January 9, 2018 Careers Trying Together’s mission is to support high-quality care and education for young children. Trying Together is a Pittsburgh-based nonprofit that supports the work of early childhood by providing advocacy, community resources, and professional growth opportunities for the needs and rights of children, their families, and the adults who interact with them. A fast-paced organization, Trying Together looks for dedicated and passionate staff who bring positivity to their work and a solution-oriented sensibility. Trying Together encourages its team, partners, and communities to interact compassionately and honor the range of cultures, ideas, and identities that root each person. Young children develop and learn by example; this means that children whose early learning environments reflect just actions, equitable opportunities, diverse representation, and inclusive approaches experience healthier interactions and build relationships that enable them to thrive. Trying Together provides a competitive compensation and benefits package. Trying Together is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate and encourages qualified candidates of any gender, race, class, sexual orientation, faith, disability, or age to apply. All candidates will be evaluated on a merit basis. Current Openings Administrative Assistant ELRC Quality Coach Career Pathways Coordinator Workforce Development Strategist Administrative Assistant Full-Time | Hourly Pay: $20.00 The Administrative Assistant for The Homewood Early Learning Hub & Family Center will perform technical administrative work, including a variety of administrative assignments. This position provides direct support to the Hub & Family Center located at 7219 Kelly Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15208. This position will work closely with the Operations Manager to oversee facility and operational functions at the Hub & Family Center and will report to the Director of The Homewood Early Learning Hub & Family Center. Responsibilities: Commitment to racial equity and inclusion and a willingness to do the ongoing personal work to bring about a more just society by actively participating in professional growth opportunities. Actively work with peers to create a culture of belonging at Trying Together. Willingness to disrupt practices that do not honor children’s, families’, educators’, and colleagues’ humanity. Greet visitors. Receive and process mail. Order office and facility supplies. Maintain Google Calendar. Schedule meetings, including set-up and catering. Photocopying and scanning. Filing and organizing. Set-up and break-down of groups and programming. Assist with office maintenance scheduling and coordination. Maintain upkeep of the company van. Ability to multitask. Assist staff with projects as needed. Work effectively and collaboratively with community partner organizations. Maintain strict confidentiality. Work collaboratively across departments within Trying Together to meet the mission and accomplish the work. Participate in initial and ongoing professional development for continuous learning and expanding one’s professional knowledge base. Consistently use the NeonCRM platform to build relationships with constituents, record data that measure project performance, and support continuous quality improvement in the organization’s resources and services. Other duties as assigned. Qualifications: Demonstrated ability to work with diverse personalities, and a wide variety of professional backgrounds and experiences of the organization, its partners, and the field it serves. Adherence to the NAEYC Code of Ethics. Demonstrate ability to work with diverse populations. Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with those contacted in the course of the work. Competency with Microsoft Office, Google Docs, and Internet research. High level of organization skills. Effective written communications. Proactive approach. Ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks simultaneously and work within deadlines. Well-developed oral and written communication skills. High School graduate. Some college experience is preferred. Ability to work occasional evenings and/or weekends. Required Clearances: Clean Act 33 Child Abuse Clearance Clean Act 34 PA State Police Clearance Clean Act 73 Federal Criminal History Clearance National Sex Offender Registry (NSOR) Verification Valid Driver’s License and proof of insurance. Required Training: Mandated Reporter Training (must be completed in the first month of placement). NeonCRM Training (required and recommended online courses must be completed in the first three months of placement). PQAS Professional Development Instructor Certification (must be obtained within the first year of employment for staff with a Bachelor’s Degree). Physical Requirements Ability to lift and move 10 – 20 pounds. Personal transportation is a plus. Benefits: Competitive compensation. Appreciative inquiry and strengths-based review process. Full-time, hourly/non-exempt position. Some flexibility is required, including weekend and evening hours as needed for events. Interested Applicants: Applicants must apply at tryingtogether.applytojob.com/apply and upload their resume and three work-related references. Phone calls will not be accepted. Posting will remain open until filled. ELRC Quality Coach Full-Time | Salary Range: $44,000 – $47,740 Coaching is inherently relationship-based work. The Early Learning Resource Center (ELRC) Region 5 Quality Coach supports program administrators, classroom staff, and home-based child care providers in Allegheny County to develop new skills and continuously