Early Childhood Educator

Maine Tasting Center; Virginia (MN); On-site; USD 24,000 - 34,000; Part time

Job summary

Bowdoin College's Children’s Center offers a Nature-Based Outdoor Preschool on campus in Brunswick, ME, focusing on outdoor exploration and anti-bias work.

We seek an Early Childhood Educator to join a collaborative team. This onsite, part-time role (up to 19 hours/week) includes supervising, routines, reading, and curriculum support; pay is $21/hour with a mid-August start and mandatory background checks.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or equivalent is required.
• CPR/First Aid certification is required.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Assisting with supervision indoors and outdoors.
• Supporting daily routines like nap time, snacks, and cleanup.
• Reading stories, singing, and engaging with children.
• Participating in classroom activities aligned with the Center’s mission.

Skills

Oral and written communication

CPR/First Aid certification

Teamwork

Storytelling & read-aloud

Education

High School Diploma or equivalent

Associate’s Degree in Early Childhood Education

Job description

Early Childhood Educator

Posting Number: C00437JP

Department: Childrens Center

Job Summary

The https://www.bowdoin.edu/childrens-center/offers a unique Nature-Based Outdoor Preschool Program that immerses children in the natural world as a central part of their learning experience.

Our https://www.bowdoin.edu/childrens-center/index.html is grounded in supporting children's emotional needs through secure relationships and responsive caregiving. The Children’s Center emphasizes generous amounts of uninterrupted outdoor play, exploration, and experimentation as key components of our nature-based curriculum. We are an NAEYC-accredited program deeply engaged in anti-bias and anti-racist work, supported by professional development and ongoing consultation throughout the year.

We are seeking an Early Childhood Educator to join our collaborative and professional team. This role offers a dynamic opportunity to work in a college campus-based childcare center committed to providing high-quality care and education. The Children’s Center fosters a calm, organized, and engaged work environment where staff collaborate weekly to reflect on practices, discuss concerns, and plan curriculum. The Early Childhood Educator plays a vital support role in ensuring the smooth daily operations of the program.

Responsibilities

• Assisting with supervision both indoors and outdoors
• Supporting daily routines such as setting up nap time, prepping snacks, and washing dishes
• Reading stories, singing songs, and engaging meaningfully with children
• Participating in the classroom in alignment with the Center’s mission and philosophy

This is an excellent opportunity for those interested in early childhood education and exploring career paths in childcare. Many of our full-time staff began as part-time Educators.

The hourly rate for this position is $21 per hour.

This is a part time "casual" position, meaning a schedule of up to 19 hours per week.

Education/Skills Requirements

Required

• High School Diploma or equivalent
• A combination of education with extensive experience is acceptable
• Excellent oral and written communication skills and a genuine commitment to the field of early childhood education

Preferred

• Child development coursework or an Associate’s Degree in Early Childhood Education
• Acceptable Educational Equivalents: A combination of education with extensive experience is acceptable. Excellent oral and written communication skills

Experience Requirements and/or Equivalents

Required

• Current CPR/First Aid certification
• Must sign Child Abuse Policy statement
• Complete Bowdoin College’s OSHA Bloodborne Pathogen training, and have proof of Hepatitis B vaccination or submit a written declination statement.

Preferred

• Minimum of one-year experience working with young children in a professional setting.

Applicants must meet the minimum qualifications in this posting to be considered for hire.

Standard Work Days and Hours

• Varied hours, Monday - Friday.
• This is an onsite, part-time, non-benefit eligible position working less than 19 hours/week.
• Tentative start date for this position would be around mid-late August of 2026.

Employment at Bowdoin College is contingent upon satisfactory completion of applicable background checks including but not limited to: criminal records, educational verifications, driving records (when job-related), and/or credit history (when job related).

We regret that Bowdoin College is unable to provide visa sponsorship for staff positions.

About Bowdoin

Bowdoin embraces diversity in all forms, and the College is home to talented students, faculty and staff-with a variety of racial, ethnic, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds; religious beliefs; and gender identities, among other factors.

We encourage applications from candidates committed to the support of an inclusive campus community and those who will enrich and contribute to the College's multifaceted diversity. We value a community in which individuals of all backgrounds are warmly welcomed and encouraged to succeed.

Founded in 1794, Bowdoin has maintained its commitment to the liberal arts for well over 200 years. Bowdoin’s reputation as a preeminent liberal arts college rests on the excellence of its faculty, students, and staff; intimate size; strong sense of community; and connections to the people, history, and natural beauty of Maine.

Bowdoin’s campus is situated in a beautiful natural setting. Located in Brunswick, Maine, a town of approximately 20,000, the College is a short drive from the Maine coast, twenty-five miles from Portland and 120 miles from Boston.

Shift: N/A

Employment Category: Casual

Benefits Eligible: No

Pay Type: Hourly

Background Check Package Requirements: Support Staff

Is driving a Bowdoin vehicle an essential function of this job?:

Is a pre-placement physical required for this position?: Yes

Posting Date: 09/03/2026

Applications Accepted Until:

Open Until Filled: No

Special Instructions to Applicants: If selected as a finalist, you will be required to submit information for three references, including name, email address, phone number and how you know the reference.

EEO Information

Bowdoin College complies with applicable provisions of federal and state laws that prohibit unlawful discrimination in employment, admission, or access to its educational or extracurricular programs, activities, or facilities based on race, color, ethnicity, ancestry and national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, age, marital status, place of birth, genetic predisposition, veteran status, or against qualified individuals with physical or mental disabilities on the basis of disability, or any other legally protected statuses.