Program Aide On-Call

About the Role

Program Aides On-Call are generalists responsible for providing educational, relational, and social experiences for infants, toddlers, and/or preschool-aged children to foster growth and development in all developmental domains. This position reports to the Education and Inclusion Manager or Center Director and may require travel to various program sites and/or home visits. You may be assigned to classrooms, centers, bus routes, cafeterias, or kitchens as needed for program operations. As a frontline representative of Save the Children, you will ensure the safety and security of children and families while adhering to the agency’s values of Accountability, Ambition, Collaboration, Creativity, and Integrity.

As an employee who will routinely come into contact with children, you are expected to prevent child abuse by minimizing risk, reporting concerns, and promoting child-safeguarding awareness. You must also comply with all child-safeguarding obligations and respond to any instances of child abuse.

Responsibilities

• Apply clear practice and procedure in day-to-day job execution.
• Organize and manage time effectively to complete tasks.
• Keep your manager informed of important issues.
• Build effective relationships within your workgroup and with children and families.
• Understand and carry out oral and written instructions.

Classroom Assistance

• Assist classroom staff in all activities.
• Support the Teacher in program needs (e.g., Family Nights, copying newsletters, preparing classroom materials, making phone calls).
• Serve as a temporary substitute in the absence of the Assistant Teacher or Teacher.

Janitorial Assistance

• Provide custodial support, including but not limited to: picking up trash, sweeping, mopping, vacuuming, cleaning and stocking bathrooms, securing buildings, cleaning windows, and performing minor building maintenance and repairs.
• May serve as custodian in the absence of the regular custodian.

Kitchen Assistance

• Complete routine kitchen, dining room, and food chores (e.g., dishwashing, portioning foods, logging food temperatures).
• Prepare and serve food, including special dietary needs for children with disabilities.
• Participate in food service cleanup, inventory, and other tasks as requested.
• Substitute for the Cook or Assistant Cook as needed.
• Comply with all local, state, and federal hygiene and sanitation standards.

Other General Duties

• May serve as a Bus Monitor.
• Attend workshops, staff meetings, parent meetings, and required activities.
• Understand and adhere to Head Start Program Performance Standards and local child care licensing regulations.
• Follow regulations for occupational disease and injury prevention, including universal precautions.
• Promote Head Start positively in the community.
• Maintain strict confidentiality regarding children, families, and staff.
• Familiarize yourself with Save the Children’s Head Start Employee Handbook, HR policies, and procedures.

Requirements

• Minimum age of 18.
• High school diploma or G.E.D.
• Certification as required by federal, state, or local Head Start or child care regulations.
• Obtain and maintain basic first aid and pediatric CPR certification within 90 days of employment (or sooner if required by local/state regulations).
• Demonstrated knowledge of working with infants, toddlers, and preschool-aged children.
• Professional proficiency in spoken and written English.
• Ability to relate sensitively with children and communicate effectively with staff, parents, and families.
• Ability to follow directions and take initiative.
• Demonstrated ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Experience working with children with disabilities.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to perform medium to heavy physical work, including lifting up to 50 pounds occasionally, 20 pounds frequently, and 5-10 pounds constantly.
• Perform activities such as sitting, crawling, stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, standing, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting, and grasping.
• Repetitive motion skills, keyboarding, and computer use.

Clear pre-employment background checks are required, including criminal records, sex offender registries, employment, and education verifications (including child abuse registry if required by state regulations). Must pass all state and local health requirements post-job offer and prior to employment.

This position may require operating a motor vehicle; a valid driver’s license and compliance with Save the Children’s vehicle policies are required.

Current and former Head Start/Early Head Start parents will receive preference for employment vacancies for which they are qualified.