"Early Childhood Specialist"

Early Childhood Specialist

Company: University of Nebraska Central Administration System Office

Job Location:

Category: Child Care and Youth Programs

Type: Full-Time

Req Id: 916

Campus Label: University of Nebraska System (UNOP)

Org Unit: Buffett Early Childhood Institute UNCA

Job Location: Omaha, NE 68182

Application Review Date: 9/25/25

Open Until Filled: Yes

Advertised Salary: minimum starting salary $65,000

Job Type: Full-Time

Worksite Eligibility: Hybrid

Benefits Eligible: Yes

Job Summary:

The role of an Early Childhood Specialist is to support and advance Institute projects by collaborating with families, early childhood educators, district and school leaders, community-based organizations, local, state and federal government and other stakeholders to strengthen care and learning opportunities of children birth to third grade.

Additional Info

About Us:

Envisioned as a new model for how public higher education is engaged in the first years of life, the Buffett Early Childhood Institute (https://buffettinstitute.nebraska.edu) is a four-campus, university-wide, multidisciplinary research, education, outreach, and policy institute of the University of Nebraska committed to helping transform early childhood development and education in Nebraska and across the nation. A long-term goal of the Institute is to be a leading center where scholars, practitioners, community members, and policymakers collaborate to advance a unified approach that can improve the lives of young children and families and the systems that support them.

Applicants should note that the goals of the Institute are university-, state-, and nation-wide, but the location of the Institute administration is in Omaha. This position will work primarily out of the Omaha office.

Required Qualifications:

Bachelor's degree and 5 years of experience in one or more of the following:

• Developmentally appropriate pedagogy for birth to third grade
• Research and data analysis focused on birth through third grade
• Child care partnerships, including transition practices
• Family and community partnerships focused on birth through grade three learning and development
• Teaching and/or leading in child care or elementary school settings

Required Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

• Demonstrated proficiency in verbal and written communication skills with attention to detail.
• Demonstrated ability to work with various stakeholders
• Knowledge and insights to design, implement, and sustainable professional learning

Equivalent combination of education, experience, that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities may be considered.

Preferred Qualifications:

Master's degree

College coursework in early childhood education or elementary education

Type of Preferred Experience:

• Experience with coaching a professional community of adult learners that directly affected instructional practices.
• Demonstrated experience working in birth through grade three settings

Preferred License/Certification:

Certified in elementary teaching with an early childhood education certificate or an endorsement

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

Bilingual (Oral and Written)

Ideal candidates will demonstrate and model a passion for early childhood reform and leadership; excellent independent judgement and analytical skills; strong interpersonal skills; a track record of timely completion of projects and the ability to responsibly manage competing priorities; success in collaboration with distributed resources and/or project teams; and commitment to the quality and continuity of early childhood development and education.

Compliance Requirements:

Background Check

Additional Information:

Sponsorship for employment is not be offered for this position.

To apply, visit https://jobs.nebraska.edu/UniversityNebraskaSystem/job/Early-Childhood-Specialist/916-en_US

The University of Nebraska is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to preventing and eliminating discrimination against employees and prospective employees based on race, color, ethnicity, national origin, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, and/or political affiliation. The University of Nebraska does not condone or tolerate discrimination. In support of this policy, the University has implemented employment programs to recruit, employ, and promote qualified individuals based solely on their knowledge, skills, abilities and talents. These factors, along with our commitment to recruit, assess and select all candidates/employees using job-related criteria, ensure fairness, equal evaluation, and treatment in our selection decisions and processes.