Developmental Specialist - Center Based (Alameda County, Santa Clara)

Kidango; Santa Clara (CA); On-site; USD 85,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Industry-leading benefits package

Opportunities to connect with partners

Friendly, supportive environment

Real impact on children's lives

Job summary

Kidango is seeking an experienced Developmental Specialist to join its early intervention team, serving birth to three-year-olds and their families. The role emphasizes cognitive and social-emotional development within a center-based and home-based framework, collaborating with Regional Centers and medical partners to plan individualized programs.

You will administer evaluations, screenings, and reports, manage a caseload across Alameda, Contra Costa, and Santa Clara counties, and participate in

Qualifications

• Direct experience with children with identified special needs in natural environments.
• Experience with families from diverse racial, ethnic, and socio-economic backgrounds.
• Strong knowledge of child development, early intervention, and infant/toddler mental health services.
• Experience providing early intervention services to 0–5 with identified disabilities in center/home settings.
• Knowledge of curriculum development and adaptation for learning differences.
• Experience working with autistic spectrum children.
• Strong understanding of infant-toddler mental health concepts.
• Family systems-based practice and relationship-focused approach.
• Experience administering developmental screenings (ASQ, ASQ/SE).
• Experience with developmental/linguistic assessments (Battelle, HELP, Rossetti).
• Observation, documentation, and qualitative note-taking abilities.
• Ability to work independently and in a team.
• BA with equivalent experience acceptable; MA preferred.
• Bilingual applicants are highly desired.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct early intervention services to 0–3 children in natural environments.
• Administer screenings and assessments per Regional Center mandates.
• Provide written assessments/reports to Local Regional Centers.
• Manage a caseload of up to 10 Inclusion and home-based clients in specified counties.
• Participate in supervision sessions and team meetings.
• Offer information and support to families.
• Communicate with children, families and staff respectfully and culturally.
• Coordinate with agencies and medical community to meet child/family goals.
• Attend caseload meetings (IFSP, IEP, transitions).
• Participate in EIIS meetings and training, discipline, and classroom meetings.
• Maintain confidentiality of children and families.

Skills

Special needs experience

Family-centered practice

Child development theory

Infant/toddler mental health

Cultural sensitivity

Curriculum development

Autism spectrum knowledge

ASQ/ASQ-SE screenings

Assessment administration

Independence and teamwork

Bilingual (desirable)

Education

MA in child development / infant-toddler mental health / ECE special education

BA with equivalent experience in early intervention

Job description

A little about us…

Kidango (kidango.org) is an early learning nonprofit committed to setting every child on a path to thrive in kindergarten and in life. We believe that all children can reach their full potential if they and their families have access to the right opportunities and resources. As the largest child care provider in the San Francisco Bay Area, we provide thousands of children, especially those from low-income families, with safe, healthy, nurturing environments and relationships. Through our policy work, we aim to take our expertise beyond the children and families that we serve, and drive change in early childhood education at the local, state and federal levels. Our goal is to make sure all children have the social, emotional, and academic skills they need to learn, grow and realize their potential.

About The Role

Serves as member of early intervention team providing specialized intervention services to children age’s birth to three and their families. Special emphasis on cognitive and social emotional development. Center Based Developmental Specialist leads the classroom EIS team. Services include evaluation, consultation, screenings, and planning individual programs and treatments. Strong background in Special Education preferred.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Provide direct support/ early intervention services to children referred from Local Regional Centers (between the ages of 0 to 3 years) in a natural environment.
• Administer required screenings and assessments in accordance with Regional Center mandates and assessment requirements.
• Provide Local Regional Centers with written assessments and reports as required.
• Maintain a case load of up to 10 Inclusion clients between the ages of 18 months and 5 years old residing in Alameda, Contra Costa and Santa Clara Counties. , home- based clients between the ages of 0-3 residing in Alameda, Contra Costa and Santa Clara Counties.
• Take part in weekly reflective supervision sessions and team meetings.
• Provides information and support to families.
• Communicates with children, families and other staff in respectful and culturally sensitive manner
• Works to meet child and family goals and needs in coordination with other agencies (Regional Center of the East Bay, California Children’s Services), organizations and the medical community.
• Attends and participates in outside meetings related to caseload (IFSP, transition meetings, IEP meetings).
• Participates in relevant/appropriate meetings (i.e. EIIS meetings, EIIS training, discipline meetings, classroom meetings).
• Maintains confidentiality of children, families and employees of Kidango.
• Works as a member of the agency team by promoting the mission and philosophy of Kidango.
• Organizes time and equipment/supplies effectively.
• Represents Kidango at community and professional functions as needed.
• Conducts in-service training and provides consultation to general Kidango staff as needed.
• Performs other duties as assigned by the supervisor.

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge and direct experience working with children with identified special needs and learning differences in natural environments
• Experience working with children with identified special needs and their families in a home based - setting
• Strong knowledge of theory and practice of child development, early intervention, and infant/toddler mental health services
• Direct experience administering early intervention support services to children between the ages of 0-5 with identified disabilities in center based and home based settings
• Experience working with families from diverse racial, ethnic, and socio-economic backgrounds
• Knowledge and direct experience with curriculum development and curriculum adaptation for children with learning differences
• Experience working with children on the autistic spectrum
• Strong understanding of infant-toddler mental health
• Relationship- based and family systems based knowledge and applied practice
• Experience administering developmental screenings such as the Ages and Stages (ASQ) Questioner and the Ages and Stages Social Emotional Development (ASQ/SE)
• Experience administering early childhood development and linguistic assessments such as the Battelle Early Learning Profile, the HELP (Hawaii Early Learning Profile,) and the Rossetti Infant-Toddler Language Scale
• Child observation, documentation and qualitative note taking abilities
• Ability to work independently and in a team environment
• MA in child development, infant/toddler mental health/early childhood special education preferred
• Will consider candidates with a BA and equivalent experience in the field of early intervention, child development/education, and infant- toddler mental health services
• Bilingual applicants are highly desired and encouraged to apply

Compensation

$85,387.28—$85,387.28 USD

Additional Requirements

• Must pass a health screening and TB test
• Must pass background fingerprint clearance
• Valid Driver License
• Must be 18 years or older
• The ability to lift up to 30lbs may be needed during some job duties
• The employee will be required to use hands for computer work, answering phone calls, etc.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions

Perks

• An opportunity to improve real lives, solve hard problems, and change the world
• Friendly, supportive, and adventurous environment with a team of engaged colleagues
• A comprehensive, industry-leading benefits package
• Opportunities to connect with and learn from colleagues and partners around the world

Drug-Free Workplace

We believe every employee has the right to work in an environment that is free from all forms of unlawful discrimination. Consistent with applicable laws, Kidango makes all decisions involving any aspect of the employment relationship without regard to race, color, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, citizenship, the presence of any physical or mental disability of someone otherwise qualified, veteran status, genetic information, or any other status or characteristic protected by local, state, or federal law, other than those positions which are deemed ministerial in nature. Discrimination and/or harassment based on any of those factors are inconsistent with our philosophy of doing business and will not be tolerated. This policy of non-discrimination applies to all aspects of application procedures, hiring, advancement, transfers, reductions in force, discharge, compensation, training, or other terms, conditions and privileges of employment.

EEO

A diverse and inclusive workplace where we learn from each other is an integral part of Kidango’s culture. We actively welcome people of different backgrounds, experiences, abilities and perspectives. We are an equal opportunity employer and a great place to work. Join us and help us achieve our mission!

If you need assistance or accommodation to complete your application, please contact our recruitment team at [e-mail]. We’re happy to support you through the process.