Early Childhood Education Specialist

About the role

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster.

Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world's largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions.

If you're a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.

Job Overview

The Early Childhood Education Specialist supports the implementation of early childhood and family-focused programming that promotes school readiness, family engagement, access to services, and positive outcomes for young children. This role works closely with families, childcare providers, educators, and community partners to strengthen early learning opportunities and support client success.

Major Responsibilities

Program Implementation and Client Services

• Implement early childhood education programming that promotes childcare access, school readiness, and family well-being.
• Assist families with accessing childcare assistance and enrolling in childcare services while identifying and addressing barriers to participation.
• Connect families with early learning opportunities, including Head Start, Early Head Start, preschool programs, and age-appropriate English Language Learning (ELL) services.
• Facilitate orientations and educational activities related to local resources, school systems, child welfare laws, parenting, and community integration.\
• Support positive parent-child interactions and empower families through peer support, social groups, and parent education activities.

Partnership and Community Engagement

• Collaborate with childcare providers, educators, and community partners to support school readiness, English language learning, and family engagement.
• Provide cultural competency training and culturally responsive resources to childcare providers.
• Participate in outreach and recruitment activities to increase awareness of program services.

Documentation, Compliance, and Team Collaboration

• Verify participant eligibility and maintain accurate intake documentation, service plans, and client records.
• Collect client feedback and contribute to continuous program improvement.
• Ensure compliance with grant requirements, reporting standards, and agency policies, including client confidentiality.
• Collaborate with colleagues across departments to provide coordinated, strengths-based services to clients.
• Participate in meetings, trainings, and other duties as assigned.

Job Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in early childhood education, education, social work, psychology, or a related field preferred.
• Minimum two years of experience in early childhood education, human services, or a related field preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in multicultural environments and build positive relationships with families, community partners, and colleagues.
• Strong communication, organization, problem-solving, time management, and multitasking skills, with the ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Fluent in English; bilingual ability in a language spoken by the local refugee population preferred.
• Valid driver's license, reliable transportation, active insurance, and eligibility to obtain a Level 1 fingerprint clearance card.

Working Environment

• This position operates in a combination of office, remote, and community-based settings throughout the service area.
• Evening and weekend work may be required to meet client needs.

Compensation

(Pay Rate: $20.97/hr). Ranges are based on various factors including the labor market, job type, internal equity, and budget. Exact offers are calibrated by work location, individual candidate experience and skills relative to the defined job requirements.

Professional Standards: All International Rescue Committee workers must adhere to the core values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. Our Standards are Integrity, Service, Equality and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Safeguarding, Conflicts of Interest, Fiscal Integrity, and Reporting Wrongdoing and Protection from Retaliation.

IRC is committed to take all necessary preventive measures and create an environment where people feel safe, and to take all necessary actions and corrective measures when harm occurs. IRC builds teams of professionals who promote critical reflection, power sharing, debate, and objectivity to deliver the best possible services to our clients.

Benefits

IRC offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package.

Highlights include 10 paid sick leave, 10 U.S. holidays, 20-25 generous paid time off based on role and tenure, medical insurance starting at $163/month, dental starting at $6.50/month, and vision starting at $5/month, flexible spending accounts (healthcare, dependent care, and commuter), a 403(b) retirement savings plan with employer match (immediate vesting) along with a non-elective employer contribution based on age and years of service (3-year vesting), disability and life insurance, and an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) offering confidential counseling and support services for employees and their families.