Child Development Specialist

Child Development Specialist

JSSA has an immediate opening for a full-time Child Development Specialist to oversee our Child Development Program in our Family Discovery Center. 

Principle Responsibilities & Duties: 

1. Oversees and implements all aspects of the Child Development program to meet established Early Learning Standards and best practices, enhances each child’s development and promotes school readiness. Ensures that safety standards are maintained in the child development room.
2. Supervises the Child Development Assistants, Substitute Teachers, Interns and Volunteers, including scheduling staff hours and substitute coverage.
3. Provides program orientation, training and coaching for new and existing staff, leads regular team meetings and provides regular in-service trainings on child development and child safety that enhance skills and knowledge of team members.
4. Plans and implements a developmentally appropriate program for infants and toddlers aligned with established Early Learning Standards and best practices, including ASQ screenings, assessments and development of children’s individual classroom plans. Plans age-appropriate activities for children and their parents to complete together.
5. Familiarizes self with community resources appropriate to needs of families and acts as a liaison between families and other community service agencies.  Meets with each new parent and child to welcome and orient them to the Center and help identify needs. Provides resources to participants to support their parenting role.  Completes Child Intake paperwork.
6. Supports Program Manager in completing grant applications and reporting for all funding sources. Ensures that all required reports are timely and accurate.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Required:

1. Minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree in early childhood education, child development or related field.  Must have minimum of one year supervisory experience.
2. Must have experience working with young children from birth to age three and demonstrate a sound knowledge of good teaching practices and child development.
3. Must demonstrate a commitment and ability to serve a diverse community including low-income, English language learners, and children with special needs or challenging behaviors. Bilingual English/Spanish is preferred.
4. Must be computer proficient

Salary range between $50,000-$55,000 annually

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The Jewish Social Service Agency (JSSA) has been helping people across the Washington metropolitan area meet emotional, social, and physical challenges for more than 120 years. A nonsectarian provider, we serve people of all religious backgrounds, races and ethnicities, helping the youngest child to the most fragile senior, from individuals to entire families. JSSA provides services and support to nearly 31,000 individuals a year through our wide range of counseling, educational, specialized employment, in-home support, hospice and nursing care, and social services. We are a growing Agency and strive to be an Employer of Choice. As such we offer a competitive salary and benefits package, a healthy work-life balance, collaborative team environment and many opportunities for personal growth and professional development. We pride ourselves on our mission to be the first place for the Jewish community, as well as the community at large, to turn for clinical and social services of the highest quality that sustain and nurture all who seek assistance. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. AA/M/F/D