Child and Youth Program Leader

Summary Incumbent provides appropriate specialized developmental care and instruction for children and youth ranging in age from 6 weeks to 18 years in one or more CY programs. The role includes guidance, assistance, and mentoring for the CY Program Assistants. The incumbent works under the direction of a supervisor or other higher graded employee, who provides guidance on scope of assignments and assistance on more complex, nonroutine problems encountered. Duties Mentor Mentors assigned CY Program Assistant team. Works with senior employees to provide instruction and training to lower-level employees. Assists lower-level employees in completing the Standardized Module Training. Assists the Training and Curriculum (T&C) Specialist in helping lower-level CY Program Assistants translate professional development training into practice by mentoring, guiding and role-modeling. Models appropriate behaviors and techniques for working with children and youth. Provides suggestions and makes recommendations to credential practicum candidates. Assists the T&C Specialist with recording observations and charts progress of team members’ on-the-job skills. Consults frequently with the T&C Specialist for guidance on strategies to further assist team members’ professional development efforts. Curriculum Plan activities for program participants based on observed needs of individual children and youth. Continually review activities and plans for appropriateness. Work with T&C Specialist, supervisor, and the CY Program Assistants to implement activities and special events that meet the physical, social, emotional, and cognitive needs of children and youth. Incorporate special instructions provided by parents such as special dietary needs, physical needs, or other information that may affect the child or youth's experience in the program. Prepare and implement program options for children and youth with special requirements. Assist children and youth with special projects, homework, and life skills. Recommend changes and adjustments to activities and plans where necessary to meet unusual situations. Set up displays and bulletin boards. Arrange for and/or serve appropriate snacks or meals where applicable. Indoor and Outdoor Environment Work with team members to prepare, arrange, and maintain indoor and outdoor activity areas and materials to accommodate daily schedules. Make suggestions about improvements to activity areas. Inventory equipment on a recurring basis and recommend replenishing damaged, missing, and depleted supplies. Secure supplies, equipment, and facilities. Interactions and Relationships Encourage participant interest and establish a program setting that promotes positive interactions with other children, youth, and adults. Interact with children and youth using approved child guidance and youth development techniques. Supervision of Children and Youth Provide care and supervision, oversight, and accountability for program participants in compliance with DoD, NAF Component, and local installation command policies, guidance, and standards. Maintain control of and accounts for whereabouts and safety of children and youth. Ensure children and youth (as applicable) depart with authorized person according to written parental instructions. Oversee arrival and departure of children and youth. Supervise children and youth during daily schedule of indoor and outdoor activities and on field trips, outings, and special events. Parent and Employee Communication Interact professionally with employees, parents, and local installation command personnel. Participate in conferences with parents, employees, school representatives, and local installation command personnel. Brief other employees and parents. Assessment Observe children and youth and document developmental progression and/or concerns and use the information in planning. Assist CY Program Assistants with assessment tasks when needed. Compliance Ensure assigned area achieves and maintains standards for DoD certification and national accreditation or equivalent. Ensure compliance with law, policies, and regulations applicable to DoD CY programs. Additional Responsibilities Collect, maintain, and report program participation data. Perform other related duties as assigned. Requirements Position is a Test Designated Position (TDP); incumbent must consent to pre-employment and random drug testing. Must satisfactorily complete all background checks for child care positions, including fingerprint checks, a Tier 1 with Child Care check, and a State Criminal History Repository (SCHR) check. Must successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. Any discrepancies must be resolved as a condition of employment. Must pass a pre-employment physical, provide evidence of immunization, be free of all communicable diseases, and obtain appropriate immunization against communicable diseases. Must successfully obtain and maintain appropriate security clearance as needed. Ability to complete required training certificates, and maintain certifications or credentials