Early Childhood Education Support Specialist

Child Care Resources Inc; Columbia (SC); On-site; USD 32,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Insurance

Vision Insurance

Life Insurance

Retirement Plan

Tuition Assistance

Professional Development

401(k)

401(k) matching

Employee Assistance Program

Health Savings Account

Paid Time Off

Referral Program

Job summary

Richland County First Steps in Columbia, SC seeks an Early Childhood Education Support Specialist for its Early Head Start program. The role focuses on high-quality care and education for children aged 8 weeks to 3 years, supporting their social, emotional, cognitive, and physical development in a nurturing and engaging environment.

Schedule is Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–4:30 PM, with occasional nights and weekends.

Qualifications

• Education: CDA or state certificate focused on infant and toddler development required; associate or bachelor's in Early Childhood Education preferred.
• Experience: Proven experience in a licensed childcare facility with children ages 0-3.
• Certifications: Valid Adult/ Pediatric CPR/First Aid/AED training preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide high-quality care and education for infants and toddlers ages 0–3.
• Maintain clean, safe, and developmentally appropriate classroom and outdoor environments.
• Assist with classroom instruction, daily activities, and child supervision.
• Support weekly lesson plans in collaboration with infant and toddler teachers.
• Encourage parental involvement in children’s learning experiences and programming.
• Adhere to regulatory requirements (DSS, DHEC, CACFP) and complete required paperwork on time.
• Rotate kitchen duties between Early Childhood Support Specialists.

Education

CDA or state certificate focused on infant & toddler development

Associate or bachelor's degree in Child Development / Early Childhood Education (preferred)

Job description

Early Childhood Education Support Specialist

Reference ID : 182594

Location : Columbia, SC

Category : Child Care Services

Job Type : Full Time

Salary : $15.65/Hr

About This Role

Early Childhood Education Support Specialist

Schedule: Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM (occasional nights and weekends)

Status: Full-time, Non-Exempt

Benefits Eligibility: Employer-paid health, vision, dental insurance, retirement, life insurance and EAP

About Us:

Richland County First Steps is a mid-size nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering the development and education of young children. We are committed to creating a positive and collaborative environment that promotes growth and values hard work.

Why Join Us?

• Employer-paid health, vision, and dental insurance
• Generous PTO
• Supportive and inclusive work environment
• A meaningful opportunity to make a lasting impact in your community

About the Role:

We are looking for a dedicated Support Specialist to join our Early Head Start program. This role focuses on providing high-quality care and education for young children aged 8 weeks to 3 years, supporting their social, emotional, cognitive, and physical development in a nurturing and engaging environment.

What You'll Do

Key Responsibilities

• Treat Head Start participants, community members, and fellow staff with positive regard in accordance with Head Start’s mission statement.
• Maintain clean, safe, and developmentally appropriate classroom and outdoor environments for young children.
• Provide care for infants and toddlers, including feeding, diapering, dressing, and engaging in age-appropriate play activities. Responsibilities may include lifting and carrying children throughout the day.
• Completion of daily floater checklist tasks and responsibilities.
• Maintain confidentiality in all aspects of program operations and staff interactions.
• Complete assigned classroom duties effectively, accurately, and within required timeframes.
• Assist with classroom instruction, daily activities, and child supervision as needed.
• Support weekly lesson plans in collaboration with infant and toddler teachers.
• Encourage and promote parental involvement in children’s learning experiences and programming activities.
• Assist with parent conferences and home visits as needed.
• Support the assessment of children’s physical, social, emotional, and cognitive development.
• Adhere to DSS, DHEC, and CACFP regulations and requirements.
• Complete all required paperwork, reports, and documentation accurately and on time.
• Rotate kitchen duties between Early Childhood Support Specialists
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Requirements

Qualifications

• Education: Minimum of a Child Development Associate (CDA) or State-awarded certificate with a focus on infant and toddler development is required. Associate or bachelor’s degree in child development, Early Childhood Education, or a related field preferred.
• Experience: Proven experience in a licensed childcare facility with children ages 0-3. Familiarity with Creative Curriculum for Infants, Toddlers, and Twos is advantageous.
• Certifications: Valid Adult/Pediatric CPR/FA/AED Training is preferred

Nice To Have

Additional Requirements:

• Must be able to lift up to 40 lbs, kneel, bend, and sit on the floor
• Ability to manage family crises and maintain professional boundaries
• Familiarity with ProCare, ChildPlus, Teaching Strategies, ASQ Online, HELP, and HSELOF databases (preferred)
• Health Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Life Insurance
• Retirement Plan
• Tuition Assistance
• Professional Development
• Ready to Make a Difference?
• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Employee assistance program
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Referral program
• Vision insurance

Minimum Education : High School or Equivalent