Human Development Specialist II

Fairfax County•NEIGHBORHOOD and COMMUNITY SERVICES - MULTIPLE LOCATIONS, VA

5d•Onsite

About The Position

The Human Development Specialist II works in the Culture, Recreation, and Community Connections Division of Neighborhood and Community Services to plan and implement scheduled programs for school-age youth at a school-based site. The position helps oversee program operations, ensures compliance with training and licensure requirements, provides daily supervision of participants, and supports the coordination of school and community facility activities and services. Programs are designed using human-centered and human development practices to be equitable, culturally relevant, age appropriate, and responsive to participant needs. The role also supports staff and volunteer training and supervision, community outreach, and increased participation among underserved populations. The specialist supports all children, including children with special needs, and works actively with staff and children each day. The position is located at one of several Region 3 sites: Crossfield Elementary School in Herndon, Kilmer Center in Vienna, or Oakton Elementary School in Oakton. The schedule is a split shift before and after school, Monday through Friday, totaling 40 hours per week within 6:45 a.m. to 6:15 p.m. The position is scheduled for 52 weeks per year and requires full eight-consecutive-hour workdays when Fairfax County Public Schools is out of session, including teacher workdays and winter, spring, and summer breaks. Nights and weekends may also be required. The position requires graduation from an accredited four-year college or university in human development, social work, early childhood education, recreation, or a related human services field, or an equivalent combination of education, experience, and training. First Aid/CPR and Food Handler certifications are required within 90 days of appointment. The appointee must complete criminal background and Child Protective Services Registry checks and undergo a tuberculosis screening upon hire.

Requirements

Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university in human development, social work, early childhood education, recreation, or a human services-related field, or an equivalent combination of education, experience, and training.
Considerable knowledge of cultural, environmental, and psychological factors affecting individual behavior and school-age children’s growth, including implications for group dynamics and development.
Knowledge of human-centered and human development practices.
Knowledge of health, safety, and first aid methods.
Ability to build and maintain positive, supportive relationships with staff, participants, families, and partners that cultivate confidence and trust.
Ability to provide targeted, culturally relevant, stimulating, age-appropriate experiences for participants.
First Aid/CPR certification within 90 days of appointment.
Food Handler certification within 90 days of appointment.
Successful completion of a criminal background check and Child Protective Services Registry check.
Tuberculosis screening upon hire.
Ability to meet the physical requirements of the position, including actively monitoring and interacting with participants, occasional movement of up to 50 pounds, and responding to emergencies and participant actions.
Ability to operate keyboard-driven equipment, communicate verbally and in writing, attend meetings at various locations, and make presentations to county staff and the community.
Availability for a Monday-through-Friday split shift totaling 40 hours per week, full workdays during school breaks, and possible night and weekend work.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in a child-related field such as elementary education, nursing, or recreation.
Two years of child-related programmatic experience, including one year in a staff supervisory capacity.
Child-related programmatic experience in the group care of children with special needs.
Experience within the past two years working in a setting that provided services to children and youth with special needs.
Qualification certification from an internationally or nationally recognized Montessori organization, a Child Development Credential, a one-year early childhood certificate from a college or university, or another childcare-related Virginia State license.
Experience working in a school-age child care setting with children.
Experience working with a diverse multicultural population.
Bilingual ability in English and another language.

Responsibilities

Plan and implement target, age-appropriate programs and activities that support learning, positive developmental relationships, and personal development.
Help create trauma-informed spaces that promote safety, healing, and participants’ social and emotional well-being.
Coordinate program plans and activities, staff assignments, scheduling, and engagement with families and community members.
Support supervision of Human Development Specialist I staff and volunteers.
Serve as a liaison with site personnel and agency departments for staff records, fiscal documentation, and purchasing.
Deliver, coordinate, and adapt equitable programs and activities to meet the needs of the population served.
Track participant progress and personal development.
Monitor participants’ physical safety.
Cultivate supportive relationships with participants’ parents.
Support community engagement opportunities.
Assist with program operations and planning and provide daily supervision of participants.
Support staff and volunteer training and supervision.
Assist in developing and implementing community outreach plans, including targeted interventions to increase participation and engagement among underserved populations.
Ensure staff compliance with operating procedures and safety and security standards, and promote community awareness of facility rules and regulations.
Provide support to all children in the program, including children with special needs, and remain actively engaged with staff and children daily.