improve their early care and education practices to achieve higher program quality. The ELRC Quality Coach engages program administration and staff that work with children in a collaborative process that involves observation, reflective communication, professional growth, role modeling, and goal setting. Whenever possible, a mutual learning partnership is developed to share responsibility and accountability for project goals. Coaching is customized and every effort is made to establish trust and respect for educators and program leaders and a variety of coaching strategies and practices are employed to achieve goals. Responsibilities: Commitment to racial equity and inclusion and a willingness to do the ongoing personal work to bring about a more just society by actively participating in professional growth opportunities. Actively work with peers to create a culture of belonging at Trying Together. Willingness to disrupt practices that do not honor children’s, families’, educators’ and colleagues’ humanity. Recognize and build on the existing knowledge and skills of program staff through observation, reflective practice, goal setting, and planning. Collaborate with classroom staff and program administration for the purpose of creating a cohesive approach to continuous quality improvement with the program team. Provide one-on-one and small group coaching to classroom staff to help strengthen child development practices and ensure quality programming. Facilitate face-to-face and virtual professional development sessions for providers. Complete on-site face-to-face program visits offering support and strategies for continuous quality improvement. Provide regular time and space to foster a learning community among program administrators and teaching staff that includes opportunities for reflection and learning about cultural respect and responsiveness. Review STARS scores with the program leadership team and staff to help identify areas of strength and develop goals for improvement. Using a strengths-based approach; provide constructive feedback and support for the purpose of increasing program administrator and educator confidence and competence. Develop and support the implementation of an individualized plan that identifies strengths, needs, and goals for each program staff. Strive for excellence in work by consistently incorporating cultural competencies and employing relationship-based coaching and consultation practices. Work collaboratively with ELRC and Trying Together Quality Initiatives team members to ensure the needs of Allegheny County early care and education programs are being met. Work collaboratively across departments within Trying Together to meet the mission and accomplish the work. Follow the procedure for reporting suspected child abuse. Complete monthly monitoring reports or coaching logs for assigned visits and submit them according to timelines for the purpose of tracking and monitoring. Participate in initial and ongoing professional development for the purposes of continuous learning and expanding one’s professional knowledge base. Consistently use the NeonCRM platform to build relationships with constituents, record data that measure project performance, and support continuous quality improvement in the organization’s resources and services. Other duties as assigned. Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education; advanced degree preferred. Specialized certifications welcome. Related degrees and ECE experience considered. Two or more years of early childhood classroom experience and two years of experience at an administrative level in an early care and education setting. Ability to employ a variety of consultation and coaching strategies that are based on appropriate and culturally competent practices and the NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct. Capacity to align consultation with professional development content. Demonstrated ability to work independently and as part of a team. Knowledge of state assessment tools. Experience working with adult learners. Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Intermediate to advanced computer, internet, and email skills. Knowledge of local, state, and national systems for early care and education. Willing and able to engage in honest self-reflection about coaching progress and personal contribution to the process. Ability to foster a program’s capacity building and assume a strengths-based approach. Ability to establish credibility as a resource worthy of the program’s respect and trust. Ability to facilitate a program’s own problem-solving process. Ability to maintain a project timeline and monitor progress toward goals. Must be able to interact with others in a positive and professional manner. Acceptance of diversity and ability to work comfortably in a variety of settings. Ability to maintain confidentiality. Good judgment and decision-making abilities. Must demonstrate enthusiasm and flexibility. Ability to work occasional evenings and/or weekends. Must own a reliable vehicle as the nature of this job includes regularly visiting early learning programs in-person across Allegheny County. Required Clearances: Clean Act 33 Child Abuse Clearance. Clean Act 34 PA State Police Clearance. Clean Act 73 Federal Criminal History Clearance. National Sex Offender Registry (NSOR) Verification. Valid driver’s license and proof of insurance. Required Training: Mandated Reporter Training (must be completed in the first month of placement). NeonCRM Training (required and recommended online courses must be completed in the first three months of placement). PQAS Professional Development Instructor