Jobs/Roles in the ECE Community: National/Federal Level

National Institute of Mental Health

http://www.nimh.nih.gov/index.shtml

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) is the largest scientific organization in the world dedicated to research focused on the understanding, treatment, and education of mental health. Most of the job opportunities are clinical so I would not meet the requirements of the positions, but working alongside the clinicians would be helpful to learn more about specific topics regarding mental health, and having the latest information based on research and brain development.

National Association for the Education of Young Children

http://www.naeyc.org

The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) is the world’s largest organization working on behalf of young children. NAEYC’s mission is “to serve and act on behalf of the needs, rights and well-being of all young children with primary focus on the provision of educational and developmental services and resources (NAEYC Bylaws, Article 1., Section 1.1). An available employment opportunity that interests me is that of an HR Generalist. As an HR Generalist I would support and coordinate the day-to-day administration of the Human Resources Office and program areas. I would provide administrative and program support by coordinating recruitment, recordkeeping and training, and working closely with management and staff to support their needs and requests for assistance. The requirements for this position is a BS degree with several years of administration experience, as well as experience in working with a non-profit organization.

Zero to Three

http://www.zerotothree.org

Zero to Three is a national organization that provides parents, professionals, and policy makers the knowledge and know how to nurture early development. They offer an extensive amount of information on behavior and development for children ages 0-3, as well as in many other areas. The available employment opportunity that interests me is that of a Senior Writer/Training Specialist. As a Senior Writer/Training Specialist I would design and conduct trainings for federal staff, technical assistance providers, and early head start program staff. I would also maintain a system for coordinated communication and knowledge sharing with the early head start community. I would need to have knowledge and skills in the early head start program as well as have a Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education.