressing children’s mental health and behavioral needs.
• Coordinate with mental health consultants to provide training, technical assistance, and support for children, families, and staff.

Contract Oversight

• Supervise the Early Childhood Specialist who oversees contracted early learning sites.
• Ensure contract sites receive appropriate support, technical assistance, and monitoring to meet quality standards.
• Collaborate with the Specialist to assess professional development and compliance needs of contracted partners.
• Review site data to ensure contract partners are meeting school readiness and quality goals.

Program Leadership and Strategic Support

• Contribute to policy and strategic planning efforts, including the agency’s strategic plan, service delivery plans, and self-assessment processes.
• Participate in ongoing monitoring of program quality and alignment with performance standards.
• Support data aggregation and analysis for planning professional development and instructional strategies.
• Collaborate with component managers to align efforts across health, mental health, education, and family services.

General and Other Duties

• Attend required trainings and stay informed on emerging practices from sources such as NHSA, NAEYC, and DELC.
• Act as a resource to staff and leadership on curriculum, instructional practices, and child development.
• Maintain regular communication across the region using varied methods and technologies.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

General Staff Responsibilities:

• Participate in staff meetings, conferences, training sessions and workshops as assigned
• Demonstrate familiarity with employment policies, performance standards, work plan and objectives of Agency
• Maintain congenial and respectful relations with staff, children, families and community
• Keep current and accurate records and file reports on time
• Maintain confidentiality regarding staff and family information
• Maintain objectives and professional standards
• Improve self-skills and education
• Fulfill role as mandated reporter as stated in Child Abuse and Neglect Policy
• Be present at work in order to provide consistency of services
• Be a contributory team member in a positive/productive manner
• Demonstrate commitment to mission, values, and policies in the performance of daily duties
• And or any other duties deemed necessary by your supervisor

Education Requirements:

• Bachelors in Early Childhood Education or related field
• Class Reliability Certification

Preferred Education:

• Masters in Early Childhood Education or related field

Experience and Skills Requirements:

• Five or more years of experience in an early childhood program.
• Experience supporting families and understand how to engage them in program services
• Knowledge of inclusive practices
• Knowledge of how to best support the early learning workforce in all settings
• Implement effective techniques for adult learning
• Maintain Oregon Registry Master Trainer Certification
• Experience of early learning quality assessment tools, including:
  • Classroom Assessment Scoring Scale (CLASS™)
  • Environmental Rating Scale (ERS) (specifically, Early Childhood Environmental Rating Scale 3 and Family Child Care Environments Rating Scale Program Assessment Scale (PAS)
  • Knowledge of child assessment and screening tools, including:
  • Teaching Strategies Gold
  • Teaching Pyramid Observation Tool
  • Ages and Stages Questionnaires
• Supervise and mentor the volunteer specialist by ensuring UMHS volunteer program meets agency policies, Oregon Licensing requirements and Head Start federal performance standards around volunteers.
• Current CPR and First Aid cards
• Ability to keep accurate records
• Ability and desire to effectively work with low-income children and their families
• Ability to develop, coordinate and conduct training sessions
• Knowledge of research-based practices regarding child and family services
• Supervisory experience (preferred)
• Head Start experience (preferred)
• Community service experience (preferred)
• Multi-cultural experience (preferred)
• Administrative background (preferred)
• Knowledge of risk/protective factors model and substance abuse prevention (preferred)

Physical Requirements:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to:

• Observe, compare, and monitor behaviors, records and data to determine compliance with prescribed standards
• Comprehend, analyze, and make inferences and references from written material
• Lift and move heavy and/or bulky objects up to 50 lbs.
• Sit for long periods of time with keyboard and do data entry at a computer.
• Occasionally required to stand, use hands to finger, handle, or feel and reach with hands and arms.
• Frequently required to drive, walk and climb stairs in the office and in a variety of community based and home settings.
• Drive a private or Agency vehicle; must possess a valid driver's license and personal automobile or provide a plan that will allow fulfillment of position requirements. (A DMV Record check will be conducted prior to hire)
• Occasional filing is required. This would require the ability to lift files, open filing cabinets and bending as necessary;
• Produce written documentation with clearly organized thoughts using proper sentence construction, punctuation and grammar.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Work Environment/Conditions:

• The work environment includes indoor office environments or comparable spaces and community spaces, with some exposure to outdoor weather when traveling between sites. The noise level varies by site and meetings.
• Job tasks are performed in close physical proximity to other people

Safety: Apply safe practices in the performance of duties

• Reporting of unsafe or hazardous working conditions and/or any injury immediately
• Complying with Agency safety standards
• Participate in emergency drills
• Promote a culture of safe environments in the workplace

Agency Wide Requirements:

• Current enrollment in the Child Care Division’s Central Background Registry
• Current physical examination, drug screen, and TB screen documentation prior to hire
• Ability to drive a private or Agency vehicle; must possess a valid driver's license and personal automobile or provide a plan that will allow fulfillment of position requirements. A DMV Record check will be conducted prior to hire.
• Desire to work with low‐income children and their families
• Communicate effectively with staff, families, children, and the public using the telephone and in face to face, one to one, and in group settings
• Fluent in English both verbally and written

The job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and the employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.

Umatilla-Morrow Head Start, Inc. is committed to providing equal employment and advancement opportunities to all individuals in all aspects of employment, including, but not limited to, recruitment, hiring, job assignments, promotions, career advancement opportunities, working conditions, scheduling, disciplinary action, termination of employment, compensation, and access to benefits and training. We recruit, hire, and promote into all job levels the most qualified applicants without regard to legally protected.