Child Development Specialist

Job Summary:

Responsible for supervising and working collaboratively with toddler teaching staff and parents to ensure the successful operation of the PGCCS school readiness plan, including working with the Head Start team to plan, monitor, and implement all content areas and HSPPS within the Head Start Program.

Essential Functions:

The Child Development Specialist will ultimately be evaluated on a combination of skills, dispositions, and behaviors, some of which are related to the specific service area of this position and others that represent general expectations of all our agency employees.

The Child Development Specialist responsibilities chiefly fall within the following essential functions, although s/he may perform other tasks and/or duties as assigned. The Child Development Specialist will demonstrate competency to perform essential functions that include:

1. Supervises center staff in all activities including recommending for hire/dismissal; train, guide, counsel, monitor, appraise performance, goal setting, provide T/TA, develop staff improvement plans and discipline as needed.
2. Provides supervision of Toddler children.
3. Ensures quality direct service delivery for children, pregnant women, and families as assigned.
4. Responsible for implementing center base services.
5. Works indirectly to develop and implement an educational program that includes appropriate child development activities, bilingual/multicultural approaches, individualized education plans, and evaluation of child and & parent progress.
6. Works with staff to assist with incorporation of IEP/IFSP goals into home visits and socialization.
7. Provides role modeling, directions, & technical assistance to site staff.
8. Provides assistance and direction for site staff in the areas of delegation, leadership, staff development, family issues, morale, and evaluation.
9. Serves as a liaison between Specialists, Coordinators, other Central Office staff, and local site staff.
10. Works with Site Manager to provide coordinated services between PHS and EHS within one site.
11. Collaborates with community partners, local service providers, and agencies.
12. Participates as part of the site team and works in conjunction with center staff for LPC, Team Activities, and Community Events.
13. Actively recruits new enrollees for the program and maintains a waiting list.
14. Oversees inventory of classroom supplies and materials.
15. Maintains up-to-date, accurate records in all component areas and submits reports/records as directed.
16. Maintains child/family/staff confidentiality.
17. Serves as back up to the Site Manager/Assistant Site Manager
18. Proficient in utilizing various virtual platforms to facilitate seamless communication and collaboration.
19. Serves as additional assistance in the classroom daily.
20. Assists children with differing abilities in their daily routine, which may include diapering, feeding, etc.
21. Provide classroom services, instruction and training with teaching staff while in the classroom.

Minimum Requirements:

1. AAS/AA in ECE or related field. BA in ECE or related field preferred. All education must be from an accredited institution.
2. Minimum 16 Infant/Toddler course credits from an accredited institution.
3. Two years qualifying experience (Qualifying experience-means verifiable experience working directly with a group of children during a specified time period in any licensed childcare facility, elementary education program, or in the field of social work, psychology, or other related field to child growth or development). Infant/Toddler experience preferred.
4. Knowledge of Head Start Program Performance Standards
5. Possess computer skills in word processing, data collection systems, Internet, and e-mail.
6. Excellent oral and written communications, strong team leadership skills and experience in public speaking.
7. Arizona's driver's license, proof of insurance, fingerprint card, Social Security card, CPR and First Aid, Food Safety Manager Certification and provide as needed a vehicle for program business.
8. Health Questionnaire is required at hire and will be updated every 3 years.
9. Meet all agency, state and federally required immunizations or have an approved exemption on file.
10. Employee must be able to speak, read, write, and understand English.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

1. Frequent significant decision and problem-solving abilities.
2. Ability to respond appropriately to an emergency or a crisis situation.
3. Ability to supervise pre-school children in a safe environment and apply early childhood development theory in daily activities to adapt to the individual needs of children.
4. Demonstrate the understanding of DCS reporting system, signs and symptoms of child abuse and neglect.
5. Knowledge of Child and Adult Food Program (CACFP) and implement per position.

Physical Requirements:

Able to perform the following physical requirements of the position with or without reasonable accommodation: critical sensory requirements include general vision, specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. Hear or listen in the normal range (corrected) and speak and give directions clearly. Able to walk, sit, stand, kneel, crouch, crawl, reach, lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects up to 40 lbs., run 50 feet, and demonstrate exercises – jumping jacks, leg lifts, etc.

Working Conditions:

Work is performed in a classroom/office setting where minimal exposure to injury exists. Hours of work will generally be during regular business hours and average at least 40 hrs. per week. There will be work variations in work hours due to employee special projects, deadlines, and other concerns. PGCCS employees have the possibility of exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materials through collateral duty to their routine work assignments, such as rendering first aid if need arises, and seldom exposure to vibration, toxic conditions, odors, dust, mold, and poor ventilation.