Step Up to Quality, Quality Rating Specialist (Program Specialist III)

The work we do matters!

Hiring Agency:
Education - Agency 13
Location:
La Vista, NE
Hiring Rate:
$33.951
Job Posting:
JR2026-00030029 Step Up to Quality, Quality Rating Specialist (Program Specialist III) (Open)
Applications No Longer Accepted On (If no date is displayed, job is posted as open until closed):
11-03-2026
Job Description:
You can have a front row seat to early childhood programs across Nebraska through Step Up to Quality! As a Quality Rating Specialist, you’ll oversee quality ratings and verify whether established standards and indicators are being met by early childhood programs. These positions play an important role in recognizing excellence and supporting high-quality experiences for Nebraska’s youngest learners.

The hiring team is looking for someone with strong attention to detail, relationship building skills, and a continuous improvement mindset. If you enjoy collaborating with others and creating or implementing organized systems to keep work running smoothly, we’d love to hear from you!

**The Nebraska Department of Education does not sponsor or transfer non-immigrant work visas for these positions.**

Office Location: This position is assigned to our office located in La Vista, NE.

Pay Grade 9: $33.951/ hour

This rate is based upon available budget funds; any offer will be made at this rate.

Teammates Enjoy

In addition to being part of meaningful work and making a difference through public service, our Total Compensation package includes well over $20,000 in additional Benefits value! See full benefits information at https://statejobs.nebraska.gov/index.html#benefits

- Competitive benefits, paid time off, and retirement
- 79% employer-paid health insurance, dental, vision, long and short-term disability, flex spending and health savings accounts, employee discount program, and more!
- Generous vacation and sick leave earnings each year (starting at 12 days each!), plus a variety of other leave types
- 156% state-matched retirement (yes, that’s $1.56 for every dollar!) with a guaranteed 5% return
- Thirteen paid holidays per year

Essential Functions

- Reviews rating requests and facilitates on-site rating visits through assigning visits to contracted raters or conducting on-site program rating reviews.

- Recruits and trains contracted program raters for programs participating in the Step Up to Quality rating system.

- Develops and maintains contracts, including managing budgets, reconciling invoices, and annual renewals.

- Develops and facilitates training for contracted raters to ensure a consistent approach for all evaluation processes.

- Establishes and fosters strategic partnerships among early childhood providers, school districts, Head Start programs, and other partners to facilitate the exchange of information and disseminate resources, publications, and other communications.

- Creates, updates, and audits rating reports; analyzes evidence from on-site visits to summarize reports and recommend quality ratings. Provides concise reports to evaluated participants.

- Provides technical assistance and guidance to program participants and coaches related to standards, regulations, policies, and procedures for Step Up to Quality.

- Maintains regular & reliable attendance, possesses a valid driver’s license and travels independently, and works in a variety of settings.

Working Conditions and Travel :

This position requires approximately 65% of work time spent in an office environment; the remaining 35% is spent traveling or working in alternative sites such as schools, educational service units, meetings, and workshops. There is also approximately fifteen days of overnight travel per year.

Requirements / Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in a related field and four years of experience related to the essential functions of the position. Any equivalent education and/or work experience may be substituted in order to meet the minimum qualifications of the position.

Preferred Qualifications: Master’s degree in child development, early childhood education, or related field and at least three years of experience in early childhood education and care. Previous work with quality rating and improvement systems.

If you have any questions about this posting or working at NDE, please email us at [email protected] .

If you're currently employed by the State of Nebraska, please don't apply through this external career site. Instead, log in to Workday and open the Jobs Hub - Internal Apply app from your home landing page. You can access Workday anytime through the Link web page: https://link.nebraska.gov/

Benefits

We offer a comprehensive package of pay, benefits, paid time off, retirement and professional development opportunities to help you get the most out of your career and life. Your paycheck is just part of your total compensation.

Check out all that the State of Nebraska has to offer! Benefit eligibility may vary by position, agency and employment status. For more information on benefits, please visit: https://statejobs.nebraska.gov/index.html#benefits

Equal Opportunity Statement

The State of Nebraska values our teammates as well as a supportive environment that strives to promote diversity, inclusion, and belonging. We recruit, hire, train, and promote in all job classifications and at all levels without regard to race, color, religion, sex. age, national origin, disability, marital status or genetics.