Early Care and Education Specialist

Early Care and Education Specialist

Location: Kansas City Metro Area
Organization: Futures First
Job Type: Full-time

Compensation : The role described below offers a base salary of $23.07 - $28.21 per hour. Your offer will be determined based on how your qualifications align with the requirements of the position and internal equity. In addition to the stated salary, Futures First Total Rewards package includes a comprehensive benefits plan.



Benefits Offered:

• Medical Insurance
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• Health Savings Accounts (HSA)
• Vision & Dental Insurance
• Short-Term Disability Insurance
• Life Insurance
• 403(b) Retirement Plan with matching up to 2%
• Yearly 5% employer retirement contribution
• Personal Time Off (PTO)
• Rolling Paid Holidays ( Instead of a fixed holiday schedule, employees may observe holidays that reflect their personal, cultural, or religious beliefs. )
• Flexible Work Schedules (Hybrid Model)

Lead With Purpose at One of the Region's Premier Nonprofits
Are you passionate about early childhood education and helping educators create high-quality learning experiences for young children? Futures First is seeking an Early Care and Education Specialist to partner with child care providers through coaching, training, and technical assistance that strengthens early learning environments and supports continuous quality improvement. If you are a collaborative, relationship-focused professional who enjoys empowering others and making a lasting impact on children, families, and the early childhood community, we'd love to hear from you.


For over 145 years, Futures First has strengthened families, supported early education, and promoted economic stability across the Kansas City metro. As we continue to grow and evolve, this role plays a critical part in advancing high-quality early care and education by partnering with child care providers, strengthening learning environments, and supporting continuous quality improvement for programs serving children and families in our community.



Futures First's Theory of Change
At Futures First, we believe that every child deserves a strong foundation for success. Our Theory of Change focuses on early childhood education, economic stability, and family well-being to create lasting community impact.

As the Early Care and Education Specialist, you will play a key role in supporting this work by partnering with early childhood professionals, strengthening child care programs, and providing coaching, resources, and professional development that improve outcomes for children and families.



The Opportunity
Futures First is seeking an Early Care and Education (ECE) Specialist who is passionate about strengthening early childhood programs and supporting educators in creating high-quality learning experiences for children. This position provides an exciting opportunity to make a meaningful impact by partnering with child care providers through coaching, training, and resources that promote positive child development, developmentally appropriate practices, and strong teacher-child interactions.

The ECE Specialist will work directly with early learning professionals in centers and family child care homes, helping providers identify strengths, set quality improvement goals, and implement strategies that enhance their programs. Through relationship-based coaching, the use of tools such as the Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS), and collaboration with community partners, this role will help advance quality early care and education across our community.

The ideal candidate is a reflective, collaborative professional who believes in the power of early childhood education and enjoys supporting others through growth, learning, and continuous improvement. This position offers the opportunity to build meaningful partnerships, provide professional development, and contribute to transformative change for children, families, and early education professionals.



Team Structure
In this role, you will work closely with the Early Care and Education team, child care providers, community partners, and Futures First staff across the organization. You will serve as a trusted partner to early learning professionals, providing coaching, resources, and support to strengthen program quality and promote positive outcomes for children and families. Through collaboration, relationship-building, and shared learning, you will help advance high-quality early care and education practices throughout the community.



Key Responsibilities:

• Provide on-site coaching and support to early education providers in child care centers and family child care homes to strengthen developmentally appropriate practices, learning environments, and teacher-child interactions.
• Build strong relationships with early care and education providers to understand their needs, connect them with resources, and support continuous quality improvement.
• Utilize strength-based coaching strategies, CLASS observations, curriculum tools, and assessments to help providers establish goals and implement effective improvement strategies.
• Develop and facilitate professional development opportunities for early education professionals based on community needs, agency contracts, and emerging best practices.
• Document coaching activities, track program progress, and collect evaluation data to measure successes, identify challenges, and support program improvement efforts.
• Collaborate with the Early Care and Education team and community partners to promote resources, coordinate services, and advance high-quality early learning opportunities.

Requirements

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education or related field.
• At least three years of experience in the child care field. Bilingual fluency in written and oral English/Spanish preferred.
• Master's in Early Childhood Education preferred.
• Trained in CLASS, Creative Curriculum, High-Scope, and Conscious Discipline preferred.

Required Skills & Abilities

• Ability to provide coaching, feedback, and support using a strength-based approach.
• Commitment to continuous learning and professional growth in early childhood education.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with individuals and groups.
• Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Excellent time management skills.
• Ability to be flexible to adapt to different situations and priorities.
• Proficient with Google Suite or related software.
• Maintain a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Ability to collaborate with a diverse group of people.

Why Join Futures First?
At Futures First, you will be part of a highly respected organization committed to strengthening children, families, and communities across the Kansas City metro area. You will join a collaborative team that values relationships, innovation, and continuous improvement while making a meaningful impact on the quality of early care and education experiences for children and families.



Equal Employment Opportunity & Accommodations
The Futures First is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other protected status.

If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate in the application or interview process, please contact Nicole Benoit at View email address on click.appcast.io to discuss your needs.

Apply today and be a part of something extraordinary!