Supervisory Lead Educator

U.S. Air Force Academy • Air Force Academy, CO

5d

About The Position

This position serves as a first-level supervisor of nonsupervisory employees assigned to a Child Development Center or School Age Care Program. The incumbent plans, directs, organizes, and controls staff activities while ensuring the delivery of appropriate developmental care and instruction to children and youth in the Child and Youth Program (CYP). The role supports staff training, maintains effective working relationships with managers and professional staff, and helps ensure continuity and quality of services.

The position is designated mission-essential and requires regular contact with children. Work may take place indoors and outdoors, with occasional travel away from the normal duty station, potentially including overnight stays. The employee may occasionally work outside normal duty hours; shift work, overtime, or irregular hours may be required. The position requires a pre-employment physical examination with renewal at least every three years, specified immunizations, first aid and CPR certification, and recurring background checks. The incumbent must pass initial and periodic short-notice drug testing.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship is required.
• Must be at least 18 years old and possess a high school diploma or equivalent.
• Must meet the OPM qualification requirements for the GS-1701 General Education and Training Series.
• Must meet the basic education requirement: a bachelor's degree or higher with major study in education or a subject-matter field appropriate to the position, or an acceptable combination of education and experience. Transcripts must be submitted when qualifying based on education.
• Must meet one of the specialized qualification paths: at least one year of specialized experience at the GS-07 level or equivalent; two years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's degree, or a master's or equivalent graduate degree, in child development or early childhood education; or an acceptable combination of specialized experience and graduate education.
• Merit-promotion applicants must meet applicable federal time-in-grade requirements; one year at GS-07 is required for the GS-09 level when TIG applies.
• Knowledge of child and youth development theory, methodology, and practices concerning physical, intellectual, social, and emotional development across ages, needs, and settings.
• Knowledge of safety and security regulations, practices, and procedures.
• Knowledge of federal, state, and local laws concerning detection, prevention, and reporting of child abuse or neglect.
• Skill in educating, counseling, and advising child care providers and parents; assessing training and children's developmental needs; and evaluating child care providers' qualifications and suitability.
• Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing.
• Ability to adapt planned activities to children's individual skills.
• Must pass initial and periodic short-notice drug testing under the Air Force Civilian Drug Demand Reduction Program.
• Must complete required background checks, including DD Form 2981, Installation Records Check, FBI fingerprint check, and Tier 1 with a State Criminal History Repository check; specified checks are renewed every five years, with annual review of DD Form 2981.
• Must obtain required immunizations for working with children and youth, including influenza vaccination, and undergo a pre-employment physical examination renewed at least every three years.
• Must have mobility to ensure children's safety and perform repetitive actions such as walking, standing, bending, stooping, and sitting on the floor.
• Must hold certificates in first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
• Must be registered for Selective Service if male, as applicable.
• Must provide documentation of foreign education equivalency if relying on foreign education credentials.

Responsibilities

• Supervise nonsupervisory employees assigned to a Child Development Center or School Age Care Program.
• Ensure staff provide appropriate developmental care and instruction for children and youth.
• Exercise supervisory personnel management responsibilities.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with managers and professional staff to support seamless service and continuity of quality.
• Support and reinforce developmental training for direct care professionals.
• Conduct and review program evaluations of classroom and activity areas, identify needed improvements, and establish and implement corrective action plans.
• Conduct quality assurance checks on classroom and activity records, including action plans, medication and allergy documentation, inspection checklists, temperature logs, inclusion and behavior support plans, accident and incident reports, attendance and accountability reports, and locally required documentation.
• Serve as a mandated reporter when child abuse or neglect is suspected, in accordance with local policy.

Benefits

• Direct-childcare employees may receive childcare discounts: 100% for the first child and 25% for each additional child; other assigned CYP and FCC personnel may receive a 25% discount.
• Federal employees receive access to a comprehensive benefits package; specific benefits depend on position type and eligibility.
• Disabled veteran leave may be available to eligible federal employees with a service-connected disability rating of 30% or more.

What This Job Offers

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