Child Development Consultant
About The Position
The Child Development Consultant will work within Riverside Early Childhood Services for Cambridge and Somerville, which is home to two programs, Early Intervention, and the Early Years Project. Both programs share our guiding statement: At Riverside Early Childhood Services, we co-create relationships, experiences, and environments which promote positive development, amongst team members and the people we serve. We are committed to clinical excellence, collaboration, and the process of continual learning. We meet all people where they are, recognize and nurture strengths, and attend to challenges. As a staff, we value our differences, flexibility, autonomy, and accountability, and show up for one another with kindness, support and direct communication. As a member of the Early Years Project Team, the Child Development Consultant provides consultation and training in licensed center-based and family childcare settings. C onsultations are typically for individual children, from infancy through preschool. Service frequency depends on the level of need and our overall caseload. When there are safety concerns, services may be intensive and provided daily. We also provide whole classroom consultations, director support, and family support, as well as creating resource materials, including handouts and workshops. We understand behavior is communication, and we use a neuro-relational, brain-body approach for educators, parents, guardians, and children, which incorporates stress, regulation, and social emotional learning. Our work is grounded in cultural humility as we develop relationships with teachers and families, and grow in our understanding of their priorities, pedagogy, values, beliefs, strengths, sources of stress, and intervention needs. We engage in a collaborative process of change with caregivers through a blend of generative questions, reflective practice, modeling, and coaching, while offering frameworks and specific suggestions as appropriate. Schedule: Full Time 40 hours per week; Monday through Friday with flexibility to work between 8 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. to meet consultation needs
Requirements
- Fluency in Spanish preferred
- Demonstrated knowledge of child development principles and familiarity with a variety of concepts, practices and procedures in the field
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to establish a rapport and work collaboratively with a diverse group of co-workers, handle multiple tasks, be flexible, and work independently
- Must possess a valid driver’s license and access to a vehicle for local travel
- Ability to establish a rapport and work collaboratively with a diverse group of co-workers, handle multiple tasks, be flexible and work independently
- Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education or related field required
- Five years' experience working as an early childhood educator
- Experience working with children experiencing dysregulation and safety concerns
- Familiarity with early childhood and preschool services and approaches
- Familiarity with early childhood and preschool services and approaches required
Nice To Haves
- Master’s Degree preferred
- Previous experience in coaching childcare staff and providing training to parents and staff preferred
- Experience in having difficult conversations with adults including discussions with caregivers regarding their children and providing feedback and suggestions to teachers
- experience in the Cambridge schools preferred
Responsibilities
- Provide consultation and training in licensed center-based and family childcare settings.
- Consultations are typically for individual children, from infancy through preschool.
- Provide whole classroom consultations, director support, and family support
- Creating resource materials, including handouts and workshops.
- Engage in a collaborative process of change with caregivers through a blend of generative questions, reflective practice, modeling, and coaching, while offering frameworks and specific suggestions as appropriate.
Benefits
- Comprehensive, high-quality health, dental, and vision insurance options
- Flexible Spending Accounts – both medical and dependent care
- Eleven paid holidays
- Separate accruals for vacation (increases with tenure), personal, and sick time
- Tax-deferred 403(b) retirement savings plan with employer match
- Employee Assistance Plan / Travel Assistance Plan
- Employee bonus for referrals resulting in hiring
- Discounts to movie theaters, sporting, and entertainment events
- Employee YMCA discount: 10% off a YMCA monthly membership and 50% off the joiner’s fee
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Number of Employees
501-1,000 employees
