Program Aide

Save the Children•Dyersburg, TN

About The Position

Program Aides are generalists who provide educational, relational, and social experiences for infants, toddlers, and/or preschool-aged children to support growth and development across all developmental domains. The role may involve travel to program sites or home visits and assignments across classrooms, centers, bus routes, cafeterias, and kitchens. Program Aides assist with classroom management and other operational duties as needed. They are frontline representatives of Save the Children and are responsible for promoting children’s safety, preventing and reporting child abuse, and following the organization’s safeguarding practices and values. The position includes classroom, custodial, and kitchen support. A Program Aide may assist teachers with classroom activities and materials, temporarily substitute for a Teacher or Assistant Teacher, perform cleaning and minor maintenance, complete food-service tasks, and substitute for a Cook or Assistant Cook. Other duties may include serving as a bus monitor, attending staff and parent meetings, learning Head Start and childcare regulations, maintaining confidentiality, and promoting Head Start in the community. The role reports to the Education and Inclusion Manager or Center Director.

Requirements

Must be at least 18 years old.
High school diploma or GED at minimum.
Certification as 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 to children and communicate and work effectively with staff, parents, and families.
Ability to follow directions and take initiative.
Ability to maintain strict confidentiality of family information.
Ability to work with children with disabilities.
Pass required pre-employment background checks, including applicable criminal records, sex offender registry, employment, education, and child abuse registry checks.
Pass state and local health requirements after the job offer and before employment.
If required to operate a motor vehicle, maintain a valid driver’s license and comply with Save the Children motor vehicle safety policies.
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; perform activities including sitting, crawling, stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, standing, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting, and grasping.
Ability to perform duties involving repetitive action and motion, keyboarding, and computer use.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Apply clear practices and procedures in daily work, manage time and tasks, keep the manager informed of important issues, build effective relationships with colleagues and families, and follow oral and written instructions.
Assist classroom staff with classroom activities and help the Teacher with program needs, including Family Nights, copying newsletters, preparing classroom materials, and making phone calls.
Serve periodically as a temporary substitute for the Assistant Teacher or Teacher.
Provide custodial support, including picking up trash, sweeping, mopping, vacuuming, cleaning floors with industrial equipment, cleaning and stocking bathrooms, securing buildings, cleaning windows, and performing minor building maintenance and repairs.
Periodically serve as a substitute custodian.
Complete assigned kitchen, dining room, and food-service tasks, such as dishwashing, portioning food, and taking and logging temperatures of food received from vendors.
Prepare and serve food, including food for 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 applicable hygiene and sanitation standards.
Serve as a bus monitor if required.
Attend workshops, meetings, staff and parent meetings, and activities as required.
Gain an understanding of Head Start Program Performance Standards and local childcare licensing regulations, and understand regulations related to preventing occupational disease and injury, universal precautions, and contamination prevention.
Promote Head Start in the community and maintain strict confidentiality regarding children, families, and staff.
Follow Save the Children Head Start handbooks, human resources policies and procedures, manuals, and resources.
Help ensure the safety and security of children and families, prevent and report child abuse, and comply with child-safeguarding obligations.
Travel to program sites or home visits and work in assigned classrooms, centers, bus routes, cafeterias, or kitchens as 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 per year.
Competitive health care coverage for employees and their families.
Dental and vision coverage for employees and their families.
Employer-paid short-term and long-term disability benefits.
Health Savings Account option for employees enrolled in a High-Deductible Health Plan, with an employer match toward a portion of contributions.
Flexible Spending Account options for health care and dependent care.
Agency-paid life and accidental death and dismemberment benefits.
Parental, adoption, and fertility benefits.
Annual merit increases and/or additional incentives for eligible employees.
Retirement savings plan with employer contributions after one year.
Health benefits and support through Calm and company-hosted events.
Free and confidential Employee Assistance Program assessments, short-term counseling, referrals, and follow-up services.
Internal and external learning and development opportunities and mentorships.
Certification and tuition assistance.