The Program Aide is responsible for assisting to provide educational, relational and social experiences for preschool children to foster growth and development in all developmental domains. Other duties in the areas of cafeteria management and custodial services may also be assigned. Program Aide directly reports to the Program Director with guidance from the Early Childhood Education Manager for Program Assistant responsibilities. The position may be reassigned to various classrooms/centers as deemed necessary for program operations.
As a front line representative of Save the Children, the Program Aide is required to ensure the safety and security of children and families that he/she comes in contact with adhering to the agency’s values of Accountability, Ambition, Collaboration, Creativity, and Integrity.
As a Save the Children employee who will come into contact with children on a routine basis, the position is expected to prevent child abuse in every situation by striving, through mental awareness, good practice and training to minimize risk to children. The position must take positive steps to protect children who may be a subject of concern and report, respond to any instance of child abuse, and promote training and awareness around all child-safeguarding obligations.
Application of clear practice and procedure in day to day execution of job. Organizes self and manages time to get things done. Keeps manager informed of important issues. Builds effective relationships within their work group and with children/families. Ability to understand and carry out oral and written instructions.
Classroom Assistant
- Assists classroom staff in all classroom activities.
- Assists the teacher in any aspect of the program as the need arises (e.g., at Family Nights, copying newsletters, cutting out classroom materials, making phone calls, etc.).
- Serves as a temporary substitute in the periodic absence of the assistant teacher or teacher
Janitorial Assistant
- Provide custodial support as needed; this could include but is not limited to: picking up trash, sweeping, mopping, vacuuming, or using industrial cleaning equipment to clean floors, cleaning and stocking bathrooms, making sure buildings are secure, cleaning windows, and minor building maintenance and repairs.
- May serves as janitor in the absence of the regular custodian or janitor on a periodic basis
Kitchen Assistant
- Completes routine kitchen/dining room/food chores as assigned (e.g., dishwashing, portioning foods, taking and logging temperature of foods received from vendors, etc.)
- Prepares necessary food and serving items for service prior to or after use. These duties may include the preparation of food to meet the needs of children with special needs or disabilities
- Participates in food service clean up, inventory and other food service tasks as requested
- Substitutes for regular Cook or Assistant Cook as needed
- May be asked to assist Cook and or Assistant cook to fulfill kitchen duties, in any capacity.
- Responsible for complying with all local, state and federal standards regarding hygiene and sanitation
Other General Job Duties
- Attends all workshops and meetings as deemed necessary by the immediate supervisor
- Attends all required staff and parent meetings and activities
- Responsible for understanding Head Start Performance Standards and local child care licensing regulations
- Expected to be knowledgeable of the regulations associated with prevention of occupational disease and injury, including the exercise of universal precautions and the prevention of contamination
- Positively promotes Head Start in the community
- Maintains strict confidentiality with respect to Head Start/Early Head Start children, families and staff in accordance with established policies and procedures
- Becomes thoroughly familiar with Save the Children Head Start Employee Handbook, Save the Children Head Start Human Resources Policies and Procedures, manuals and resources and adheres to them
- At the minimum be 18 years of age
- Must have a valid driver’s license
- Certification as applicable by federal, state or local Head Start or child care regulations, now or as amended in the future
- Bilingual preferred (English/Spanish or English and other languages present in the local area)
- Within 90 days of employment, must obtain and continually maintain basic first aid and pediatric CPR certification (or sooner if required by local/state regulations)
- Current and former Head Start/Early Head Start parents will receive preference for employment vacancies for which they are qualified
- Knowledge of the basics of working with preschool children
- Knowledge of the purpose of the Head Start/Early Head Start Program, preferred
- Knowledge of basic food preparation, serving and sanitation practices, preferred
- Knowledge of local resources, customs and languages helpful
- Ability to relate sensitively with children and to work well with staff and parents and families
- Ability to follow directions and take initiative
- Ability to keep all information on families strictly confidential
- Ability to communicate effectively with children and staff
- Ability to work with children with disabilities.
- Ability to perform medium to heavy physical work exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, up to 20 pounds frequently and up to 5-10 pounds constantly, performing such activities as sitting, crawling, stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, standing, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting, grasping. This also includes some duties that require repetitive action and motion skills, keyboarding and computer use.
Save the Children provides an attractive benefits package including competitive salaries, a matching retirement plan, health and welfare benefits, life insurance, an employee assistance program, generous time off and much more. We provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, ancestry, sexual orientation, national origin, age, handicap, disability, marital status, or status as a veteran. Save the Children complies with all applicable laws.