Early Childhood Specialist

Collaborative for Educational Services; South Hadley (MA); On-site; USD 30,000 - 33,000; Full time

Job summary

Collaborative for Educational Services in South Hadley seeks a CFCE Specialist to support families with young children (0–6) through weekly parent/child activities and literacy-rich programming.

You will register new families, collect data, assist with ASQ screenings, and help with communications. The schedule varies and may include evenings/weekends; programming occurs in South Hadley.

Qualifications

• Associate's Degree in Early Childhood Education (completed or in-progress) or related field.
• Minimum of two years of experience with parents and young children.
• Knowledge of child development, family dynamics and postpartum issues.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule including evenings and weekends.
• Ability to actively lead groups for 1–2 hours and lift up to 40 pounds.

Responsibilities

• Lead weekly parent/child drop-in playgroups and early literacy activities.
• Strengthen parent-child relationships and kindergarten readiness.
• Conduct community outreach and provide resources/referrals (Welcome Baby visits).
• Register new families and collect required data.
• Assist with ASQ developmental screenings and monthly reports.
• Oversee communications like newsletters and social media.

Skills

Empathy

Rapport building

Teamwork

Group leadership

Data entry

Tech literacy

Lift 40 lbs

Education

Associate's Degree in Early Childhood Education

Related field

Tools

Google Docs

Google Calendar

Google Sheets

Job description

SOUTH HADLEY Join our Early Childhood team as a CFCE Specialist and take the lead in providing essential support and engaging, early literacy-rich experiences to families with young children (ages 0-6) in our community. We are looking for a dedicated individual to manage and coordinate aspects of this critical program, ensuring services are delivered effectively and in compliance with professional standards and funding expectations. The work schedule varies and may include evenings and weekends. This position will provide programming in South Hadley.

What you will do

You will be the welcoming face and key resource for families, directly providing weekly parent/child drop-in playgroups and specialized early childhood activities. Your primary focus will be to strengthen parent-child relationships and foster children's early development and kindergarten readiness skills.

• Planning and leading developmentally appropriate activities
• Integrating early literacy into programming
• Conducting community outreach
• Providing families with resources and referrals (including Welcome Baby visits)
• Supporting transitions such as entering kindergarten

Additionally, you will be responsible for program management tasks such as:

• Registering new families
• Collecting required data
• Assisting with ASQ developmental screenings
• Completing monthly reports
• Overseeing communications such as a newsletter or social media outreach

Qualifications

We are seeking a candidate with an Associate's Degree in Early Childhood Education (completed or in-progress) or a related field, and a minimum of two years of experience working with parents and young children.

You should possess basic knowledge of child development, Family Dynamics, And Pre/postpartum Issues.

• Ability to establish rapport with diverse families with empathy
• Working effectively both independently and collaboratively as a team member
• Computer skills for Google documents, calendars, and spreadsheets
• Ability to work a flexible schedule that occasionally includes evenings and weekends
• Ability to actively lead groups for 1-2 hours (move and interact with children, lift up to 40 pounds and maintain a safe, engaging environment)

Compensation and Schedule

Schedule: varies by assigned region, but generally between 8 and 20 hours per week, and may include evenings and weekends.

Dates of Service: 38 weeks during the school year and reduced programming in July and August. Non-programming periods align with school district holiday/vacation calendars with possible flexibility to extend services in June.

Compensation: $22.00 per hour, Benefits available as outlined in the CES Handbook for staff who work more than 20 hours/week.

If you are passionate about supporting families and creating a positive, nurturing environment where children and their families can thrive, we would love to hear from you.