Human Development Specialist I

This position may be used to fill multiple roles within Region 1 of Neighborhood and Community Services (NCS) at the following locations:

• Clermont Elementary School, 5720 Clermont Dr, Alexandria, VA 22310
• Garfield Elementary School, 7101 Old Keene Mill Rd., Springfield, VA 22150
• Waynewood Elementary School, 1205 Waynewood Blvd, Alexandria, VA 22308

About the role

Join our team at the Department of Neighborhood and Community Services (NCS) to support our mission of partnering with communities, families, and individuals to provide opportunities that promote equity and create positive outcomes for people of all ages and abilities. This position works within the Culture, Recreation, and Community Connections (CRCC) Division to deliver out-of-school-time care, recreation, and culturally enriching programs for school-age youth with diverse functional, inclusive, cultural, and economic needs at assigned locations. Using human-centered and human development practices in a school-based setting, you will create positive developmental relationships tailored to the individualized needs of youth.

Responsibilities

• Provide access to in-person and virtual universal programs with targeted strategies ensuring an inclusive approach to service delivery.
• Establish and maintain positive relationships with participants, parents, staff, school officials, and citizen groups.
• Deliver, coordinate, and adapt equitable programs and activities to meet the needs of the population served.
• Increase access to programming by transporting community members and participants to programs and events.
• Supervise participants during programs and actively promote positive behavior intervention and developmental relationships.
• Assist in the administration of facility operations, program planning, and participant and staff oversight.
• Support recruitment, hiring, training, and evaluation of staff and volunteers.
• Adhere to revenue and expense limits, ensuring staff compliance with operating procedures and safety standards.
• Assist in developing and implementing community outreach plans and targeted interventions for underserved populations to increase program participation.

Requirements

• Graduation from an accredited college or university with an associate's degree in human development, social work, early childhood education, recreation, or a related field, plus one year of child-related programmatic or human services experience.
• First Aid/CPR certifications (required within 90 days of appointment).
• Successful completion of a criminal background check and Child Protective Services Registry check.
• Tuberculosis (TB) screening upon hire.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a child-related field such as elementary education, nursing, or recreation.
• Two years of child-related programmatic experience with one year in a staff supervisory capacity.
• Certification from an internationally or nationally recognized Montessori organization, Child Development Credential, or a one-year early childhood certificate from a college or university.
• Experience working in a school-age childcare setting with children who have special needs.
• Experience working with a diverse, multicultural population.

Skills

• Knowledge of human-centered and human development practices.
• Knowledge of fiscal record keeping and inventory procedures.
• Knowledge of health, safety, and first aid methods.
• Ability to direct and coordinate the work of subordinate staff and volunteers.
• Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to establish and maintain supportive relationships with participants, parents, staff, and community groups.
• Ability to provide diverse experiences to meet participants' intellectual, physical, social, and emotional needs.

Schedule

This position is scheduled for 32.5 hours per week, year-round (52 weeks per year), between 6:45 a.m. and 6:15 p.m. The role requires a split-shift schedule Monday through Friday. On days when Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) is out of school (teacher workdays, winter break, spring break, summer), this position requires a full-day schedule of 6.5 or more consecutive hours.

Physical Requirements

• Active role requiring monitoring and observation of program participants.
• Regular movement to supervise and interact with participants at their level.
• Occasional lifting, transporting, or moving up to 50 pounds.
• Repetitive standing, walking, balancing, stooping, bending, crouching, crawling, sitting on the floor, reaching, squatting, kneeling, and twisting.
• Ability to react quickly to participants' physical actions and respond to emergencies.
• Ability to apply CPR and First Aid skills as needed.
• Sufficient mobility to attend meetings and make presentations.