Infant Development Specialist

An Infant Development Specialist established a climate of respect for each infant/toddler's individual personality, physical characteristics, traits, temperament, language, and family culture. They support the individual planning and implementation of Catalyst's program for children aged zero to three years old. The Infant Development Specialists move with their group of children from the time they enter the program until they move to preschool (age 2.9 or up) supporting their development, building strong family relationships, setting the trajectory for future success in the child/families' school success and ensuring continuity of care for the child until they move to preschool. Catalyst Infant Development Specialists must be able to facilitate various age-appropriate experiences that support children's social-emotional, cognitive, and physical development and ensure all children are always supervised in a healthy and safe environment.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Create and implement individual developmentally appropriate curriculum and small group experiences directly connected to the interests and development of infants/toddlers, supported by learning frameworks and foundations that promote positive, wholistic and culturally responsive practices.
• Understand the growth and development of infants/toddlers ages zero-three years and meet their needs based on their developmental age.
• Keep infants/toddlers healthy and safe by connecting proper supervision, following compliance regulations, positive, empathetic, consistent interactions, healthy habits, and nurturing culturally diverse relationships.
• Create, implement, and maintain intentional, enriched, and supportive learning environments connected to curriculum and quality experiences that are appropriate for all children and allow opportunities for safe risks.
• Ensure the environment meets the needs of the developmental age of infants/toddlers as they grow through the first three years of life.
• Provide excellent customer service by establishing and maintaining authentic connections and reciprocal, culturally responsive relationships with children, families, communities, and center/classroom team.
• Complete a daily report and provide continual evaluation for families detailing the child's progress and developmental milestones.
• Work collaboratively connecting workplace values, education, and experience to provide the highest quality programs and creative workplaces.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

All Infant Development Specialists are expected to demonstrate behaviors that are essential for successful programs and environments including the following:

• Positive, nurturing and patient and developmentally appropriate interactions with infants/toddlers.
• Maintain kind, respectful, and safe emotional and physical environments for children.
• Be on time and present on a regularly scheduled basis
• Be supportive and nurturing in outdoor and indoor programs
• Be physically and mentally capable of interacting with infants/toddlers zero to three meeting all their needs and ensuring their safety
• Be aware of and implement safety guidelines; report any health and safety issues or incidents to management, and remain calm if providing first aid (as needed) during emergency situations

Physical and Environmental Conditions:Infant Development Specialists are responsible for various program elements on a daily basis and will routinely be exposed to indoor and outdoor elements. Infant Development Specialists f may be required to:

• Visually inspect the environment for hazards to children; identify hazards and implement preventative actions (i.e., set up cones to limit the play area) to maintain a safe environment for children
• Be comfortable with occasional loud noise in or outside the classroom during active/loud activities
• Be comfortable holding, lifting diapering, and nurturing infants and toddlers ages 0-3 years during caregiving routines.
• Be comfortable with frequent bending, lifting, twisting, reaching, pushing and pulling
• Push, lift, carry, and hold various objects up to 15 lbs. - by individual or team effort - such as equipment carts, emergency back packs, food coolers, classroom furnishings, and other similar program materials
• Work inside the classroom or outside the room in all weather conditions which are safe for children.
• Traverse various terrains (grass, blacktop, dirt) and heights (ladders, playgrounds) depending on the school outdoor environment
• Adapt to the physical level of infants/toddlers (example, sitting on the floor, kneeling, squatting) for activities and problem-solving/interactions
• Supervise walks around the community.

Infant Development Specialists are the individuals with the highest educational qualifications assigned to a group of children/classroom/center/program. They may also direct/supervise other members of the teaching team.

EDUCATION:

Education and permit requirements may vary by center needs and/or require at least three units specific to the Infant/Toddler (0-3yrs) age group.

Infant Development Specialist education/permit requirements:

• 24 units in child development, early childhood development or related field, plus 16 general education units and (at least three units in Infant/Toddler (0-3yrs) specifically)
• AA degree in ECE, CD, or related field from a nationally accredited college OR
• BA degree in ECE, CD, or related field from a national accredited college/university OR
• Teacher or above Child Development Permit issued by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing
• Any degree must also include at least three units in Infant/Toddler (0-3yrs) specifically)

EXPERIENCE & SKILLS:

• 2 years of experience in a group care environment where care/teaching was provided for a consistent age group preferred.
• 1 year experience supervising adults or equivalent Adult Supervision units preferred.

• Effective problem-solving, conflict resolution, classroom management, and communication with children and families.
• Effective organization, time management, curriculum, and assessment documentation (Individualized lesson plans, portfolios, anecdotal notes)
• Ability to work alongside colleagues and maintain a professional team environment.
• Current adult and infant/child CPR/First Aid certification preferred.

• Bilingual/Multilingual language preference based on individual center needs.

We Offer:

• Career Development and Training
• Discounted Childcare
• Paid Vacation/Holiday/Sick Time
• Medical/Dental/Vision Benefits
• 401K
• Life Insurance
• Commuter Benefits
• Company Discounts
• We are proud to be an EEO/AA employer M/F/D/V. We maintain a drug-free workplace.