Certification (must be obtained within the first year of employment for staff with a Bachelor’s Degree). Benefits: Competitive compensation and benefits package. Appreciative inquiry and strengths-based review process. Interested Applicants: Applicants must apply at tryingtogether.applytojob.com/apply and upload their resume and three work-related references. Phone calls will not be accepted. Posting will remain open until filled. Career Pathways Coordinator Full-Time | Salary Range: $40,000-$45,000 Working closely with the Career Pathways Program Manager, and the Quality Initiatives Professional Learning and ELRC teams, the Career Pathways Coordinator serves as the main intermediary between Trying Together and the ECE Professional Development Organization (PDO) at the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE). The PASSHE PDO provides a crucial source of funding to students pursuing credential programs in Southwestern Pennsylvania. The Career Pathways Coordinator also supports the Quality Initiatives Professional Learning team in facilitating comprehensive workforce development opportunities for early education and school-age professionals that are aligned with the field’s interests, needs, and trends as well as the organization’s mission, vision, and efforts. The Career Pathways Coordinator is a member of the Quality Initiatives Professional Learning Team, will report to the Career Pathways Program Manager, and should be available to work evenings and weekends to support early childhood educators. Responsibilities: Commitment to racial equity and inclusion and a willingness to do the ongoing personal work to bring about a more just society by actively participating in professional growth opportunities. Actively work with peers to create a culture of belonging at Trying Together. Willingness to disrupt practices that do not honor children’s, families’, educators’, and colleagues’ humanity. Process and provide technical assistance for all PASSHE PDO funding applications from Allegheny County student residents interested in pursuing credentialing or higher education in the ECE field. Serve as a resource to identify students in need of career advising and connect them with the Institute for Early Childhood Career Pathways at Trying Together. Be familiar with and assist in the coordination of professional development participants’ access to T.E.A.C.H., the PA CDA voucher system, PASSHE PDO, and other available professional development resources. Participate in the development, coordination, facilitation, and evaluation of sequential, Trying Together workforce professional learning opportunities for early educators, such as the Child Development Associate credential (initial and renewal), PA School-Age Professional Credential, and workforce Apprenticeship. The facilitation of such opportunities includes in-person, virtual, and online professional development coursework as well as participant and program coaching and mentoring. Develop, facilitate, and evaluate professional development opportunities for early learning professionals and stakeholders on relevant topics that meet the needs of the field, including but not limited to: developmentally appropriate practice, child development, family-child program relationships, and professionalism within early learning programs. Aid in the reflection and evaluation of projects and programs, working directly with other team members to ensure that Trying Together programs and resources pertain to the mission and vision of the organization and more importantly reflect the needs and interests of the communities at large. Work collaboratively across departments within Trying Together to meet the mission and accomplish the work. Participate in initial and ongoing professional development for continuous learning and expanding one’s professional knowledge base. Consistently use the NeonCRM platform to build relationships with constituents, record data that measure project performance, and support continuous quality improvement in the organization’s resources and services. Other duties as assigned. Qualifications Bachelor’s Degree in Human Services, Child Development, Early Childhood, or related field, or three (3) years of related experience in Early Childhood Education career development. Experience facilitating professional development is preferred. Value the collaborative, reflective, and reciprocal nature of consultation. Approach educator career development with a growth mindset and believe all educators can improve, whatever the starting point. Use reflective practice strategies and skills. Be extremely organized. Be flexible. Be a creative problem solver. Have a keen eye for detail and the ability to multitask. Be proficient in Microsoft Office suite and Google Workspace. Possess excellent interpersonal and communication skills. Ability to work both independently as well as part of a team. Ability to work occasional evenings and/or weekends. Required Clearances: Clean Act 33 Child Abuse Clearance. Clean Act 34 PA State Police Clearance. Clean Act 73 Federal Criminal History Clearance. National Sex Offender Registry (NSOR) Verification. Valid Driver’s License and proof of insurance. Required Training Mandated Reporter Training (must be completed in the first month of placement). NeonCRM Training (required and recommended online courses must be completed in the first three months of placement). PQAS Professional Development Instructor Certification (must be obtained within the first year of employment for staff with a Bachelor’s Degree). Benefits: Competitive compensation and benefits package. Appreciative inquiry and strengths-based review process. Interested Applicants: Applicants must apply at tryingtogether.applytojob.com/apply and upload their resume and three work-related references. Phone calls will not be accepted. Posting will remain open until filled. Workforce Development Strategist Full-Time | Salary Range: $47,000-$52,000 Working closely with the Quality Initiatives Professional Learning and ELRC teams, the Workforce Development Strategist is responsible for researching trends and developing, facilitating, and evaluating comprehensive workforce development opportunities for early education and school-age professionals that are aligned with the field’s interests, needs, and trends as well as the organization’s mission, vision, and efforts. This is a full-time position that includes occasional evening and weekend hours, as well as light travel. The Workforce Development Strategist reports to the CDA Program Manager and is considered an active team member of the Trying Together Quality Initiatives Professional Learning Team. Responsibilities: Commitment to racial equity and inclusion and a willingness to do the ongoing personal work to bring about a more just society by actively participating in professional growth opportunities. Actively work with peers to create a culture of belonging at Trying Together. Willingness to disrupt practices that do not honor children’s, families’, educators’, and colleagues’ humanity. Participate in the development, coordination, facilitation, and evaluation of sequential, Trying Together workforce professional learning opportunities for early educators, such as the Child Development Associate credential (initial and renewal), PA School-Age Professional Credential and workforce Apprenticeship. The facilitation of such opportunities includes in-person, virtual, and online professional development coursework as well as participant and program coaching and mentoring. Be familiar with and assist in the coordination of professional development participants’ access to T.E.A.C.H., the PA CDA voucher system, PASSHE PDO, and other available professional development resources. Develop, facilitate, and evaluate professional development opportunities for early learning professionals and stakeholders on relevant topics that meet the needs of the field, including but not limited to: developmentally appropriate practice, child development, family-child program relationships, and professionalism within early learning programs. Aide in the reflection and evaluation of projects and programs, working directly with other team members to ensure that Trying Together programs and resources pertain to the mission and vision of the organization and more importantly reflect the needs and interests of the communities at large. Collaborate and work with other Quality Initiatives team members, consultants, and volunteers, as well as Trying Together staff. Participate in organizational team and all-staff meetings as well as other organizational initiatives that relate to the Workforce Development Strategist’s current work efforts and responsibilities. Be familiar with and oversee the support of early learning programs seeking national accreditation (NAEYC, NECPA, NAFCC). Complete on site, face-to-face program visits offering support and strategies for continuous quality improvement. Work collaboratively across departments within Trying Together to meet the mission and accomplish the work. Participate in initial and ongoing professional development for continuous learning and expanding one’s professional knowledge base. Consistently use the NeonCRM platform to build relationships with constituents, record data that measure project performance, and support continuous quality improvement in the organization’s resources and services. Other duties as assigned. Qualifications/Skills: Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education or related field (with a minimum of six early education credits). Experience facilitating professional development, preferably to educators. Bilingual in Spanish/English is highly preferred. Current PA Quality Assurance System (PQAS) instructor certification preferred. Proficient in Microsoft Office suite and Google Workspace. Value the collaborative, reflective, and reciprocal nature of consultation. Approach educator career development with a growth mindset and believe all educators can improve, whatever the starting point. Use reflective practice strategies and skills. Be extremely organized. Be flexible. Be a creative problem solver. Have a keen eye for detail and the ability to multitask. Possess excellent interpersonal and communication skills. Ability to work both independently as well as part of a team. Ability to work some evenings and/or weekends. Required Clearances: Clean Act 33 Child Abuse Clearance. Clean Act 34 PA State Police Clearance. Clean Act 73 Federal Criminal History Clearance. National Sex Offender Registry (NSOR) Verification. Valid Driver’s License and proof of insurance. Required Training: Mandated Reporter Training (must be completed in the first month of placement). NeonCRM Training (required and recommended online courses must be completed in the first three months of placement). PQAS Professional Development Instructor Certification (must be obtained within the first year of employment for staff with a Bachelor’s Degree). Benefits: Competitive compensation and benefits package. Appreciative inquiry and strengths-based review process. Interested Applicants: Applicants must apply at tryingtogether.applytojob.com/apply and upload their resume and three work-related references. Phone calls will not be accepted. Posting will remain open until filled.
