Program Aide

Position Title: Program Aide

Employee Type: Full-Time Regular

Supervisor Title: Manager, Education & Inclusion or Center Director

Division: Head Start, U.S. Programs

Save the Children

For over 100 years, Save the Children has been fighting for the rights of children. The right to a healthy start in life. To have access to education. To be in a safe environment, protected from harm. We work in some of the world’s hardest-to-reach places – over 100 countries, including the U.S. No matter what your role is, when you join Save the Children, you’re creating positive, irreversible change for children, and the future we all share.

The Role

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. In this role, you will report to the Education and Inclusion Manager or Center Director and may be expected to travel to the various program sites and/or home visits.

You may be assigned to various classrooms/centers/bus routes/cafeterias/kitchens, assist 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, you are required to ensure the safety and security of children and families that you come in contact with and adhere to our 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, you are expected to prevent child abuse in every situation by striving, through mental awareness, good practice and training, to minimize risk to children. You 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.

What You’ll Be Doing (Essential Duties)
*not inclusive of all role responsibilities. May be subject to change

• 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 Assistance

• 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 Assistance

• 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 Assistance

• 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 necessary.
• Attend required staff and parent meetings and activities.
• Responsible for gaining understanding Head Start Program Performance Standards and local childcare 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.

Required Qualifications

• Must be at minimum 18 years of age.
• Minimum high school diploma or G.E.D.
• Certification as applicable by federal, state or local Head Start or childcare 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).
• Demonstrated knowledge of the basics of working with infants, toddlers, and preschool-aged children.
• Professional proficiency in spoken and written English
• Demonstrated ability to relate sensitively with children and to work well and communicate effectively with staff, parents and families.
• Proven ability to follow directions and take initiative.
• Demonstrated ability to keep all information on families strictly confidential.
• Demonstrated ability to work with children with disabilities.

Additional Qualifications

• Physical Requirements related to essential functions: 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 and grasping. This also includes some duties that require repetitive action and motion skills, keyboarding, and computer use.
• Clear pre-employment background check requirements, including local, state, and national criminal records check, sex offender registries, employment, and education verifications (including child abuse registry check if required by state regulations) and pass all state and local health requirements required post job offer and prior to employment.
• This position may require the incumbent to operate a motor vehicle to fulfill certain essential functions of the job. The incumbent should maintain a valid driver’s license and remain in compliance with any Save the Children policies pertaining to the safe operation of motor vehicles.
• Current and former Head Start/Early Head Start parents will receive preference for employment vacancies for which they are qualified.

Compensation

The base pay for this position starts at $15/hour. Actual base salary may vary based upon, but not limited to, experience, credentials, base salary of internal peers and other relevant qualifications specific to the role.

About Us

We are looking to build an inclusive team at Save the Children. We offer a range of outstanding benefits to support this goal:

• Paid time off: 10 days winter break and 5 days spring break, 5 personal days, 11 holidays plus 2 floating holidays per year.
• Health: Competitive health care, dental and vision coverage for you and your family. Employer paid short term disability and long-term disability benefits.
• Health Savings Accounts (HSA): Option to select HSA if enrolled into a High-Deductible Health Plan in which the company matches a portion of the contribution.
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA): Option to enroll in health care and dependent care options.
• Life: Agency paid life and accidental death and dismemberment benefits (AD&D).
• Family: Parental/adoption, fertility benefits
• Employee Rewards Program: Annual merit increases and/or additional incentives for eligible employees
• Retirement: Retirement savings plan with employer contributions (after one year)
• Wellness: Health benefits and support through Calm and company-hosted events
• Employee Assistance Program: Free and confidential assessments, short-term counseling, referrals, and follow-up services
• Learning & Growth: Access to internal and external learning & development opportunities and mentorships. Certification and tuition assistance.

Click here to learn more about how Save the Children US will invest in you.

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 we are in contact. All Save the Children representatives are explicitly prohibited from engaging in any activity that may result in any kind of child abuse.

Save the Children is committed to minimizing safety and security risks for our valued employees, ensuring all are given training, support and information to reduce their risk exposure while maximizing the impact of our programs for children and families. Our shared duty, both agency and individual, is to seek and maintain safe working conditions for all.

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