EHS Child Development Specialist

Job Description

Job Description

EHS Child Development Specialist

Manage the daily operation of the Early Head Start Classrooms to ensure high-quality childcare, education safety and well-being of children/families. To provide comprehensive services to children in the areas of cognition, gross motor, fine motor, social and emotional development in a clean, safe, orderly and well managed environment.

• Responsible for the daily operation of the Early Head Start Classrooms, including planning and teaching within the classroom setting.
• Ensure all center classroom activities are in full compliance with Head Start Performance Standards and State Licensing requirements.
• Complete all require reports in a timely manner.
• Act as liaison between the education staff, families and community
• Ensure the program curriculum is fully implemented, lesson plans are followed, and individualized needs of each child are met
• Remain current on issues and trends in early childhood education
• Oversee ongoing staff/ teacher/family communication including daily communication, children's progress report and family conferences
• Implement strategies to recruit and maintain enrollment
• Work with the EHS Director to coordinate the purchase and tracking of supplies
• Conducts ongoing training for all early childhood staff teachers to ensure proper care and developmental opportunities for participants and families
• Conduct monthly staff meetings, encourage opportunities for team building, provide support for teachers, and maintain staff records
• Prepare program status reports
• Recruit, select, hire, train new teachers and provide staff development opportunities
• Develops instructional programs for children, counsels’ parents, provides supervision to staff, teachers, and maintains records of program activity
• Support teachers with modeling classroom behaviors prepare for ITERS and CLASS review
• Maintains a professional and courteous attitude at all times, willing to be flexible and assume new job responsibilities.

• Bachelor’s degree in Early Child Education, Special Education or related field required; Master’s
• preferred
• Two years’ experience providing instruction to children 0-3 years
• 1 year of supervisory experience required
• Six 3-credit courses in Early Childhood Education w/ emphasis on infant/toddler

• Flexibility to work the extended day hours of 7:30am – 5:30pm Monday to Friday, if required by the center and based on program needs
• Pre-employment Early Head Start CJIS criminal background investigation clearance required
• Pre-employment physical and tuberculosis screen clearance per Early Head Start guidelines required

• Responsible for supervising teachers, teacher assistants, center assistants, administrative assistant, and volunteers
• Position requires supervision of up to 20 staff

• Infant/Toddler CPR, First Aid (required)
• Annual recertification of Universal Precaution (required)
• 90/45 hours Childcare Certificate (required)
• 9 hours Communication Course Certificate (required)
• 45 hours Director Administration Certificate (required)
• Must possess a current valid and unrestricted driver’s license and be fully insured according to Maryland law (travel required)

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Ability to communication effectively with staff, parents/children, and community
• Ability to understand and manage the complexities of a preschool program
• Ability to establish and maintain good interpersonal relationships with parents and children
• Ability to maintain all records required by federal, state and local authorities
• Ability to organize and facilitate staff meetings and parent conferences
• Ability to coordinate special events and outings
• Ability to conduct annual performance reviews
• Ability to hire/train new staff
• Ability to prepare agendas for meetings and written reports
• Ability to facilitate all staff and curriculum planning meetings
• Ability to promote strong teamwork by offering support, guidance, and supervision to staff
• Ability to recruit, outreach and build partnerships
• Ability to identify and support staff training
• Ability to outline expectations for and monitor communication with parents
• Ability to conduct ongoing review of preschool policies/procedures
• Ability to assure program compliance with local, state and federal regulation and codes
• Ability to work a flexible and fluctuating schedule to meet the demands of the center

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: Medium

Lifting up to 50 pounds maximum with frequent lifting and/or carrying of objects weighing up to 25 pounds. May be required to regularly stand for extended periods of time, walk, reach with hands/arms with full range of motion, climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl, push or pull. Regularly required to talk and hear. Frequently required to use hands and fingers to hold, handle and feel objects, knobs, keys and/or buttons.

Travel is defined as travel to all areas within Goodwill’s territory (Cecil, Harford, Baltimore, Howard, and Anne Arundel Counties, Baltimore City and the entire Eastern Shore of Maryland). In some cases, long-distance travel, including overnights, may be required but is typically planned in advance. In some cases, travel may be unplanned.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: Moderate

Employee may be exposed to moving mechanical parts, wet and/or humid conditions, fumes or airborne particles and outside weather conditions. The noise level is usually moderate.

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EOE, including Disability/Vets