Center Aide - Head Start & Early Head Start (Multiple Openings)

Mt. Hood Community College; Gresham (OR); On-site; USD 24,000 - 26,000; Full time

Job summary

Mt. Hood Community College is seeking a dedicated assistant to support day-to-day operations of the Head Start Preschool and Early Head Start programs.

The role involves working across multiple classrooms, covering staff during breaks, assisting with meal services, and providing basic administrative support to ensure smooth center operations. You will follow all agency and licensing policies while helping uphold safety, learning routines, and positive interactions with children.

Qualifications

• Ability to carry out oral and written directions, read, write and speak sufficiently to fulfill duties.
• Experience working with the College's community, students, and employees.
• Bilingual skills in English and another language preferred.
• Must be enrolled in the Oregon Central Background Registry prior to start and maintained.
• Post-offer fitness for duty evaluation within 30 days (TB screening and health appraisal).
• Complete DELC licensing within 30 days of hire.
• Must possess or obtain Infant/Child First Aid/CPR within 60 days.
• Must possess or obtain Food Handlers Certificate within 30 days.

Responsibilities

• Assist in day-to-day Head Start Preschool and Early Head Start operations across multiple classrooms.
• Provide classroom coverage for staff breaks and planning.
• Support meal services and basic administrative tasks.
• Follow agency and licensing policies, procedures, rules and regulations.
• Assist with preparing activities, maintaining supplies and equipment.
• Assist with cleaning and maintenance as required.
• Assist with supervising and ensuring children’s safety and positive interactions.
• Administer medications and diapers as needed.
• Participate on committees and other duties as assigned.

Skills

Oral and written communication

Experience with college community

Job description

Job Summary And Responsibilities/Duties

Assists with conducting the day-to-day Head Start Preschool and Early Head start programs by working in multiple classrooms and performing other duties to support the operation of the center. Provides classroom coverage for staff breaks and planning. Provides support for meal services and other basic administrative supports. Meets performance standards, and follows the agency and licensing policies, procedures, rules, and regulations.

Essential Duties

• Assists in carrying out classroom schedule and daily routines and implementing planned classroom curriculum.
• Assists in preparing activities, maintaining supplies, and equipment.
• Assists with cleaning and maintenance as required by the site.
• Assists with supervising and ensuring the safety of children within the Head Start Preschool and Early Head Start programs. Assists children with learning routines, social skills, and positive interaction through positive guidance.
• Prepares food for meals in a safe and sanitary environment following local and CACFP regulations.
• Helps with setting up the meals in the classroom and with meal clean up.
• Provides basic administrative support within the center.

Additional Duties

• Administers medications, and diapers as needed.
• Participates on various committees and projects as directed.
• Performs all other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Ability to carry out oral and written directions, read, write and speak at a level sufficient to fulfill the duties to be performed for the position described
• Experience working with the backgrounds of the College’s community, students, and employees

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with young children
• Bilingual skills in English and another language that meets program and/or community needs

Additional Qualifications

• Must be enrolled in the Oregon Central Background Registry prior to beginning employment and enrollment must be maintained throughout employment
• Post-offer fitness for duty evaluation, must be obtained within 30 days of hire date:
  • TB screening
  • Health appraisal
• Complete required Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC) licensing within 30 days of hire
• Must possess or obtain current Infant/Child First Aid/CPR certification within 60 days of hire
• Must possess or obtain Food Handlers Certificate within 30 days of hire

Working Conditions and Important Information

Job Details

• Position: Multiple Openings
• Employee Group: Oregon School Employees Association (OSEA)
• Classification: OSEA Range 5
• Employment Type: Full-Time, Partial Year .80384 FTE - Program runs August - June
• FLSA Status: Non-Exempt (Hourly)
• Compensation: $17.70-$18.69 Per Hour
• Schedule: 40 hours per week, Monday – Friday
• Remote Eligibility: On-Site (Not eligible for remote work)

Working Conditions

Physical Requirements

Ability to lift/carry up to 50 lbs. a distance of 10 feet. Ability to push/pull up to 50 lbs. a distance of 10 yards. Sufficient mobility and range of motion to perform repetitive standing, walking, balancing, stooping, bending, crouching, crawling, sitting on the floor, reaching, squatting, kneeling, and twisting for up to 8 hours per day. Sufficient stamina to perform job duties at frequency required. Ability to react quickly to the physical actions of children. Sufficient vision and hearing to perform job duties. Sufficient manual dexterity and eye-hand coordination to perform job duties.

Exposure to Hazards:

Unpredictable child and family behavior, hazardous chemicals, contagious conditions, work with office equipment. Working conditions include indoor/outdoor environments, preschool center classrooms, playgrounds, and offices.

Salary Placement

Initial salary placement will be based on applicable education and/or years of relevant full-time equivalent experience at the sole discretion of the College, per the guidelines in the Collective Bargaining Agreement and in accordance with all applicable state and federal laws. Please include all relevant education and full and part-time experience (including unpaid and volunteer experience) in your application that you want the College to review towards potential placement. Hired employees will not have an opportunity to update past education and/or experience or appeal initial placement after the time of hire.