Manager of Program Administration Scales

Overview

Who We Are

For 140 years, National Louis University has been driven by one core belief: education changes lives. Since our founding, we've stayed grounded in the values of innovation, access, excellence, and equity, and we've never wavered from the idea that education is the greatest lever for social and economic mobility. We are a student-focused community built on continuous improvement and a genuine commitment to serving those we teach. Through education, we empower change and build stronger, healthier communities. Our hard-working team runs on collaboration and mutual respect, for one another and for every student we serve.

What You Will Do

The Manager of Program Administration Scales (PAS/BAS) at the McCormick Institute for Early Childhood (MIEC) provides oversight of the PAS/BAS Certification and Reliability system, supporting the use of nationally recognized, research-based tools that define quality indicators for center-based and family child care administration. The Manager leads in-person and virtual professional learning related to both tools including reliability training, and supervises the Training and Certification, Administration Scales Specialist role.  The role leads the implementation of certification and recertification processes used across Illinois and nationally within Quality Rating/Recognition Improvement Systems (QRIS) and professional development systems. The role serves as a National Anchor for both Administration Scales.  The Manager delivers in-person and virtual professional learning related to both tools, reviews applications and assessments, and maintains oversight of the databases housing all reliability information.  The Manager also cultivates and manages relationships with state administrators to guide training strategy, while coordinating a regular training schedule and serving as lead trainer in collaboration with MIEC staff, consultants, and tool authors.

Essential Responsibilities

Training Design and Delivery

• Plan, schedule, and deliver PAS/BAS Certification and Reliability and related trainings (in-person, national, and virtual), serving as lead trainer in close collaboration with other MIEC staff, consultants, and tool authors.
• Work with team members to develop and update professional learning experiences (in-person and virtual training, online modules, webinars, blended learning, follow-up supports, handouts, blogs, etc.) that reach a variety of audiences.
• Create new and update old PAS and BAS professional learning materials (content, PowerPoint, outline, handouts, packing list, etc.) to reflect updates as needed. Co-facilitate and facilitate trainings.
• Conduct PAS and BAS assessments as needed for internal initiatives (e.g., academy participants, reliability checks, certification).
• Work across Professional Learning and Innovation teams to assign one reliable trainer to serve as back-up for each reliability training scheduled. When possible, scheduling happens six months or more in advance to support scheduling across teams.
• Responsible for providing internal reliability training and building inter-rater reliability for MIEC staff.
• Support Training and Certification, Administration Scales Specialist in the production, assembly, and delivery of materials for reliability trainings.
• Oversee the maintenance and update of PAS and BAS webpage.
• Maintain records of reliability training scores and share information with the National Anchors during quarterly meetings.

Certification & Recertification Oversight

• Manage certification and recertification processes, including complete one of the required certification reviews for each assessment, generate feedback, determine status and oversee the certification status communication process with PAS-BAS committee, review and clarify indicators, update notes, determine ratings, etc.
• Oversee the system for notifying certified individuals when their certifications are due to expire, aligning to reliability training recruitment and planning efforts.
• Assure that the BAS and PAS databases are updated in a timely manner to maintain the fidelity of MIEC’s records.
• Maintains resources, tools, and supports for certification and recertification in both tools.
• Create and maintain an archive of questions from the field (assessors and Illinois Quality Specialists) and responses. Serve as the point of contact for PAS and BAS project anchors across the country.
• Manage the data entry process for BAS and PAS assessment reports (through Branagh).

Relationship Management & External Engagement

• Build and maintain relationships with state administrators and partners; use these relationships to inform training strategy, demand, and geographic focus.
• Maintain accurate records of how the PAS and BAS are used in state professional development and/or QRIS systems, using these records to support training recruitment and planning efforts.
• Support Director and Senior Director in the growth of the program and delivery/usage of the tools across states.

Leadership and Supervision

• Coordinate PAS-BAS committee meetings for National Anchors at least quarterly, maintain meeting minutes and prepare agendas.
• Supervise, mentor, and evaluate Certification Specialist(s) to ensure high performance, accountability, and alignment with organizational goals.
• Provide day-to-day oversight of team operations, including assigning work, monitoring progress, and providing constructive feedback.
• Lead, coach, and develop team members through ongoing guidance, performance management, and professional development planning.
• Conduct annual performance appraisal and regularly monitor progress toward individual goals throughout the year.

Strategic Planning and Coordination

• Monitor national trends, contribute to program strategy, and align training offerings with organizational priorities and field needs.
• Oversee and execute annual and five-year strategic goals and plans related to Administration Scales.
• Support other members of the Professional Learning and Innovation team as needed and appropriate.
• Support the utilization of the Administrator Role Perception Survey (ARPS) used across teams, as appropriate.

System Operations & Continuous Improvement

Work with Authors and National Anchors to refine the PAS/BAS Certification and Reliability system, ensuring alignment with research-based standards and supporting effective implementation within QRIS contexts.

Convene quarterly meetings with the National Anchors and tool Authors for the purpose of identifying opportunities for refinement or improvement to the system.

Oversee the maintenance and regular updates to the virtual registry of certified PAS/BAS assessors, ensuring accuracy and accessibility; ensure the registry is up to date on the MIEC website.

Qualifications

• Master's Degree in Early Childhood Education, Early Childhood Administration, Business Administration or related field.
• Recognized as a National Anchor in both the PAS and BAS tools. Certification(s) must be current, we will train the selected candidate if certification(s) aren't current or obtained.
• Five plus (5+) years direct experience in early childhood systems in one or more of the following roles:  as a center based or family child care administrator; Quality Rating and Improvement Systems (QRIS) Specialist, Assessor, or Trainer; workforce development systems Specialist; as well as a good working job-embedded familiarity with research-based tools, program quality measures, or observation tools (such as the PAS and BAS).
• Three plus (3+) years experience delivering professional learning/training to adult learners (in-person and virtual) as a lead trainer or facilitator with a demonstrated ability to design multi-session trainings or certification programs and manage training logistics (scheduling, materials, coordination across teams). Ideal prior roles are Professional Development Specialist/Trainer, Instructional Coach or Training Manager, and/or Faculty or fa