Child Development Specialist

Summary:

This 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.

General Qualifications:

•      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:

o        Effective written and verbal communication skills.

o       Knowledge and ability to design and maintain an appropriate environment for infants and toddlers.

o       Ability to plan and implement activities for children individually and as a group.

o        Ability to maintain records and reports on young children.

o        Ability to reinforce health and safety standards in the child development room.

•      Possess supervisory skills related to childcare management which include:

o       Demonstrated ability to supervise and evaluate child development personnel and volunteers.

o        Ability to make sound decisions related to interactions between staff, parents and children.

o       Ability to provide guidance and direction to staff in curriculum planning and implementation and planning children's activities.

o        Ability to model team leadership skills on issues of child development.

o       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.