Description:

Background
Quality Rating and Improvement Systems (QRIS) have emerged across states as a potentially powerful policy tool to improve the availability of high-quality early childhood education (ECE) and as a framework for building strong ECE systems in states. Given the complexity of QRIS and the potential that they hold for ECE system reform, states across the country have indicated a need for technical assistance and opportunities to learn from one another about ways in which QRIS can be developed or improved to create ECE system reform and to support all young children and the practitioners who care for them.
Responding to this need, the BUILD Initiative spearheaded the creation of the QRIS National Learning Network (NLN), a coalition of state and national early childhood leaders working to advance QRIS as a policy tool for ECE system reform. The QRIS NLN broadly seeks to help states develop and improve their QRIS by: disseminating QRIS knowledge through a learning community of states, technical assistance providers, advocates and researchers; developing new QRIS knowledge; and providing direct technical assistance to states for their planning and implementation efforts.
The strength of the QRIS NLN lies in its ability to build partnerships with organizations, working together to disseminate new information to states and to develop technical assistance opportunities that support the development of quality rating and improvement systems across the country.
Job Goals: The primary goals for this position are:
to build a broadly supported and recognized clearinghouse for QRIS information and technical assistance; to develop a broad group of partnerships with state and national organizations working to support the development of quality rating and improvement systems; and to assist state leaders in the development of their QRIS by facilitating access to technical assistance and information and support from a community of peers.

Responsibilities:

Responsibilities: The Director of the QRIS National Learning Network will be responsible for:
Managing BUILD’s QRIS work overall
1. Remain knowledgeable about QRIS developments in states and on the national level.
2. Manage BUILD’s QRIS-related grants including the Birth to Five Policy Alliance and Kellogg grants as well as future QRIS-focused grants.
3. Oversee the work of consultants working on activities funded by the QRIS-focused grants.
Strengthening Partnerships
4. Build the collaborative nature of the NLN by maintaining existing partnerships and building new ones with national organizations engaged in providing technical assistance to states in the development of quality rating and improvement systems. Assure that new and old partners see the value of the NLN as a dissemination vehicle, see their role as partners in the venture, and want to work together in the development of new technical assistance opportunities.
5. Serve as the primary contact in all work related to the National Center on Child Care Quality Improvement and develop strategies for increased collaboration.
Managing the Multi-State QRIS NLN Activities
6. Oversee the planning and execution of the (currently bi-annual) QRIS NLN national meeting.
7. Organize QRIS NLN webinars (approximately six per year). These webinars should provide state leaders and national experts with a platform to disseminate and learn about innovative practices and the latest research
8. Organize other QRIS NLN cross-state forums including topical Learning Tables and moderated online forums with content experts.
9. Work collaboratively with BUILD’s Deputy Director and Director of State Services to decide on a plan for the development of white papers and briefs on topics relevant to state QRIS leaders.
10. Work collaboratively with BUILD’s Director of State Services to oversee, deliver, or broker QRIS technical assistance to states.
Overseeing the Maintenance and Enhancement of the QRIS NLN website
11. Regularly update the NLN website to include new materials, respond to information requests and fix broken links. Supervise the web contractor.
12. Solicit feedback periodically from state QRIS implementers and others to continuously improve the website’s utility and ease of use.
13. Ensure systems are in place to continuously update the content of the website (state-specific information related to designing or implementing a QRIS as well as state-specific and national research and evaluations, etc.) and to disseminate information about updates to relevant audiences.
14. Send monthly email updates to the QRIS contact list on the latest materials added to the website.
Other
15. Complete all required paperwork, including time and expense reports, in a timely manner.
16. Participate in a performance evaluation on an annual basis, including a self-evaluation of work performed as detailed in the job description.
17. Serve as member of the collaborative BUILD team, performing other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

-

Application Instructions:

For more information or to apply for the position, please email
your resume and references to gcobb@buildinitiative.org. Deadline for application: March 1, 2012.

Additional Information:

This is a full-time work-from-home office position. Benefits included. Salary commensurate with experience.