Child Care IT Data Systems Consultant | Remote

At ICF we have a passionate commitment to our work and to helping our clients achieve their objectives. We combine technical expertise with world-class analytics. We provide room for entrepreneurial thinking and grass-roots innovation to achieve compelling results for both our clients’ projects and our own company. All our work is completed in a professional, collegial, and intellectual environment that allows individuals the latitude they need to perform work that parallels their passions. Since 1969, ICF has been serving government at all levels, major corporations, and multilateral institutions. More than 8,000 employees serve these clients worldwide. 

ICF offers an excellent benefits package, provides an award-winning talent development program, and fosters a highly skilled, energized, and empowered workforce. 

Job Description: 

ICF’s Early Education Services Line of Business seeks a Child Care Data Systems Consultant to deliver training and technical assistance to Child Care Development Fund (CCDF) grantees (states, territories and Tribes) to assist with developing and improving CCDF and child care partner data sets and IT systems.  

The Child Care Data Systems Consultant will provide technical assistance (TA) activities through the delivery of intensive consultation focused on child care data and IT systems integration, improvement, and equitable human-centered capacity building needs of CCDF States, Territories, and Tribes. This may include working with CCDF lead agencies and their partners, federal partners such as the Office of Child Care and Head Start, and various entities who are responsible for collecting and managing early childhood data at the local level such as education departments and health and human service programs. This position will require coordination with a broader technical assistance team consisting of subject matter experts in IT system development.  

The ideal candidate will have both a background in and experience with the implementation of the Child Care and Development Block Grant in States, Territories and Tribes, including extensive experience supporting early childhood data systems at the state or national level.  The ideal candidate also has experience with human-centered design, agile development, and technology product management. 

The position is full-time and home based and requires up to 25% travel to deliver technical assistance to CCDF grantees and to OCC sponsored events. 

Key Responsibilities: 

• Collaboration and Client Focus 
• Support OCC designated priorities and special projects, including development of TA materials, data briefs and reports 
• Build strong, positive relationships with Child Care Technical Assistance Network partners for ongoing communication, collaborative planning, and shared problem solving to meet the needs of clients, states, and territories. 
• Build strong, positive relationships with OCC regional office staff and regional CCDF Lead Agency staff, for ongoing communication, collaborative planning, and shared problem solving.  
• Build strong, positive relationships with CCTAN partners to ensure all States, Territories and Tribes benefit from the wide range of training & TA services to support the entire child care sector. 
• Collaborate closely with TA partners in the planning of training and/or TA to CCDF grantees and other partners in the child care sector.     
• Expertise and Scope:  
• Plan for and deliver tailored, individualized technical assistance to CCDF grantees and their partners around early childhood data systems with fidelity to established TA planning and implementation protocols.  
• Conduct data collection and analysis to benchmark lead agency data integration systems and IT modernization. 
• Engage with states, territories and Tribes to meet their goals for developing and improving CCDF and child care partner data sets and the IT systems used to implement efficient and equitable child care assistance systems for families and their children.  
• Facilitate peer linkages between States, Territories, and Tribes. 
• Participate in presentations at regional and national meetings and conferences.  
• Leverage specialized depth and breadth of expertise in CCDF requirements and early childhood data systems and apply a broad perspective to identify solutions to complex tasks. 
• Lead the development and delivery of complex tasks and deliverables in response to OCC high priority requests. 
• Stay abreast of the latest research, tools, and resources surrounding child care data systems. 
• Enter data on TA planning and provision within required databases and provide requested reports describing the TA activities according to the established protocol and timelines.  
• Participate in weekly TA team and full-team conference calls.  
• Support data collection and website assessments to help inform consumer education TA.   
• Submit claims for reimbursement of office and travel expenses in a timely manner. 

Basic Qualifications:  

• Bachelor’s degree in data science, early childhood education, or related degree.
• A minimum of 12 years of relevant experience to include:  
• Knowledge of CCDF requirements, including equal access, childcare licensing, subsidy programs, quality rating and improvement systems, Head Start, State prekindergarten, and other early childhood programs and initiatives. 
• 1 year experience managing or developing state-level early childhood data systems. 
• 1 year experience with data collection and analysis.
• Strong knowledge of programs and services associated with early care and education, including those serving children and families.  
• 1 year experience with human-centered design.
• Strong knowledge of programs and services associated with early care and education, including those serving children and families. 
• Proficient in MS Office Applications (Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, Excel), SharePoint, Microsoft Teams, and SmartSheet and other E-Learning/Webinar tools.     

Preferred Skills: 

• Master’s degree in early data science, early childhood education, or related degree.
• 10+ years of experience at the state, territory, Tribal or national level, focusing on early childhood data systems. 
• Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple partners across numerous tasks.  
• Experience working with multiple early childhood education partners as a participant, content advisor, and TA provider  
• Expertise in human-centered design and user experience. 
• Expertise with Smartsheet and other project management tools such as Mural and Padlet.   
• Experience supporting the implementation of the CCDF funded programs in State, Territories and Tribes 
• Experience providing TA at state, regional, or national meetings and TA to individual organizations 
• Collaboration and partnership experience across early childhood education systems, including state and federal partners 
• Bilingual and able to read, write, and speak Spanish proficiently  

Professional Skills: 

• Excellent verbal, interpersonal, and written communication skills.  
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making capabilities.  
• Team player with the ability to multi-task in a fast-paced environment.  
• Demonstrated outstanding level of professionalism in providing team support, including ability to exercise good judgment, discretion, tact, and diplomacy.  
• Sound business ethics, including the protection of proprietary and confidential information.  
• Ability to apply detailed knowledge of organizational procedures to make independent decisions and serve as a credible resource for a senior management team.  
• Ability to work with all levels of internal staff, as well as outside clients and vendors.  
• Ability to be flexible to handle multiple priorities and to work limited overtime as necessary. 

Working at ICF

ICF is a global advisory and technology services provider, but we’re not your typical consultants. We combine unmatched expertise with cutting-edge technology to help clients solve their most complex challenges, navigate change, and shape the future. We can only solve the world's toughest challenges by building an inclusive workplace that allows everyone to thrive. We are committed to creating a culture where we embrace our differences in ideas and identities. Together, our employees are empowered to share their expertise and collaborate with others to achieve personal and professional goals. Learn more about what we dohttps://www.icf.com/ and our commitment to inclusionhttps://www.icf.com/company/about/diversity-inclusion.

We can only solve the world's toughest challenges by building an inclusive workplace that allows everyone to thrive. We are an equal opportunity employer, committed to hiring regardless of any protected characteristic, such as race, ethnicity, national origin, color, sex, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability status, or military/veteran status. Together, our employees are empowered to share their expertise and collaborate with others to achieve personal and professional goals. For more information, please read our EEO & AA policy.

Reasonable Accommodations are available, including, but not limited to, for disabled veterans, individuals with disabilities, and individuals with sincerely held religious beliefs, in all phases of the application and employment process. To request an accommodation please email icfcareercenter@icf.com and we will be happy to assist. All information you provide will be kept confidential and will be used only to the extent required to provide needed reasonable accommodations. Read more about non-discrimination:  Know Your Rights and  Pay Transparency Statement.

Pay Range - There are multiple factors that are considered in determining final pay for a position, including, but not limited to, relevant work experience, skills, certifications and competencies that align to the specified role, geographic location, education and certifications as well as contract provisions regarding labor categories that are specific to the position. The pay range for this position is:

$82,673.00 - $140,544.00

Nationwide Remote Office (US99)