Child Care Program Specialist

Child Care Program Specialist

Anne Arundel County Government is looking to fill a Full-Time, Permanent, and Safety-Sensitive Child Care Program Specialist position in the Department of Recreation and Parks. This is a professional position responsible for assisting the Department's Senior Management Assistant for child care with the administration and program management of all School Age Child Care programs in a geographic area. The Child Care Program Specialist serves as the primary agent operator for center licensing within the respective area. Position supervises the Center Directors and their subordinate staff. Work is performed under the supervision of the Senior Management Assistant for Child Care, with latitude for independent decision-making regarding the establishment of a work schedule, personnel hiring, observation and evaluation, and program observation and evaluation. Work is primarily sedentary and includes some walking, standing, bending, or carrying of light items, picking up and dropping off supplies.

Examples of Duties and Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

(Note: The duties and responsibilities enumerated in this class specification are for the purpose of determining a common set of minimum qualifications and salary level for all positions in this class. They are not intended to include all of the essential functions of all positions in the class.)

• Facilitates and coordinates the initial licensing process for all new School Age Child Care Centers.
• Facilitates and coordinates the annual re-licensing process for all existing centers.
• Assists in the planning, organizing and developing of staff training and certification under the supervision of the supervisor.
• Recruits, interviews, completes reference checks, and hires center staff and conducts new staff orientation.
• Monitors center operations to ensure compliance with the state regulations for school age children through regular site visitations.
• Oversees child day care program budget; compiles and submits monthly financial, statistical, and administrative reports.
• Conducts ongoing program evaluations and recommends appropriate modifications.
• Conducts ongoing personnel evaluations and recommends appropriate performance corrections.
• Enforces the personnel procedures as detailed in the Staff Handbook.
• Represents the Senior Management Assistant in communications with parents, school personnel, and participants.
• Other related duties as required.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Must meet or exceed the state certification requirements for School Age Center Director.
• Knowledge of the state regulations (COMAR) governing School Age Child Care.
• Knowledge of principles of public relations; ability to communicate clearly and effectively by telephone and in person with the general public, department staff, state and County agencies, center staff, school personnel, parents, and participants.
• Ability to train and supervise employees.
• Ability to monitor and evaluate program management.
• Ability to plan, organize, and develop staff training.
• Ability to respond attentively to internal and external customer problems and requests.
• Ability to be self-directed, to make routine decisions, and to take necessary actions to ensure the health, safety, and well-being of the program participants.

Minimum Qualifications

Education: A bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework in business or recreation administration education, or a related field. Experience: Two (2) or more years of experience in youth programs management and administration, and a valid non-commercial Class C motor vehicle operator's license. Note: A bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework in business or recreation administration education, or a related field, may be substituted with an Associate's Degree and two (2) additional years of experience, for a total of 4 or more years of experience in youth programs management and administration, and a valid non-commercial Class C motor vehicle operator's license.

Supplemental Qualifications

Preference will be given to applicants who possess the following:

1. Intermediate skills in WORD, EXCEL, PowerPoint, and Google Suite.
2. Experience in preparing and maintaining child care licensing paperwork (MSDE COMAR Regulations 13A)
3. Two (2) or more years of experience as a Child Care Center Director in a licensed child care center in the state of Maryland.