Human Development Specialist III

Fairfax County • Reston (Ff03), VA

5d • Onsite

About The Position

The Human Development Specialist III works at the Cathy Hudgins Community Center at Southgate within Fairfax County’s Department of Neighborhood and Community Services (NCS), Culture, Recreation, and Community Connections Division. The position manages the daily activities and planning of teen programs at assigned center-based sites and provides administration, supervision, and leadership for place-based efforts. It supports compliance with applicable state and local training and licensure requirements and provides strategic leadership in program development, personnel development, fiscal management, community engagement, and facility quality assurance.

The role plans, coordinates, and evaluates inclusive, outcome-based programs for diverse populations, including recreational, educational, health and wellness, social, civic, and cultural programs. It applies human-centered design and human development practices to develop data-driven community strategies and address participant and community needs. The work schedule may include mornings, days, evenings or nights, and weekends, as needed to meet community needs.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in human development, social work, early childhood education, recreation, or a related human services field, or equivalent combination of education, experience, and training.
• One year of supervisory experience in program development, community engagement, child-related programming, or human services-related work.
• Knowledge of human-centered and human development practices.
• Knowledge of basic fiscal management, record keeping, and inventory processes.
• Knowledge of culture, community strengths and assets, and relationship-building strategies.
• Ability to use a personal computer, applicable software, and peripheral equipment.
• Ability to direct and coordinate the work of subordinate staff and volunteers.
• Ability to plan, develop, and administer programs, activities, and events in facilities and the community.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills.
• Possession of a valid motor vehicle driver’s license.
• Obtain First Aid/CPR/AED certifications within three months of appointment.
• Obtain Food Handler Certification within three months of appointment.
• Complete criminal background, Child Protective Services Registry, and driving-record checks to the employer’s satisfaction; complete a tuberculosis screening upon hire.
• Ability to work evenings and weekends as needed.
• Ability to monitor and observe program participants; move about and position oneself to supervise and interact with participants; occasionally lift, transport, position, push, pull, or move up to 50 pounds; and perform standing, walking, balancing, stooping, bending, crouching, crawling, floor sitting, reaching, squatting, kneeling, and twisting.
• Ability to react quickly to participant actions, apply CPR and First Aid as needed, and respond to emergencies.
• Ability to operate keyboard-driven equipment, communicate verbally and in writing, attend meetings at various locations, and make presentations.

Nice To Haves

• Bilingual ability in English and another language.
• Bachelor’s degree in a human development-related field such as elementary education, nursing, social work, sociology, or recreation.
• Experience developing and implementing programs for youth, adults, older adults, and families.
• Two years of child-related programmatic experience.
• Experience ensuring a safe recreational environment, making oral presentations to groups, developing activity and service strategies to achieve community outcomes, and supervising and coaching employees.

Responsibilities

• Manage daily activities and planning of teen programs at assigned center-based sites.
• Provide administration, supervision, and leadership for place-based efforts and ensure compliance with applicable state and local training and licensure requirements.
• Lead program development, personnel development, fiscal management, community engagement, and facility quality assurance.
• Plan, coordinate, and evaluate inclusive programs, activities, and events using a human-centered approach to promote equitable outcomes.
• Use a trauma-informed lens to identify practices or policies that may have unintended consequences for marginalized or underrepresented communities.
• Manage daily facility operations and inspect facilities and grounds for safety hazards or operational deficiencies; initiate corrective actions.
• Participate in hiring, training, and scheduling staff and supervise staff and volunteers.
• Complete and submit financial, data, statistical, and other required reports; adhere to revenue and expense limits.
• Respond to public inquiries and concerns as appropriate.
• Participate in developing and implementing school-based, community-center-based, and community outreach plans, including strategies for marginalized communities.
• Facilitate, distribute, or participate in evaluations such as surveys, focus groups, and program or activity benchmarking.
• Build supportive relationships with participants, parents, staff, school officials, and community groups.
• Provide varied experiences that address participants’ intellectual, physical, social, and emotional needs.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level