required by Federal, State, and/or national accreditation institutions used as part of DoD's Child and Youth Programs. Participation in Direct Deposit/Electronic Fund Transfer within the first 30 days of employment is required. Starting May 7, 2025, non-affiliated individuals requesting access will need a REAL ID-compliant driver's license or another acceptable form of identification to access the installation. Qualifications Knowledge of developmentally appropriate programs designed to meet the physical, emotional, social, and cognitive needs of children and youth from 6 weeks to 18 years of age. Knowledge of child and youth development principles, practices, and techniques. Skills to apply Federal and State laws governing the detection and prevention of child abuse and/or neglect. Skill in understanding interests and motivation of individuals and groups in a CYP environment. Skill in program planning, organizing, and employee scheduling. Skills to provide leadership, mentoring, and guidance to CY Program Assistants. Ability to identify and respond to emergency situations. Ability to train employees on variety of issues to include recognition and identification of childhood illnesses and child abuse. Ability to develop curriculum outlines and lesson plans/guides. Ability to communicate effectively in English, both orally and in writing and possess strong interpersonal skills. One (1) year of experience at the CY-02 (GSE-04) level or equivalent displaying knowledge of and competency in developmentally appropriate programming for children and youth. Education Completion of DOD Standardized Module Training AND 12 months Experience at the CY-II (GSE-04) Level. OR Child Development Associate (CDA) credential or Military School-Age (MSA) credential AND 12 months Experience at the CY-II (GSE-04) Level. OR A minimum of a 2-year degree in Youth Development, Child Development or a related field, which can include Recreation, Youth Recreation, Physical Education, Elementary Education, Secondary Education, Early Childhood Education, Psychology, Social Work, Home Economics with an emphasis in Human Development, or other degrees as appropriate AND 12 months Experience at the CY-II (GSE-04) Level. Must provide a copy of your H.S. Diploma, GED, or College Transcripts (showing degree awarded/conferred) when you apply. Note: If your degree has not been awarded and/or you possess certificates of completion for DoD approved competency-based training courses, and/or a valid CDA/MSA credential(s), you must also provide a copy of your HS Diploma or equivalent. Additional Information Executive Order 12564 requires a Federal workplace free of illegal drugs. According to the Executive Order, all Federal employees are required to remain drug free throughout their employment. Commander, Navy Installations Command is a Drug-Free Federal Workplace. The use of illegal drugs will not be tolerated, and use of or intoxication by illegal drugs will result in penalties up to and including removal from Federal Service. Marijuana is a Schedule I drug under the Controlled Substances Act and therefore use of marijuana is illegal under Federal law regardless of State laws. A positive drug test result for marijuana (or any other drug tested for) will result in withdrawal of the tentative job offer and ineligibility to apply for a position within the Department of Defense for 6 months from the date of the drug test. All individuals involved in the provision of child care services on a Department of Navy (DON) installation or in a DON-sanctioned program must complete the Installation Records Check (IRC). The IRC includes a check of the Substance Abuse Rehabilitation Program (SARP) records in the Alcohol and Drug Management Information Tracking System (ADMITS) database, a check of the Family Advocacy Program (FAP) records in the Fleet and Family Support Management Information System (FFSMIS), and an installation security/base check via the Navy Justice Information System (NJIS) database and/or other law enforcement systems. This information will be used to determine suitability for the applicant in accordance with criteria for automatic and presumptive disqualifiers, per DoDI 1402.05. Per Department of Defense Instruction (DoDI) 1402.05 Background Checks on Individuals in DoD Child Care Services Programs, incumbents will be automatically disqualified for a conviction in either civilian or military court (to include any general, special, or summary court-martial conviction or if they received non-judicial punishment under Article 15 or chapter 47 of Title 10, U.S.C) for any of the following: a sexual offense, any criminal offense involving a child victim, or a felony drug offense. Additionally, the incumbent will be automatically disqualified if he/she has been held to be negligent in a civil adjudication or administrative proceeding concerning the death of or serious injury to a child or dependent person entrusted to the individual's care. Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution. #J-18808-Ljbffr Navy Region Mid-Atlantic Fleet and Family Readiness (FFR)