Child Care Specialist

Chautauqua•Jamestown, NY

About The Position

The Child Care Specialist provides high-quality childcare by supporting children’s development and following established policies, procedures, and regulations. The role implements daily activities at the court drop-in childcare program, supervises and engages children in developmentally appropriate play, assists with lesson planning, and completes enrollment and program documentation. The Specialist communicates with parents and guardians, provides community and childcare-provider referrals, maintains provider and referral data in Empire State Match, tracks outcomes and in-kind contributions, and supports compliance files and the Summer Food Program. The position builds positive relationships with court officials, law enforcement, children, families, staff, funders, and community partners. It also supports the Child Care Council’s outreach through events, social media, newsletters, the website, coalitions, and presentations; participates in agency meetings, committees, planning, and policy development; and serves as backup for the lead Child Care Specialist. The role requires consistent, compassionate customer service and compliance with agency policies and New York State child-abuse laws.

Requirements

High school diploma and two years of experience working with children and families, or an associate degree in Early Childhood and one year of experience working with children and families.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office and Google Drive.
Ability to develop, maintain, and engage in positive relationships with people from varied backgrounds.
Ability to lift up to 25–50 pounds.
Complete all required New York State background clearances.
Complete pre-employment physical exams and TB testing.
Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation.
Ability to provide consistent, even-tempered customer service and work compassionately with a diverse population.

Nice To Haves

Associate degree in Early Childhood with one year of experience working with children and families.
Bilingual Spanish.

Responsibilities

Implement day-to-day activities at the court drop-in childcare program in alignment with service outcomes, performance targets, and agency goals.
Keep current with effective childcare methods and best practices.
Complete enrollment forms and other required documentation according to contract requirements.
Supervise children in the facility and actively engage them in developmentally appropriate play.
Communicate with or meet parents and guardians regarding community supports.
Complete trainings required by the contract and the Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS).
Assist with lesson planning.
Follow agency and service-area guidelines, policies, and procedures, including New York State child-abuse laws.
Participate in designated meetings; collect, maintain, and report data.
Foster relationships with funders, staff, partners, parents, court officials, and law enforcement.
Obtain and track in-kind documentation and assist with Advisory Board facilitation.
Provide backup for the lead Child Care Specialist and complete required documentation when the lead is out on benefit time.
Provide community referrals and refer customers to childcare providers based on their stated parameters.
Maintain records in the Empire State Match provider and referral database and collect and report related data.
Maintain Standards of Excellence files for compliance and support the Summer Food Program.
Collaborate with Child Care Council staff to promote childcare in the county through events, social media posts, newsletters, the website, coalitions, and presentations.
Promote the agency mission and image, provide consistent professional customer service, and participate in agency committees, planning, policy development, and volunteerism.
Adhere to organizational policies and procedures, gather appropriate documentation, track outcomes, and participate in organizational and divisional management systems.
Perform other duties as designated by the supervisor.