Education Specialist Job Description

Program/Department: Education and Youth Development Division

Reports to: Division Director, Education and Youth Development Division

Work Location: Multiple sites across Brooklyn

Hours: Full Time

This position is fully in-person and does not offer any remote work.

Salary Range: $75,000 - $80,000

Position Summary

Brooklyn Community Services is one of Brooklyn’s first and largest non-sectarian social services agencies. BCS, which presently serves more than 10,000 individuals annually, is committed to a broad and diverse range of services including education and child care; services to strengthen families; and services to foster self-sufficiency for adults.

The Education and Youth Development Programs Educational Curriculum Specialist is responsible, under the supervision and guidance of the Division Director for developing/updating the educational curricula and youth leadership development activities for BCS’s Education and Youth Development Division serving children and youth in Bedford Stuyvesant, Brownsville, Fort Greene, and East New York. The Education Specialist further supports the work of all the Program Site Directors through the provision of management assistance, training staff, general program development, and logistics assistance. BCS Education and Youth Development Division Programs are supported by NYC Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD) and/or Department of Education (DOE) funding, and by foundations and private donors. The afterschools operate weekdays from 2 - 6 p.m., with full-day programming during the summers and on many school holidays.

Responsibilities:

• To provide coverage and educational support to BCS Program Site Directors in the absence of Program Site Directors and or Division Director.

• Under the overall guidance and supervision of the Division Director, update and improve the curriculum and content as needed, with particular emphasis on STEAM, literacy, and Social Emotional Learning (SEL) development.

• Under the overall guidance and supervision of the Division Director, work with a program staff and directors to develop curricula and activities best suited to implement DYCD and DOE frameworks and goals

• Source and manage program content regarding learning curriculum from vendors and/or community partners, as needed.

• Assist Program Site Directors with hiring teaching candidates by participating in interviews to ensure qualified teaching staff to implement curriculum and activities according to BCS and DYCD guidelines, rubric, and framework.

• Participate in developing/implementing staff training plans to be approved by the Division Director. Provide individual coaching and small group workshops to foster successful implementation of program models, with high-quality materials and appropriate lesson plans. Work with staff to foster effective data collection and performance measurement; assist with BCS data management initiatives.

• Assist the Division Director in establishing outcome benchmarks for program success, and appropriate measurement tools for such outcomes; continuously evaluate and refine curricula and activity plans to ensure high levels of successful outcomes for students attending BCS programs.

• Assist the Division Director and individual Program Site Directors with all aspects of special events, field trips and parent/community presentations.

• Collaborate with DOE Principals and other DOE staff to form an alignment between BCS/DYCD/DOE which will assist in the communications and planning for school activities of BCS programs.

• Conduct classroom observations to ensure effective and consistent implementation of prescribed curricula and youth development activities. Communicate with Division Director and Deputy Director about the results of such observations, and assist with related staff development and program evaluation efforts.

• Assist the Division Director with program administration tasks, including full and timely reporting concerning fiscal, contractual and programmatic performance.

• Assist with fundraising, grant-writing, and outreach efforts as assigned.

• Other responsibilities as assigned.

Qualifications Required:

• Bachelors degree required

• NYS Teacher Certification required

• Computer skills and typing a must: Microsoft Office, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Publisher

• Advanced degree in education, youth services or related field required; teaching experience and curriculum development experience preferred.

• Solid background in developing, implementing and evaluation of educational curricula and youth programs; strong experience with performance management tools, including but not limited to student assessment tools.

• Proven leadership skills, with strong analytical and problem solving track record, as well as excellent oral and written communication skills; experience with grant-writing and funder relationships preferred.

• Attention to detail, with a successful track record in program compliance and reporting, and overall data collection and performance management analytics.

Qualifications Preferred:

• Operations experience in school-based and/or afterschool programs

• Experience with DYCD and DOH regulations is a plus.

• Experience with grant-writing and funder relationships preferred

• Acquainted with multiple databases: DYCD Connect, Vendor Portal, Teaching Strategies Gold

BCS is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities.