Child Development Specialist

Title: Child Development Specialist 

Location: 5715 W Belmont Chicago, IL 

Schedule: Hybrid, Monday to Friday (8:30 am - 5:00 pm)

Summary:   

Under the general guidance of the Supervisor, the Child Development Specialist oversees the planning, coordination, and evaluation of various participant-facing services and collaborates with various internal and external stakeholders to ensure programmatic objectives are met. The Child Development Specialist provides instruction and oversight of activities of the early childhood (ages 2-5) education room in coordination with the  Adult Education and Youth and Family Services programs and within the guidelines established by the Organization. Individual accountabilities and work volume will be established through the development of annual success objectives, within the framework outlined below. 

The Child Development Specialist leverages industry knowledge and best practices to promote the mission and  vision of Heartland Human Care Services. Supports culture development and management efforts. 

Why Join Us?  

• Make a meaningful impact on the lives of individuals seeking education and career pathways.
• Collaborate with a diverse and passionate team dedicated to the mission and vision of our organization.
• Achieve your goals in a supportive environment that prioritizes your well-being and personal flexibility. 

Our Benefits: 

• Medical insurance. BCBS PPO, HMO, and HDHP with HSA Plan  
• Dental insurance.    
• Vision insurance.    
• 401(k) 3% Employer Contribution.      
• Commuter benefits.  
• Professional Development Assistance.  
• Disability insurance.
• Voluntary Benefits.    
• Flexible Spending Account.  
• Life/AD&D Insurance.
• Employee Assistance Program.
• Special Vendor Discounted Offerings on Travel, Amusement Parks, etc.

Essential Functions:

Duties & Responsibilities

• Plans and implements early childhood education activities.
• Coordinates early childhood education volunteers and interns, in collaboration with management.
• Recruits and conducts outreach to families to participate in early childhood development, family literacy and parenting education activities, in collaboration with Adult Education staff.
• Develops age appropriate and culturally relevant curriculum for early childhood education program.
• Coordinates testing for Family Literacy program participants.
• Plans and implements parent child together activities.
• Leads library and other parent-child field trips.
• Completes assessments and tracks and documents outcomes.
• Prepares monthly and quarterly reports.
• Provides basic case management services to families with preschool aged children.
• Collaborates with Adult Education staff to ensure that literacy instruction is aligned.
• Participates in staff meetings, in-service training, professional development, and organization activities.
• Assists families in completing pre-school, Action for Children, and other childcare applications.
• Builds relationships with local community organizations, schools, and other stakeholders to promote services and outreach potential participants
• Organizes informational workshops for refugee and immigrant parents in the community to raise
• Other duties as assigned

Education and Experience:

• High School Diploma or G.E.D. is required.
• Bachelor's degree may be required if mandated by the funder and/or regulatory agency.
• Two (2) years’ experience working in childcare, education, case work, human services or related field is
• required.
• Experience working with refugee and resettlement populations is preferred.
• Relevant lived experience in refugee resettlement or forced migration may be considered.
• Fluency in a second language may be required if mandated by the funder or regulatory agency.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities (K/S/A):

• Ability to write routine reports and correspondence.
• Access to regular, dependable, and timely transportation
• Ability and comfortability working with people of varying socioeconomic backgrounds.
• Excellent communication skills. Strong networker, convener, relationship builder and communicator with experience collaborating with diverse work teams and stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to handle confidential and sensitive information possessing skills to handle situations in a professional and diplomatic manner.
• A high degree of collaboration and emotional intelligence, self-motivation, and analytical ability.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Internet Explorer, Outlook/Exchange; Windows operating systems; and other software routinely used by Heartland Human Care Services.
• Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
• Ability to work independently and remain self-motivated with minimal direct supervision.
• Strategic thought partnership and consultancy skills.

Work Arrangement 

This role is eligible for a “hybrid” work arrangement. If hybrid, it is expected this person would be able to meet for “in person” meetings when needed or at the request of others. In-person meetings may be required on a regular basis (weekly, monthly, etc.). There may also be the availability to work from home when appropriate.

 Work Environment:

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to travel locally and work/visit various sites.
• The employee maybe required to visit customers in their offices, factories and/or institutional settings.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to outside-weather conditions.
• The noise in the work environment is moderate.

Physical Demands:

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear.
• The employee is regularly required to sit, stand and walk.
• The employee must be able to stoop, kneel and/or crawl.
• The regularly required to use hands to key, handle, or feel and reach with hands and arms.
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
• The employee must have unrestricted ability to provide physical restraint.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral
• vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.