Position Title: Program Aide
Position Structure: Clerical – Program Aide/ Program Aide (Substitute)
Employee Type: Full-time Regular/Part-time Temporary
Supervisor Title: Center Director/Education Manager
Division: United States Programs
Child Safety: Frequent Contact
Summary
The Program Aide (Substitute) and the Program Aide (full-time) are positions responsible for providing educational, relational and social experiences for infants, toddlers and preschool children to foster growth and development in all developmental domains. The positions will report to the Center Director and should be willing to travel to the various program sites and/or home visits. The position may also be assigned to various classrooms/centers/bus routes as deemed necessary for the functioning of the program operations. This position will also work as a part of the team to assist in activities in the area of the classroom with daily classroom management and other duties, as needed and may be assigned 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.
Essential Duties
- To provide daily technical support to the program as needed
Responsibilities and Impact
- 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 workgroup 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 fulfil kitchen duties, in any capacity.
- Responsible for complying with all local, state and federal standards regarding hygiene and sanitation
Other General Job Duties
- May be required to serve as a Bus Monitor
- Attends all workshops and meetings as deemed necessary
- Attends required staff and parent meetings and activities
- Responsible for gaining 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
Required Background and Experience, Skills and Behaviors
- Must be at minimum 18 years of age
- Minimum high school diploma or G.E.D
- 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.
Acceptable tuberculosis screening results, a clear criminal records check (including child abuse registry check if required by state regulations) and an initial health exam are required post job offer and prior to employment. To drive agency vehicles (if applicable), must have a valid driver’s license and be insurable by the Save the Children Head Start insurance carrier and have a Motor Vehicle Record acceptable to Save the Children Head Start. Current and former Head Start/Early Head Start parents will receive preference for employment vacancies for which they are qualified.
Save the Children invests in childhood – every day, in times of crisis and for our future. In the United States and around the world, we are dedicated to ensuring every child has the best chance for success. Our pioneering programs give children a healthy start, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. Our advocacy efforts provide a voice for children who cannot speak for themselves. As the leading expert on children, we inspire and achieve lasting impact for millions of the world's most vulnerable girls and boys. By transforming children's lives now, we change the course of their future and ours.
Save the Children is committed to conducting its programs and operations in a manner that is safe for the children it serves and helping protect the children with whom Save the Children is in contact. All Save the Children Representatives are explicitly prohibited from engaging in any activity that may result in any kind of Child Abuse. In addition, it is Save the Children’s policy to create and proactively maintain an environment that aims to prevent and deter any actions and omissions, whether deliberate or inadvertent, that place children at the risk of any kind of Child Abuse. All Save the Children Representatives are expected to conduct themselves in a manner consistent with this commitment and obligation. Any violations of this policy will be treated as a serious issue.
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.