Start Early · 5 hours ago
Early Learning Talent Development Manager
Beach Park, IL
Contract
Onsite
Mid, Senior Level
$89K/yr - $94K/yr
5+ years expStart Early is dedicated to providing high-quality early learning care and education to children from birth to five years old. The Early Learning Talent Development Manager will ensure that staff and volunteers are equipped to deliver effective early learning programming and will manage the training programs to foster a culture of continuous improvement and professional development.
Non ProfitEducationCharity
Responsibilities
Lead the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of onboarding, professional development, and coaching systems for all Lake County staff, interns, contracted staff, and volunteers
Foster a culture of continuous learning, reflective practice, peer collaboration, and ongoing career development
Strengthen embedded coaching practices by building supervisor capacity and aligning coaching approaches across roles
Support supervisors and staff in developing annual individual professional development plans
Provide ongoing technical assistance, coaching, and guidance to supervisors and staff, including training on adult learning strategies and coaching best practices
Identify, select, and support implementation of professional development resources, curricula, and learning platforms
Ensure onboarding, professional development, and coaching systems meet or exceed all applicable federal, state, and local requirements, including Head Start Program Performance Standards and state licensing regulations
Create an ongoing monitoring plan for professional development and staff qualifications
Monitor, track, and report training, credential, and professional development data to support internal reviews and monitoring processes
Stay current on changes to regulations and best practices and proactively communicate implementation guidance to leadership and staff
Support hiring and credential verification processes, including documentation required for compliance and Policy Council processes
Partner with People & Culture, school leadership, and the Early Learning Network to align professional development systems across programs
Assist with hiring processes, including interviewing key staff and reviewing candidate credentials
Establish and sustain partnerships with community organizations and institutions of higher learning to support workforce pipelines
Promote staff educational advancement through partnerships supporting tuition assistance, apprenticeships, practicum placements, credential attainment, and degree completion
Collaborate with leadership to implement a program-wide Professional Development Plan aligned to organizational priorities
Qualification
Required
Bachelor's degree in early childhood education or Social Services (or related field)
Minimum 5 years of experience in adult learning, curriculum development, professional development design, and training facilitation
Demonstrated experience conducting needs assessments, gap analyses, and evaluating training effectiveness
Strong leadership and people-management skills, with the ability to build trust and rapport across teams
Ability to think strategically, solve complex problems, and adapt to changing priorities
Ability to work effectively with adult learners and cross-functional teams
Working knowledge of early childhood education systems, including Early Head Start / Head Start, government mandates, and best practices
Knowledge of developmentally appropriate practice, child development, curriculum content, and instructional methods for children 0–3 and/or 3–5
Understanding of family systems and evidence-based approaches to engaging families
Strong written and verbal communication skills; ability to foster cooperation, respect, and openness to change
Ability to manage confidential and sensitive information with professionalism and discretion
Knowledge of basic principles of program management and staff supervision
Strong analytical, organizational, and interpersonal skills
Proficiency with Microsoft Outlook, Word, and Excel (or similar platforms)
Current physical exam, renewed every two years with a TB test, two doses of MMR and a TDAP less than 10 years old
Clearance of background check by Department of Children and Family Services
Required to use close vision and be able to focus
Must be a licensed driver and have ongoing access to an insured vehicle
Regular attendance is a necessary and essential function
Preferred
Master's Degree preferred
Benefits
Comprehensive Health Plans
Commitment to Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion
Holistic Wellness Program
Professional Development Program
401k Contribution
Paid Volunteer Days
6-months paid parental leave
Company
Start Early
Start Early is a non-profit organization that focuses on early learning through research, professional development, data, and technology.
201-500 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Growth StageLeadership Team
Diana Rauner
President
Recent News
First Five Years Fund
2025-09-19
Company data provided by crunchbase