Quality Specialist

Posting Date

Application Deadline

Pay Range

Job Type

Department

About the Position

The Quality Specialist conducts monitoring, data collection, and technical assistance to ensure classroom operations align with Department and Early Education division goals, program policies and procedures, and the Office of Head Start Performance requirements, so school readiness outcomes of enrolled children are met.

In this role, the Quality Specialist will be a specialized team member focusing on compliance-driven objectives, including health & safety, licensing, and data collection requirements. This position will be part of a larger team providing support to ensure high-quality service delivery to children and families and compliance with all local, state, federal, and Head Start requirements.

About Us

The Maricopa County Human Services Department (HSD) builds resiliency in the community and promotes the well-being of County residents experiencing adversity through a variety of programs and services to help people and families thrive. These opportunities include early childhood education, housing, homeownership, independent living services for seniors and adults with disabilities, career development for job seekers with barriers to employment, crisis rental and utility assistance, and support for people experiencing homelessness. HSD is committed to delivering innovative and comprehensive services in a collaborative approach that preserves dignity, promotes respect, and facilitates social and economic mobility

In 2025, the Human Services Department was the proud recipient of 23 Achievement Awards from the National Association of Counties (NACo), highlighting the Department's commitment to providing support for low-income and at-risk communities. Maricopa County Human Services was honored for a wide variety of programs showcasing their valuable work including Regional Solutions to Homeless in Rural and Underserved Communities, Pathway to Rapid Reemployment, Tonopah Fire Station Improvements, Refugee Relocation Assistance Program, Early Education Division's EVIT Expanded Partnership, and several other initiatives.

Join our team and unlock your potential!

Proud to Offer

• Work with a greater purpose
• Tuition reimbursement
• Exceptional work-life balance
• Opportunities for growth and development within Maricopa County
• Low-cost, high-value healthcare for you and your qualifying dependents
• Child care benefits, including access to our on-site center, Maricopa County Kids Club, dedicated to serving Maricopa County families
• Paid vacation, sick time, and parental leave
• An extensive wellness program, including an incentive
• Enrollment in the Arizona State Retirement System, a defined retirement benefit requiring a 11.98% per paycheck contribution rate that includes a 100% employer match on Day 1
• Want to learn more about the County's Qualifying and Compensation Philosophy? Follow this link to learn more! Work With Us | Maricopa County, AZ

We Require

• Bachelor's degree in early childhood education ANDone year of early education teaching experience (Preferably in a Head Start or Early Head Start program)

OR

• Bachelor's degree AND 18 credits of coursework in early childhood education, with more than one year of early education teaching experience (Preferably in a Head Start or Early Head Start program)

OR

• An Associate degree in Early Childhood Education AND three years of supervisory experience (Experience as a Teacher, co-teaching with a Teaching Assistant, or Assistant Teacher will meet the supervisory requirement), AND one year or more of teaching experience (preferably in a Head Start or Early Head Start program)

Other Requirements

• Must possess or can obtain a valid Arizona driver's licenseby time of hire
• Must complete a background check and fingerprint identification upon hire to secure and maintain an Arizona Department of Public Safety Level 1 Fingerprint Clearance Card
• Must complete a medical exam that includes screening for tuberculosis (TB)

We Also Value

• Knowledge of infants', toddlers', and preschoolers' growth and development; developmentally appropriate practices; early childhood education best practices and principles; and high-quality learning environments
• Knowledge of Head Start Performance Standards and ability to multitask and organize workload data with multiple priorities and requirements
• Ability to support the philosophy of Maricopa County's Early Education Division and be a team player in supporting the philosophy of the program. Monitor results and analyze data, draw conclusions, and organize solutions
• Ability to work independently, identify when support is needed, and seek out appropriate resources.
• Ability to effectively communicate with teachers, Site Supervisors/Education Partners leadership teams, Quality Coordinator, and the extended EED team (Collaborative approach with respectful, clear, and ongoing communication skills)

Job Contributions

• Facilitate ongoing monitoring per program schedules and guidelines to collect data to inform continuous improvement for achieving goals that ensure the assigned service area meets local, state, and federal mandates/regulations related to child development and high-quality education services, including for children with disabilities, that promote children's cognitive, social, and emotional growth for later school success
• Monitor data collection by cluster team members thoroughly to ensure completion of health & safety checklists, classroom visitation checklists, and desktop monitoring within the required timelines for all classrooms, and ensure they are uploaded to an online data system
• Provide on-site monitoring visits to all assigned center-based classrooms to ensure compliance with Head Start Performance Standards
• Trend and analyze data collected for non-compliance, quality improvement, and scaling activities.
• Provide feedback to teachers, the Site Supervisor/Education Partner, and the Quality Coordinator regarding the technical assistance needed, promising practices, and training opportunities through monitoring activities
• Provide the EED leadership team with feedback to improve, adapt, or scale the pilot design
• Collaborate with multi-disciplinary teams, including Family Support Services, Mental Health, Coaching, Nutrition, Disabilities, and leadership, to maximize efforts in collaboration to increase high-quality service delivery to children and families

Working Conditions

• Work is performed in an office environment; it requires long periods of sitting, reading, and typing.
• Requires travel to and from job-related locations during the course of a scheduled workday, subject to County policies regarding use of County vehicles and/or private vehicles used on County business
• Requires the use of a personal vehicle to travel to and from classrooms and other job-related locations
• Occasional evening and weekend work
• Must be able to move 40 pounds

Selection Procedure

• Consideration will only be given to candidates who submit online applications

• Candidates will be contacted primarily through email and their Workday online application profile

• Must pass a pre-employment background and/or fingerprint investigation as required by statute or policy, including drug and alcohol testing requirements for positions designated as safety-sensitive

Maricopa County is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants. If you require a reasonable accommodation during the application process or to perform the essential functions of the position under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), please contact MHRFeedback@maricopa.gov to initiate the interactive process.

Apply Now!