Human Development Specialist III

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

5d•Onsite

About The Position

The Human Development Specialist III works in the Culture, Recreation, and Community Connections Division of Fairfax County’s Department of Neighborhood and Community Services. The role provides leadership and support for school-based sites serving school-age youth and, as needed, center-based sites serving youth, teens, adults, seniors, and families. The specialist plans, coordinates, and evaluates inclusive, outcome-based recreational, educational, health and wellness, social, civic, and cultural programs for diverse populations, using human-centered and human development practices to address community needs. The position administers and supervises place-based efforts, supports children including those with special needs, works actively with staff and children, and ensures compliance with applicable training and licensing requirements. It also conducts community outreach to increase participation and provide services responsive to community needs and gaps. The position is scheduled for 52 weeks per year and 40 hours per week, Monday through Friday, between 6:45 a.m. and 6:15 p.m. It requires a split shift during the school year and full-day work during winter, spring, and summer programs and when Fairfax County Public Schools is out of school. The announcement may be used to fill multiple positions at Pine Spring BTB in Falls Church and Stenwood BTB in Vienna. Bilingual candidates are encouraged to apply. Appointment requires a criminal background check, Child Protective Services Registry check, and tuberculosis screening. First Aid/CPR and Food Handler certifications are required within 90 days of appointment.

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 co-located or stand-alone facilities and in the community.
Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing.
Ability to establish and maintain warm, supportive relationships with participants, parents, staff, school officials, and citizen groups, individually and in groups.
Ability to provide varied experiences that meet participants’ individual intellectual, physical, social, and emotional needs.
Ability to monitor and observe participants and react quickly to their physical actions.
Ability to perform active work involving repetitive standing, walking, balancing, stooping, bending, crouching, crawling, sitting on the floor, reaching, squatting, kneeling, and twisting; occasionally lift, transport, position, push, pull, or move up to 50 pounds.
Ability to apply CPR and First Aid and respond to emergencies.
Ability to operate keyboard-driven equipment, attend meetings at various locations, and make presentations to county staff and community.
Complete a criminal background check and Child Protective Services Registry check to the employer’s satisfaction, and undergo tuberculosis screening upon hire.
Obtain First Aid/CPR certification within 90 days of appointment.
Obtain Food Handler certification within 90 days of appointment.
Work a split shift Monday through Friday between 6:45 a.m. and 6:15 p.m., with full-day work of 6.5 or more consecutive hours when schools are out, including teacher workdays and winter, spring, and summer breaks.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree or higher in a child-related field such as elementary education, nursing, or recreation.
Two years of child-related programmatic experience.
Child-related programmatic experience with children with special needs.
Experience within the past two years working in a setting that provided services to children and youth with special needs.
Certification of qualification 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.
Demonstrated experience and proficiency in planning appropriate experiences for school-age children.
Bilingual proficiency in English and another language.

Responsibilities

Supervise a team of full-time, temporary, part-time, seasonal staff, and volunteers.
Plan, coordinate, and evaluate inclusive programs, activities, and events using a human-centered approach to address identified gaps and promote equitable outcomes.
Identify practices or policies that may have unintended consequences for marginalized or underrepresented communities, using a trauma-informed lens.
Ensure programming supports county goals and initiatives.
Manage daily facility operations.
Participate in hiring, training, and scheduling staff.
Complete and submit required financial, data, statistical, and other reports; adhere to revenue and expense limits.
Inspect facilities and grounds for safety hazards and operational deficiencies and initiate corrective actions.
Respond to public inquiries and concerns as appropriate.
Participate in developing and implementing school-based, community-center-based, and community outreach plans, including targeted strategies for marginalized communities.
Facilitate, distribute, or participate in program evaluation processes such as surveys, focus groups, and benchmarking.
Support children in the program, including children with special needs, and remain actively engaged with staff and children.
Conduct targeted community outreach to increase participation and offer programs and services based on community needs and gaps.
Comply with applicable training and licensing requirements established by state and local guidelines.