Program Aide

Save the Children US•Dyersburg, TN

18h

About The Position

The Program Aide is a generalist who provides educational, relational, and social experiences for infants, toddlers, and/or preschool-aged children to foster growth and development across all developmental domains. The role supports classroom staff and may be assigned to different classrooms, centers, bus routes, cafeterias, or kitchens according to program needs. The position may involve travel to program sites and home visits and may require temporarily substituting for teachers, cooks, assistant cooks, or custodians, or serving as a bus monitor. As a frontline representative of Save the Children, the Program Aide helps ensure the safety and security of children and families, follows the organization’s values and child-safeguarding requirements, and takes steps to prevent, recognize, and report child abuse. The role also involves supporting daily classroom operations, janitorial and kitchen tasks, attending meetings and workshops, following Head Start and licensing requirements, maintaining confidentiality, and promoting Head Start in the community. The position reports to the Manager, Education & Inclusion or Center Director.

Requirements

Must be at least 18 years of age.
High school diploma or GED required.
Hold certifications applicable under federal, state, or local Head Start or childcare regulations.
Obtain and continually maintain basic first aid and pediatric CPR certification within 90 days of employment, or sooner if required by local or state regulations.
Demonstrated knowledge of the basics of working with infants, toddlers, and preschool-aged children.
Professional proficiency in spoken and written English.
Ability to relate sensitively with children and communicate and work effectively with staff, parents, and families.
Ability to follow directions and take initiative.
Ability to keep family information strictly confidential.
Ability to work with children with disabilities.
Meet pre-employment background-check requirements, including applicable criminal-record, sex-offender-registry, employment, education, and child-abuse-registry checks, and pass required state and local health requirements after the job offer and before employment.
Maintain a valid driver’s license and comply with Save the Children motor-vehicle policies if operating a vehicle is required.
Ability to perform medium to heavy physical work: exert up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, up to 20 pounds frequently, and up to 5–10 pounds constantly; duties may involve sitting, crawling, stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, standing, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting, grasping, repetitive motions, keyboarding, and computer use.

Nice To Haves

Current and former Head Start/Early Head Start parents receive preference for qualified vacancies.

Responsibilities

Apply clear practices and procedures in day-to-day work, organize and manage time, keep the manager informed of important issues, build effective relationships, and understand and carry out oral and written instructions.
Assist classroom staff with classroom activities and support the Teacher with program needs, including Family Nights, preparing newsletters and classroom materials, and making phone calls.
Serve as a temporary substitute for the Assistant Teacher or Teacher during periodic absences.
Provide custodial support as needed, including picking up trash, sweeping, mopping, vacuuming, cleaning floors with industrial equipment, cleaning and stocking bathrooms, securing buildings, cleaning windows, and performing minor maintenance and repairs.
Periodically serve as custodian when the regular custodian is absent.
Complete assigned kitchen and dining room tasks, such as dishwashing, portioning food, and taking and logging temperatures of food deliveries.
Prepare and serve food, including food to meet the needs of children with special needs or disabilities; assist with food-service cleanup, inventory, and other food-service tasks.
Substitute for or assist the Cook or Assistant Cook as needed, and comply with local, state, and federal hygiene and sanitation standards.
Serve as a Bus Monitor if required.
Attend workshops, staff and parent meetings, and other activities as necessary.
Develop an understanding of Head Start Program Performance Standards and local childcare licensing regulations, and follow requirements related to preventing occupational disease, injury, and contamination, including universal precautions.
Promote Head Start in the community and maintain strict confidentiality concerning children, families, and staff.
Become familiar with and adhere to Save the Children Head Start handbooks, policies, procedures, manuals, and resources.
Follow child-safeguarding obligations, take positive steps to protect children who may be at risk, and report and respond to instances of child abuse.
Travel to program sites and/or home visits as required; maintain a valid driver’s license and comply with motor-vehicle safety policies if driving is needed.

Benefits

Paid time off, including 10 days of winter break, 5 days of spring break, 5 personal days, 11 holidays, and 2 floating holidays annually.
Health, dental, and vision coverage for employees and their families.
Employer-paid short-term and long-term disability benefits.
Health Savings Account option with a company match for eligible participants enrolled in a High-Deductible Health Plan.
Health care and dependent care Flexible Spending Account options.
Agency-paid life and accidental death and dismemberment insurance.
Parental, adoption, and fertility benefits.
Annual merit increases and/or additional incentives for eligible employees.
Retirement savings plan with employer contributions after one year.
Wellness support through Calm and company-hosted events.
Free, confidential Employee Assistance Program assessments, short-term counseling, referrals, and follow-up services.
Internal and external learning and development opportunities, mentorships, certification assistance, and tuition assistance.