Infant Development Specialist

Catalyst Kids•Tracy, CA

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Infant Development Specialist supports the planning and implementation of Catalyst’s program for children from birth to age three. The specialist moves with an assigned group from program entry until the children transition to preschool, supporting their development, building family relationships, promoting future school success, and providing continuity of care. The role facilitates age-appropriate experiences that support social-emotional, cognitive, and physical development while ensuring children are supervised in a healthy and safe environment. The specialist creates and implements individualized, developmentally appropriate curriculum and small-group experiences connected to children’s interests and development. They maintain intentional, enriched learning environments; meet children’s needs as they grow; and build authentic, reciprocal, culturally responsive relationships with children, families, communities, and colleagues. They provide families with daily reports and ongoing evaluations of each child’s progress and milestones. Infant Development Specialists have the highest educational qualifications assigned to a group or classroom and may direct or supervise other teaching-team members. The position involves indoor and outdoor work in conditions safe for children, including all-weather outdoor settings and varied terrain. It requires active interaction with infants and toddlers, caregiving routines, safety monitoring, and physical tasks such as bending, lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling, kneeling, and squatting. The schedule is Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Requirements

At least three units specifically related to the infant/toddler age group (birth to age three); education and permit requirements may vary by center.
One of the listed education pathways: 24 units in child development, early childhood development, or a related field plus 16 general education units; an AA degree in ECE, CD, or a related field from a nationally accredited college; or a BA degree in ECE, CD, or a related field from a nationally accredited college or university.
Any degree must include at least three units specifically related to infants and toddlers (birth to age three).
Teacher or above Child Development Permit issued by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing.
Effective problem-solving, conflict-resolution, classroom-management, and communication skills with children and families.
Organization and time-management skills, including curriculum and assessment documentation such as individualized lesson plans, portfolios, and anecdotal notes.
Ability to work alongside colleagues and maintain a professional team environment.
Ability to interact physically and mentally with infants and toddlers from birth to age three, meet their needs, and ensure their safety.
Ability to carry out physical tasks including holding, lifting, diapering, bending, twisting, reaching, pushing, and pulling; the role may require handling objects up to 15 pounds.
Ability to work indoors and outdoors in conditions safe for children, traverse varied terrain, adapt to children’s physical level, and supervise community walks.

Nice To Haves

Two years of experience in a group-care environment providing care or teaching for a consistent age group.
One year of experience supervising adults or equivalent.
Adult Supervision units.
Current adult and infant/child CPR and First Aid certification.
Bilingual or multilingual ability, depending on individual center needs.

Responsibilities

Create and implement individualized, developmentally appropriate curriculum and small-group experiences connected to infants’ and toddlers’ interests and development.
Apply learning frameworks and foundations that promote positive, holistic, and culturally responsive practices.
Understand the development of children from birth to age three and meet their needs according to their developmental age.
Keep children healthy and safe through proper supervision, compliance with regulations, positive and consistent interactions, healthy habits, and nurturing relationships.
Create, implement, and maintain intentional, enriched, supportive learning environments connected to curriculum and quality experiences, with opportunities for safe risk-taking.
Adapt the environment to children’s developmental needs as they grow through their first three years.
Establish and maintain authentic, reciprocal, culturally responsive relationships with children, families, communities, and the center/classroom team.
Complete daily reports and provide families with ongoing evaluations of each child’s progress and developmental milestones.
Collaborate with colleagues to provide high-quality programs and creative workplaces.
Maintain safe emotional and physical environments; identify hazards, take preventative action, and report health and safety issues or incidents to management.
Remain calm and provide first aid when needed during emergencies.
Supervise children during walks around the community.
May direct or supervise other members of the teaching team.