Child Development Center Assistant (1 Vacancy + 6-month Eligibility List)

College of the Desert; Palm Desert (CA); On-site; USD 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

College of the Desert seeks a full-time Child Development Center Assistant at the Palm Desert Campus to handle clerical and secretarial tasks with independent judgment. The role supports budgeting, licensing compliance, and enrollment management, ensuring smooth daily operations of the Child Development Center.

Responsibilities include maintaining files, processing payments, preparing schedules, coordinating with departments, and training junior staff.

Qualifications

• Rudimentary to advanced clerical duties with independent judgment.
• Ability to maintain accurate financial and licensing records.
• Strong oral and written communication skills required.

Responsibilities

• Perform clerical and secretarial duties with independent judgment.
• Record and deposit fee payments and assist in budget-related materials.
• Maintain child files, enrollment rosters, and licensing documentation.
• Prepare and file staff schedules, correspondence, and reports.
• Arrange meetings and coordinate with other departments.
• Organize reception area and coordinate workflow for the department.
• Compute Child Care Food Program rebates and monthly claims.
• Monitor campus visitors and train clerical staff as needed.
• Conduct center tours and operate office equipment and software.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

Skills

Clerical tasks

Reception and telephone techniques

Financial record keeping

Attention to detail

Time management

Education

High school diploma

Tools

Word processing

Excel

Email

Job description

Responsibilities

1. Perform a variety of responsible clerical and secretarial duties involving the use of the independent judgment; maintain current knowledge of departmental functions, procedures and applicable federal and State guidelines.
2. Receive and record Child Development Center fee payments; submit collected fee payments to appropriate department for deposit; prepare information and materials necessary for budget development; maintain budget records and files.
3. Update and maintain children's files and records; prepare current child roster and update with information required by State licensing regulations; monitor enrollment figures to assure compliance with licensing requirements and regulations; submit staff employment information to child care licensing department.
4. Record, type and distribute time sheets for classified employees, tutors and student workers; type a variety of correspondence, memoranda, reports and other materials; assist in the preparation and revision of departmental handbooks; prepare and post weekly staff schedule and contact employees by phone to substitute in the center as needed; record minutes of meetings.
5. Arrange meetings for the Coordinator; make inquiries and obtain information and documents for the supervisor which involves contact with other departments; develop, revise and maintain filing systems and other clerical procedures.
6. Perform technical and clerical functions requiring independent judgment and initiative; organize reception office area efficiently to assure parent and child needs are met; coordinate departmental work flow.
7. Compute federal and State Child Care Food Program base, reduced and free categories of enrolled children and submit monthly claims; compute racial and ethnic ratios according to State reporting requirements.
8. Monitor and verify lab students, visitors and students from other classes on campus; train and assign duties of clerical workers as assigned.
9. Conduct tours of centers; operate a variety of office equipment; operate a computer and related software.
10. Perform related duties as assigned.

Knowledge and Abilities

KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES

Knowledge of: Modern office practices, procedures and equipment; financial record-keeping methods, practices and techniques; principles of business forms and report writing; oral and written communication skills; correct English usage, grammar, spelling, punctuation and vocabulary; interpersonal skills using tact, patience and courtesy; receptionist and telephone techniques; Child Care Food Program regulations and procedures; computer and software applications, including word processing, spreadsheets and email.

Ability to: Interpret, apply and explain applicable federal, State and District laws, rules and regulations related to Child Development programs and services; understand and follow oral and written instructions; plan and organize work; meet schedules and time lines; post and make arithmetic computations; compose and write letters and reports; maintain complex records; work independently with little direction; input and receive data and information using a word processor or computer; analyze situations accurately and adopt an effective course of action without immediate supervision; may be required to take dictation and transcribe it accurately; operate a variety of office machines including a computer and applicable software, i.e. word processing, spreadsheets and email.

Education and Experience

Any combination equivalent to: graduation from high school and three (3) years of varied and increasingly responsible secretarial experience including experience in office clerical work involving financial and statistical records maintenance.

Working Conditions

Environment: Office environment.

• Classified Bargaining Unit Position
• Classified Staff Salary Range 9
• Retirement System: CalPERS (upon meeting eligibility criteria)
• Salary placement is contingent on education, experience, and department budget.
• POSITION IS GRANT FUNDED: Continued employment is contingent upon the availability of Grant /Self-Generated Revenue funds.
• This posting is for 1 current vacancy and to establish a 6-month eligibility list for current and future full-time Child Development Center Assistant openings.

Schedule & Location

• This position is scheduled 40 hours per week, 12 months per year.
• The schedule is Monday – Friday from 7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
• The primary location is Palm Desert Campus.
• The schedule and location are subject to change based on District need.

Eligibility and Compliance

Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S.

College of the Desert does not offer sponsorship nor take over sponsorship for an employment VISA.

Employment is contingent on residence in California.