Initial Posting Date: 05/23/2025
Application Deadline: 06/08/2025
Agency: Department of Early Learning and Care
Salary Range: $6,420 - $9,859
Position Type: Employee
Position Title: Workforce System Specialist (Program Analyst 4)
Job Description: The Oregon Department of Early Learning and Care is excited to announce a permanent opening for a Workforce System Specialist (Program Analys 4). Are you a systems thinker who enjoys collaboration and leading innovative efforts for children and families? If you have a passion for and want to help shape a more equitable and sustainable early learning workforce - designing and implementing supports that expand access to high-quality, culturally responsive early care and education across the state - then this may be the job for you.
This position will work a hybrid schedule of working both remotely and in the office. Please note, this position requires travel approximately 3-4 times per month for meetings. About the Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC): At DELC, we are dedicated to helping Oregon's young children and families learn and thrive. As the state agency responsible for early learning programs, child care licensing, and family support services, we play a crucial role in shaping the future of Oregon's children from birth to kindergarten.
We administer state-funded early learning programs, including home visiting and site-based infant, toddler, and preschool services. We also develop coordinated systems through Early Learning Hubs and collaborate with Child Care Resource and Referral organizations to provide training, coaching, and quality improvement opportunities for early learning providers.
With over 275,000 young children in Oregon, we have a unique opportunity to transform early childhood support systems, creating a brighter future for families across the state. Research shows that investing in early childhood has lifelong benefits, and now is your chance to be part of an agency making a lasting impact for generations to come.
Why Join Our Team? We are passionate about equity in early childhood education. At DELC, we value dedication, integrity, and collective wisdom, fostering a diverse, inclusive, and welcoming workplace where all employees can thrive. We challenge ourselves to lead with courage, refine practices, and drive meaningful change for children and families statewide.
What We Offer: - Comprehensive Benefits: Low-cost medical, vision, and dental coverage for you and your family, plus optional benefits like life and disability insurance, deferred compensation, and flexible spending accounts.
- Work-Life Balance: 11 paid holidays, 3 personal days, 1 special day, monthly sick leave, and vacation accruals that increase every 5 years.
- Student Loan Forgiveness: Potential federal loan forgiveness after 120 qualifying payments.
- Inclusive Culture: A diverse, welcoming workplace committed to equity and continuous improvement.
Our Commitment to Equity: Equity is at the heart of our mission. We strive to remove barriers, foster inclusiveness, and create meaningful change for underrepresented communities. Our goal is to ensure all DELC employees, child care providers and the children and families we support thrive. If you are ready to make a difference and help shape Oregon's future, we would love to have you on our team.
What you will do: The Workforce System Specialist is a member of the Professional Learning System Office and develops and implements workforce support and professional learning strategies designed to expand access to, and build the supply of, high-quality (culturally responsive, inclusive, developmentally appropriate) affordable, infant and toddler and preschool early care and education that meet the needs of Oregon families. The person in this position works closely with the Program Design and Administration Office to create technical assistance opportunities for publicly funded programs serving children prenatally to kindergarten entry including Baby Promise, Preschool Promise, Oregon Prenatal to Kindergarten/Head Start and Early Head Start. The position also focuses on broader workforce initiatives that support the recruitment and retention of early educators into the field of early learning and care. The position requires a deep understanding of the challenges that early educators experience, innovative strategies to increase early educator compensation and benefits, strategies that increase accessibility of system supports, and development of approaches that increase the well-being of the workforce.
To view a complete job description, click here What we are looking for (minimum qualifications): A Bachelor's Degree in Early Learning, Business or Public Administration, Behavioral or Social Sciences, or related degree; and five years experience coordinating or administering a program related to early childhood education.
OR; Any combination of experience or education equivalent to eight years of experience coordinating or administering a program related to early childhood education.
In addition, we are looking for applicants that have the following Desired Attributes (requested skills): - Demonstrated ability to develop and implement strategic system-level plans with strong organizational and facilitation skills.
- Deep understanding of early learning systems and workforce development strategies.
- Experience developing and implementing technical assistance system strategies and working with publicly funded programs.
- Track record of building and implementing initiatives that support workforce recruitment, retention, compensation, and professional development.
- Ability to effectively manage multiple concurrent projects, programs, or operational functions.
- Advanced skills presenting and providing information at legislative, state level, local and individual levels to meet audience needs and requests.
- Skilled in creating and managing collaborative structures that support coordination among community partners, public agencies, and child care providers.
- Experience developing, interpreting, or applying policies tied to public funding (e.g., CCDF, Head Start, state funds).
- Skilled in negotiating, developing, and managing contracts, grants, and interagency agreements within early education or human services.
- Strong commitment to racial equity, with demonstrated use of culturally responsive practices and data to guide planning and continuous improvement.
The Oregon Department of Early Learning and Care strives to create an inclusive environment that welcomes and values the diversity of the people we serve. We foster fairness, equity, and inclusion to create a workplace environment where everyone is treated with respect and dignity. Candidates of all racial and ethnic backgrounds, as well as bilingual/multicultural individuals, are encouraged to apply.
To Apply: The screening of candidates will be based on a review of an attached resume (
limit to two pages). While a cover letter is not required, it is highly encouraged. If you submit a cover letter, please tailor it to the position and address your experience with the desired attributes listed above. Candidates whose backgrounds most closely match the desired attributes and experience section as outlined in this announcement will be invited to interview. For helpful tips on putting together your application materials and interviewing, visit our Resources for Job Seekers page.
Additional Information: This recruitment announcement will be used to establish a list of qualified candidates to fill the current vacancy and may be used to fill future vacancies as they occur.
This position is subject to both a Child Protective Services and Criminal Justice Information Systems (CJIS) check, including FBI fingerprinting, and will be required to enroll in the Central Background Registry. Both of these checks must be completed and approved prior to starting with the agency. The results can take 1-3 weeks to get back. Adverse background data will be grounds for immediate disqualification. This position will require occasional travel to field offices and for meetings, therefore, a valid driver license and acceptable driving record is required, unless the successful applicant can provide a satisfactory alternate mode of transportation.
Eligible veterans who meet the qualifications will be given veterans' preference. For further information, please see the following website: Veterans Resources.
The Oregon Department of Early Learning and Care does not offer visa sponsorship. Within three days of hire, all applicants will be required to complete the US Department of Homeland Security's Form I-9, confirming authorization to work in the United States. The Department is an E-Verify employer.
The job posting closes at 11:59 PM (PDT) on the close date. After you submit your application, be sure to respond to the two questionnaires relating to public records requests and veterans' preference immediately following your submittal. These questions are necessary to complete the application process.
External Applicants (non-state of Oregon employees): If you would like to retain a copy of this job posting, please print a copy before submitting your application. Once the job posting has closed, you will not be able to access the posting.
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