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JOB DESCRIPTION:

The Keystone STARS Designator is responsible for coordinating the STARS designation process and conducting designation visits, as well as timely review of electronic sources of evidence and designation or renewal documentation. The Designator acts as an independent decision-maker and evaluates early care and school-age facilities for compliance with the Keystone STARS Performance Standards. This position provides feedback to Quality Coaches to inform the design of providers’ continuous quality improvement plans. The Designator also attends professional development opportunities hosted by the Office of Child Development and Early Learning to maintain inter-rater reliability. This position requires frequent travel throughout the region. The Keystone STARS Designator is supervised by the Keystone STARS Manager and operates out of the Early Learning Resource Center office with a hybrid schedule of regular field time.

• RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Implements the STARS designation and renewal process, adhering to the Designation and Reliability Manual and associated guidance.
• Conducts on site STARS designation visits as required and completes all necessary desk review of Sources of Evidence.
• Awards new and/or renewing STARS levels based on compliance with appropriate Performance Standards
• Collaborates with STARS Quality Coaches to ensure timely renewals and designations for practitioners with active status in STARS
• Provides information on resources to support continual quality improvement of child care and school-age facilities, e.g. professional development, grants or technical assistance
• Coordinates with the PA Key Quality Assessment Team and ELRC Quality Team to effectively support providers in navigating STAR designation and renewal.
• Participates in community outreach activities for early care and education and school-age practitioners.
• Participates in professional development opportunities successfully implementing new skills, knowledge and procedures.
• Promotes and supports the mission, vision, and goals of PHMC and the ELRC.
• Uses the available software for recording the progress of all applications assigned to that desk (e.g., QRIS, PELICAN, PD Registry, internal tracking systems, etc.)
• Participates in Designator Reliability Workgroup and associated protocol to maintain statewide reliability.
• Contributes as requested to the PD Registry team and PELICAN developers to support case writing and testing for optimal designation functionality.
• Develop reports as necessary.
• Additional duties as assigned.

• SKILLS:

• Ability to plan, organize, analyze, and function independently.
• Demonstrated decision-making and problem-solving skills.
• Current working knowledge of best practices as related to early care and education and school-age; ability to apply knowledge to the intention of the Keystone STARS Standards
• Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with stakeholders; ability to display professional behavior when interacting.
• Ability to maintain a high level of confidentiality and sensitivity.
• Working knowledge of personal computers and networked systems and their use and application for data base management, tracking and reporting, also knowledge of word processing, spreadsheets, and power point
• Ability to maintain accurate records, analyze data, and prepare reports.

• EXPERIENCE:

• Knowledge of early care and school-age systems, public social services, public funding helpful (ex. Child Care Works, Pre-K Counts, Head Start, PHLpreK)
• Three years' work experience preferably in early care and education and/or school-age programs or human services, which involved some collaborative inter-agency work.
• Experience in outreach, needs assessment, planning, marketing, or public speaking helpful.

• EDUCATION REQUIREMENT:

Bachelor's degree in early childhood education or a bachelor's degree in a related field and experience in working in early care and education or school-age programs and/or related field.

PAY GRADE: 19

Experience

• 3 year(s): Early Child Education
• Knowledge of early care and school-age systems, public social services, public funding helpful (ex. Child Care Works, Pre-K Counts, Head Start, PHLpreK)

Education

• Bachelors or better in Early Childhood Education or related field