Program Aides are generalists, responsible for providing educational, relational and social experiences for infants, toddlers and/or preschool-aged children to foster growth and development in all developmental domains. This position reports to the Education and Inclusion Manager or Center Director and may be expected to travel to the various program sites and/or home visits.
Program Aides may also be assigned to various classrooms/centers/bus routes/cafeterias/kitchens as deemed necessary for the functioning of the program operations. This position also works assists with daily classroom management and other duties and may be assigned to various classrooms/centers as deemed necessary for program operations.
As a frontline representative of Save the Children, Program Aides are required to ensure the safety and security of children and families that he/she comes in contact with and adhere 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.
- Organize self and manage time to get things done.
- Keep manager informed of important issues.
- Build effective relationships within workgroup and with children/families.
- Ability to understand and carry out oral and written instructions.
Classroom Assistant
- Assist classroom staff in all classroom activities.
- Assist 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.).
- Serve 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, clean and stock bathrooms, ensure buildings are secure, clean windows and minor building maintenance and repairs.
- May serve as custodian in the absence of the regular custodian on a periodic basis.
Kitchen Assistant
- Complete routine kitchen/dining room/food chores as assigned (e.g. dishwashing, portioning foods, taking and logging temperature of foods received from vendors, etc.).
- Prepare food and serve 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.
- Participate in food service clean up, inventory and other food service tasks as requested.
- Substitute 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
- May be required to serve as a Bus Monitor.
- Attend all workshops and meetings as deemed necessary.
- Attend required staff and parent meetings and activities.
- Responsible for gaining understanding Head Start Program 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 promote Head Start in the community.
- Maintain strict confidentiality with respect to Head Start/Early Head Start children, families and staff in accordance with established policies and procedures.
- Become thoroughly familiar with Save the Children Head Start Employee Handbook, Save the Children Head Start Human Resources Policies and Procedures, manuals and resources and adhere to them.
- Must be at minimum 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.
- 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).
- Knowledge of the basics of working with infants, toddlers and preschool-aged children.
- Ability to relate sensitively with children and to work well and communicate effectively with staff, parents and families.
- Ability to follow directions and take initiative.
- Ability to keep all information on families strictly confidential.
- Ability to work with children with disabilities.
- Current and former Head Start/Early Head Start parents will receive preference for employment vacancies for which they are qualified.
Preferred Qualifications
- Bilingual preferred (English/Spanish or English and other languages used by children and families).
- Knowledge of the purpose of the Head Start/Early Head Start program.
- Knowledge of basic food preparation, serving and sanitation practices.
- Knowledge of local resources, customs and languages.
- Aetna Medical and Dental insurance with a concierge service
- Health Care and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account
- Vision Insurance
- Life Insurance
- Employee Assistance Program
- Paid Holidays
What makes us special!
- Generous Retirement Savings with matching company contributions
- Pet Insurance, Critical Illness Insurance, Identity Protection, Home, Auto and additional Life insurances
- Leadership and Employee Development Training, including:
- Our remarkable in-house CORE, Senior Management Development, and Leadership Development Programs
- Language learning opportunities
- Continuous Improvement skill development programs
- Brown Bag information sharing sessions