Preschool Promise Quality Assurance Specialist (Program Analyst 3)

The Oregon Department of Early Learning and Care is excited to announce a permanent opening for a Preschool Promise Quality Assurance Specialist (Program Analyst 3). This role drives data-informed quality improvement across Preschool Promise, setting standards, monitoring performance, and partnering with agencies and communities to ensure every child has access to high-quality early learning. 

This position will work a hybrid schedule of working both in the office (Salem) and at an alternate location (home). Please note, there will be occasional travel to child care sites.  

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: 

This position leads and supports the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of quality assurance and monitoring systems for Preschool Promise. Working collaboratively across the Department of Early Learning and Care and with partner agencies, the position plans, manages, and evaluates quality requirements for grantees, including site visit procedures, monitoring protocols, and documentation practices. The role analyzes program data to assess compliance and effectiveness, identifies risks or gaps in quality, and recommends policy, programmatic, and operational improvements. In partnership with monitoring and compliance staff, this position ensures corrective action plans and technical assistance are appropriately implemented, tracked, and completed. This position also provides training and consultative support to grantees, contributes to cross-agency initiatives, builds partnerships to strengthen statewide early learning systems, reduces barriers to participation, and improves outcomes for children and families. 

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 four years experience coordinating or administering a program related to early childhood education, quality assurance, compliance, monitoring, or program improvement. OR; 

• Any combination of experience or education equivalent to seven years of experience coordinating or administering a program related to early childhood education, quality assurance, compliance, monitoring, or program improvement. 

In addition, we are looking for applicants that have the following Desired Attributes (requested skills): 

• Demonstrated experience in program quality assurance, monitoring, or evaluation, including developing or implementing monitoring protocols, site visits, or quality standards for publicly funded programs. 

• Strong data analysis and problem-solving skills, with the ability to interpret monitoring data, identify trends or risks, and use findings to recommend corrective actions, technical assistance, or program improvements. 

• Experience developing and implementing corrective action plans and technical assistance, including tracking progress, documenting outcomes, and ensuring follow-through and accountability.

• Knowledge of early learning or early childhood systems, including quality standards, compliance requirements, or program operations within publicly funded or regulated environments. 

• Ability to collaborate across teams and agencies, including working effectively with internal staff, external partners, and contracted providers to align supports and improve program outcomes. 

• Strong written communication and documentation skills, including preparing clear reports, recommendations, monitoring records, and guidance for diverse audiences. 

• Experience providing training, coaching, or technical assistance, particularly to support continuous quality improvement and capacity building among program partners or grantees. 

• Ability to identify barriers to program participation and quality through an equity lens, including analyzing data to recognize disparities, partnering with programs and communities to design culturally responsive supports, and recommending strategies that promote equitable access, compliance, and outcomes for children and families. 

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. Please do not attach transcripts or letters of recommendation to your application, only a resume and cover letter will be reviewed. If additional information is needed, we will follow up.  

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.