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 through awareness, good practice, and training. You must take positive steps to protect children who may be a subject of concern, report and respond to any instance of child abuse, and promote training and awareness around child-safeguarding obligations.

Responsibilities

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

Classroom Assistance

• Assist classroom staff in all classroom 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 periodic absence of the Assistant Teacher or Teacher.

Janitorial Assistance

• Provide custodial support, including picking up trash, sweeping, mopping, vacuuming, cleaning and stocking bathrooms, securing buildings, cleaning windows, and 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 regular Cook or Assistant Cook as needed.
• Comply with all local, state, and federal hygiene and sanitation standards.

Other General Job Duties

• May serve as a Bus Monitor.
• Attend workshops, staff meetings, parent meetings, and activities as required.
• Understand 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 Head Start Employee Handbook, HR policies, and resources, and adhere to them.

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.
• Must 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.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality regarding families.
• Ability to work with children with disabilities.

Physical Requirements

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

Additional Requirements

• Clear pre-employment background check, including criminal records, sex offender registries, employment, and education verifications (including child abuse registry if required by state regulations).
• Pass all state and local health requirements post-job offer and prior to employment.
• May require operation of a motor vehicle; must maintain a valid driver’s license and comply with Save the Children policies for safe vehicle operation.

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