Support Services Specialist

It's a great feeling to work for a company that does so much good for others around the world!

Academic Req: Required - High School diploma or GED, and Child Development Associate Credential (CDA) or state awarded certificate that meets or exceeds the requirements for a CDA credential, or at onboarding enrolled in a CDA credential program to be completed within 18 months of the time of hire.

Work Experience: Required - One year of related work experience.

Critical Action Items & Measurable Deliverables:

1. Protect the physical and mental health and safety of our children and no child is left alone or unsupervised while under our care. (HSPPS §1302.90)

2. Implement nutrition services that are culturally and developmentally appropriate, meet the nutritional needs of and accommodate the feeding requirements of each child, including children with special dietary needs and children with disabilities. (HSPPS §1302.44)

3. Ensure facilities, equipment, and materials are kept clean and safe for children’s use in accordance with federal policies and agency protocols. (HSPPS §1302.47)

4. Implement hygiene practices that at a minimum ensure (i) Appropriate toileting, hand washing, and diapering procedures are followed; (ii) Safe food preparation; and, (iii) Exposure to blood and body fluids are handled consistent with standards of the Occupational Safety Health Administration. (HSPPS §1302.47)
5. Follow appropriate practices to keep children safe during all activities, including reporting at a minimum suspected or known child abuse and neglect, appropriate supervision of children at all times, and all standards of conduct. (HSPPS §1302.47, §1302.90)

6. Support and participate in staff development, including completion of minimum training requirements as specified in state and federal standards (HSPPS §1302.91, §1302.92), continuing professional development, and staff wellness initiatives.

7. Respond to classroom requests for support in a timely manner, which is also compliant with Office of Head Start and agency regulations, policies, and protocols.
8. Establish regular communication with teachers to ensure they are well-informed about their students’ behavior, and progress.

9. Monitor classroom to make certain it is free from physical and environmental hazards.

10. Report all incidents within the timeframes designated in program policy and protocol.

Other Responsibilities:

1. Conduct daily cleaning of facilities, including but not limited to classrooms, offices, bathrooms, and common areas and playgrounds.

2. Conduct and maintain inventory control of all cleaning supplies, including ordering and receiving supplies.

3. Perform or arrange seasonal deep cleaning and maintenance of building interior and exterior (i.e. floor waxing, carpet cleaning, pressure wash building).

4. Implement hyper-sanitation protocols when directed.

5. Ensure that safety and health procedures are followed in accordance with federal and agency policy and protocols.

6. Prepare and serve classroom meals and assist with family-style meal activities as directed.

7. Wash dishes, pots, pans and utensils using approved sanitation methods.

8. Conduct routine inspections and regular up-keep of interior and exterior areas to ensure areas are free of safety hazards, trash, weeds, and other foreign materials.

9. Conduct daily inspection/grounds keeping of outside areas, including lawns, landscaped beds, playgrounds, and parking areas to keep centers clean and safe between regular contracted site services.

10. Notify supervisor of any safety or health issues or concerns.

11. Assist with moving and/or transporting office and classroom furniture, fixtures, supplies and equipment as requested.

12. Launder clothing and linens in support of classroom activities as requested.

13. Assist with classroom supervision as needed.

14. Assist with set up/tear down for classroom and center activities, training, meetings, recruitment fairs, and special events.

15. Assist with repair and maintenance of buildings, storage facilities, machinery and equipment.

16. Perform other job duties as assigned.

Requirements:

1. Demonstrate ability to respond sensitively and competently to the service population’s cultural and socioeconomic characteristics.

2. Communicate in writing and verbally in English and Spanish (preferred).

3. Demonstrate ability to maintain emotional control, and professional composure at all times.
4. Demonstrate a working knowledge of all INK policies and procedures.

5. Ability to organize and prioritize duties and responsibilities in a fast-paced environment.

6. Possess a valid driver’s license.

7. Complete and pass health examination.

8. Confirm work eligibility status.

9. Successfully pass driving history check.

10. Clear criminal background check.

11. Required to lift up to 60 pounds.

12. Required to stand, sit on the floor, bend, squat, kneel, lift children, and engage with children. 

13. Exposure to communicable diseases, and other hazards such as cigarette smoke, pets, at risk 
neighborhoods, etc. 

14. Travel up to 50% by car, bus, airplane, or train may also be required associated with attendance at conferences, meetings and other duties carried out at distant locations in and out of state and in some cases where some overnight travel may be required. 

15. Some evenings and weekend work may occasionally be required for events such as home visits, parent teacher conferences, Parent Committee meetings, community, and social events such as field trips.

Here at INK, we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace. Please feel free to apply for this position even if your work experience and education do not align perfectly with every requirement for this job description. You may very well be the perfect candidate for this role or other ones that we have open. Thank you for your interest in joining our mission!

INK is committed to following immunization recommendations produced by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC). As such, our company policy requires that all employees must receive an annual Influenza vaccination or obtain an approved exemption as a medical or religious accommodation. This is a condition of employment, and all new hires will be responsible for providing proof.

INK is an Equal Employment Opportunity (“EEO”) Employer. It has been and will continue to be a fundamental policy of INK, not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, pregnancy, sexual orientation, age, national origin, alienage or citizenship status, veteran or military status, disability, medical condition, or any other characteristic prohibited by federal, state and/or local laws. This policy applies to all aspects of employment, including hiring, promotion, demotion, compensation, training, working conditions, transfer, job assignments, benefits, layoff, and termination.

If you like to work with people that believe they can make a difference in the world, this is the company for you!

EEO Statement

It our policy to provide equal employment opportunity and treat all employees equally regardless of age, race, creed/religion, color, national origin, immigration status or citizenship status, sexual orientation, military or veteran status, sex/gender, gender identity, gender expression, disability, genetic information or genetic predisposition or carrier status, marital status, partnership status, victim of domestic violence, sexual or other reproductive health decisions, or other characteristics protected by applicable law.

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