Child Development Specialist

Family Resource Center PositionThis position is a core component of the Family Resource Center, designed to help families identify their strengths, meet their needs, and achieve their goals. It is not a stand-alone task—it operates in collaboration with all other Center staff and is driven by the expressed needs and priorities of the participating parents.Key Responsibilities• Oversee the health, safety and well-being of all the children.• Plans and implements a developmentally appropriate program for infants and toddlers, including screenings, assessments and development of children's individual classroom plans.• Demonstrates a sound knowledge of good teaching practices and of child growth and development.• Participates in program staff meetings and training provided by MFN or sponsoring agency.• Reports directly to Center Director concerning Child Development Program and other job responsibilities.• Functions as member of the Center program management team.• Provides parents with information and support in their parenting role.• Ability to lift to 50 lbs.• Ability to get up and down off the floor.• Complete all required paperwork.• Understand and be committed to the overall philosophy of Family Support.• Maintain respect for confidentiality of information divulged by or on behalf of participants.• Possess the ability to relate to people of diverse educational, cultural and economic backgrounds.• Be willing and able to do aggressive outreach and recruitment.• Model appropriate interaction with young children and parents.• Have the ability to work independently and as a team member and leader.Specific Qualifications• Have a thorough knowledge of child growth and development of the first years of life from birth to three years of age.• Have a thorough knowledge of community resources related to the needs of young children and willingness to help families access them.• Demonstrate sensitivity and understanding when relating to parents' situation and feelings.• Possess basic management skills to include:Effective written and verbal communication skills.Knowledge and ability to design and maintain an appropriate environment for infants and toddlers.Ability to plan and implement activities for children individually and as a group.Ability to maintain records and reports on young children.Ability to reinforce health and safety standards in the child development room.• Possess supervisory skills related to child care management which include:Demonstrated ability to supervise and evaluate child development personnel and volunteers.Ability to make sound decisions related to interactions between staff, parents and children.Ability to provide guidance and direction to staff in curriculum planning and implementation and planning children's activities.Ability to model team leadership skills on issues of child development.Ability to model/teach parents and staff how to nurture and interact with babies and young children.Education/Experience· Master's degree in Early Childhood Education preferred.· Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education, Special Education, Child Development or related field accepted.· Must have experience working with young children from birth to three years old. Minimum of 1-year supervisory experience required.