Early Childhood Program Specialist 3

About the role

The Early Childhood Program Specialist 3 for the Children's Center will serve as the lead classroom teacher and direct the daily operations of a developmentally appropriate classroom. Key responsibilities include planning, implementing, and evaluating curriculum activities, overseeing daily routines, modeling nurturing interactions, maintaining a safe and healthy learning environment, completing child assessments, conducting parent conferences, providing leadership and guidance to lower-level staff, ensuring compliance with licensing and accreditation standards, and completing required documentation.

Responsibilities

• Plan, implement, and evaluate curriculum activities supporting children's growth and development.
• Oversee daily routines such as meals, toileting, diapering, naps, and physical care needs.
• Model nurturing interactions and effective communication with children.
• Maintain a safe and healthy learning environment.
• Complete child assessments and conduct parent conferences.
• Provide leadership and guidance to Early Childhood Program Specialists 1 and 2, student employees, and volunteers.
• Ensure compliance with licensing and accreditation standards.
• Evaluate student staff performance and complete required documentation.

Requirements

• Forty-five college quarter hours in early childhood development/education/special education or equivalent.
• A Child Development Associate Credential (CDA) and two years experience working in a group setting with children of the ages enrolled in the program.
• Satisfactory background check through the Washington Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF).
• Proof of measles (MMR) vaccination, negative tuberculosis (TB) test, and possession of a Washington Food Handler’s Permit.
• Completion of HIV/AIDS Bloodborne Pathogen Training, Basic First Aid or Pediatric First Aid Certification, and Basic CPR and/or Infant/Child CPR Certification.

Qualifications

• Associates degree in Child Development or Early Childhood Development OR Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood or Elementary Education.
• Two (2) years experience with children in group child care setting.
• Knowledge of developmentally appropriate practices with young children.
• Experience working with infants/toddlers in an education or childcare setting.
• Proven leadership skills.
• Demonstrated excellent communication skills with parents, children, and co-workers.

Skills

N/A

Benefits

• Paid sick and vacation leave.
• Paid holidays.
• Medical, dental, life, and disability insurance package for employees and dependents.
• Retirement.
• Deferred compensation, optional supplemental retirement accounts.
• Training and development.
• Employee tuition waiver.

Pay

$4,406 to $5,928 monthly | Range 48 Steps A - M

Schedule

Full time (100% FTE)

Benefits

• Comprehensive benefits package including paid sick and vacation leave; paid holidays; medical, dental, life and disability insurance package for employees and dependents; retirement; deferred compensation, optional supplemental retirement accounts; training and development; and employee tuition waiver.

Position Sponsorship Eligibility

Not eligible for work visa sponsorship

About Department/College/Area/Campus

Children's Center / Human Development

Application Instructions

Applicants must upload the following required documents to their online application: resume, cover letter. External candidates, upload all documents in the “Application Document” section of your application. Current WSU Employees (internal candidates), before starting your Workday application, please use these instructions to update your education and experience in your worker profile in Workday. Internal candidates, upload all documents in the “Resume/Cover Letter” section of your application. Documents may be submitted as one file or separate files. Applicants are encouraged to upload as a PDF, if possible. Reference contact information will be requested later in the recruitment process through Workday.

Background Check

This position has been designated by the department to require a background check because it requires access to children or vulnerable adults as defined by RCW 74.34, engages in law enforcement, requires security clearance, interacts with WSU students in a counseling or advising capacity, has access to personal identifying and/or financial information, unsupervised access to university buildings/property, or other business-related need. A background check will not be completed until an initial determination of qualification for employment has been made.