Kids Play Team Member (Southwest)

Why Your Role Matters

At the Greater Austin YMCA, we offer a supportive and dynamic work environment where you can make a meaningful impact on children's lives. Join us in promoting wellness, inclusion, and community engagement while growing personally and professionally. As a Kids Play Team Member, you will lead engaging activities and implement a curriculum designed to nurture children's social, physical, spiritual, and mental growth. Your mission is to create a secure, positive, and exhilarating environment where children thrive. We are looking for candidates that are available to work Monday through Friday 7:45 AM to 1:15 PM or 3:45 PM to 8:15 PM and Saturdays from 7:45 AM to 2:00 PM.

How You Will Make an Impact

• Welcome members and their children warmly, using their names to establish a friendly and cooperative relationship with each family.
• Lead activities that encourage curiosity, exploration, and problem-solving, promoting self-esteem and appropriate social interactions among children.
• Interact respectfully and nurturing with children, ensuring their social and emotional development is supported.
• Engage actively with children, often getting down to their eye level to play and communicate effectively.
• Maintain a safe environment, adhering to established safety standards and YMCA policies.
• Ensure children's health, safety, and welfare are always protected, attending to personal hygiene needs as necessary.
• Uphold YMCA rules and policies consistently and fairly for all members and children.
• Clean and organize childcare areas throughout and at the end of each shift to maintain a welcoming environment.
• Communicate effectively with parents about their children's activities and involvement in the program.
• Lead by example in promoting the YMCA's mission, vision, and values.
• Serve as an ambassador for the organization with internal and external stakeholders.
• Be the ultimate storyteller of the YMCA's work and culture.
• Complete other duties as assigned.

What You Bring to the Y

• Minimum age requirement of 16 years.
• Preferred bilingual proficiency in Spanish/English (not required).
• Previous experience in a childcare setting is advantageous.
• Experience in caring for children aged 8 weeks (about 2 months) to 12 years.
• Current certifications in First Aid, CPR/AED, and Emergency Oxygen are preferred.
• Ability to remain composed and effective in high-pressure situations.
• Team-oriented mentality with a positive, service-oriented attitude.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Commitment to fostering an inclusive environment and promoting YMCA values.
• You have a growth mindset. You quickly learn from failure and value feedback in the effort to continuously improve.
• You are a team player. You are a team player with a positive, service-oriented attitude and you can work well with others.
• You communicate effectively. You listen for understanding and meaning. You speak and write effectively.
• You are customer-focused. You build good customer relationships and deliver customer-centric solutions.
• You foster a culture of inclusion and belonging. You leverage people's differences as strengths.

Physical Requirements:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, stand, walk, bend, talk, and occasionally lift and/or move items, including equipment, furniture, and/or children. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

• Benefit from a free household YMCA membership, enriching both your life and the lives of others.
• Access retirement planning options to secure your future.
• Enhance your skills through participation in learning and development workshops.
• Exclusive cell phone plan discounts for AT&T and T-Mobile/Sprint users.
• Discounts on programs and services to make your YMCA experience even more rewarding.

The Greater Austin YMCA is a nonprofit community enterprise with a purpose of elevating quality of life in central Texas by boldly expanding access for all children, adults, families and seniors in our dynamically growing community. Founded in 1953 and anchored in three Central Texas counties, the Y has served close to 500,000 people and provided more than $30M in financial assistance and program subsidies over the past 10 years. We operate 8 community centers and Camp Moody along with 6 early childhood education centers, 60 afterschool programs on school campuses in four districts, and 20 summer camps, with 1500 staff team members, 1000 volunteers, and a $48M annual operating budget.

Additional Information:

The organization has reviewed this job description to ensure that essential functions and basic duties have been included. It is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all functions, responsibilities, skills, and abilities. Additional functions and requirements may be assigned by supervisors as deemed appropriate.

The Greater Austin YMCA provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, marital status, amnesty, or status as a covered veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. Greater Austin YMCA complies with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment in every location in which we have employees. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.