Early Childhood Support Staff

Mary's Place Seattle; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 36,000 - 44,000; Part time

Job summary

Mary's Place Seattle is seeking an Early Childhood Support Staff member for our Regrade shelter, 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. The role focuses on 0–5 youth development, caregiver support, and resource navigation within a racially equitable framework.

Responsibilities include leading activities, maintaining safety, coordinating with volunteers, and supporting families. CPR/First Aid certification is preferred, with ESOL-friendly environment and multilingual opportunities.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent; relevant experience preferred.
• Bilingual ability in Spanish or Portuguese is highly preferred.
• Experience facilitating activities for children 0–5.
• Knowledge of youth development principles and positive motivation.
• CPR/First Aid certification or ability to obtain within 30 days.
• English reading/writing speaking proficiency required.

Responsibilities

• Provide engaged presence and leadership for programs and activities for 0–5s.
• Provide resource navigation to caregivers for children 0–5.
• Maintain a healthy, safe environment and manage supplies.
• Plan, develop, implement, and evaluate services and activities.
• Track attendance and behavior data for Tots Club.
• Protect confidentiality of member and school data.
• Model professional behavior and maintain boundaries.
• Set up and clean program areas daily.
• Facilitate Circle Time, snack, outdoor activities, and family outings.
• Guide children in social-emotional regulation and development.
• Deliver coaching and redirection when needed.
• Coordinate with outside agencies and volunteers; build relationships.
• Provide crisis management and set appropriate limits.
• Assist with driving Mary's Place vehicles as needed.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

HS diploma / exp

Bilingual (Spanish/Portuguese)

Child 0-5 experience

Youth development

Crisis management

English proficiency

Multi-tasking

Team collaboration

Job description

Description

This position supports Mary's Place youth services leadership in providing an outcome-driven Tots Club experience for children 0-5 in our shelter environment and supporting caregivers of children ages 0-5 in shelter. Staff is responsible for youth safety, well-being, and development through interactive play, Circle Time, snack time, outdoor activities, Family Outings, and other activities as directed. Staff will also work directly with caregivers to provide resource navigation and tools to support their youth ages 0-5. Early Childhood Support Staff actively engage in Mary's Place racial equity work – striving for racially equitable outcomes and taking responsibility for creating, maintaining and affirming communities for people of color, immigrants and refugees, trans and gender-non-conforming people, and other populations who routinely encounter systemic oppressions.

This position is part-time, non-exempt and will be located at our Regrade shelter downtown. The pay for this position starts at $26/hr. DOE.

Schedule: Monday - Friday, 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide engaged presence and personal leadership for programs, activities, and services that prepare youth for success while creating an environment that facilitates positive youth development
• Provide resource navigation to caregivers as it relates to their children 0-5, including childcare system navigation and developmental screenings/referrals
• Ensure a healthy and safe environment while maintaining facilities, equipment, and supplies
• Assist with planning, developing, implementing, and evaluating progress, services, and activities
• Collect and track Tots Club member attendance and behavior data
• Ensure confidentiality of membership data, school data, and other member information
• Model mature work behaviors to ensure a productive work environment
• Ensure program areas are set-up and cleaned up on a daily basis
• Assist in facilitation of youth programming including, but not limited to, Circle Time, snack time, outdoor activities, and Family Outings
• Guide children in social emotional regulation and develop activities to strengthen children’s emotional well-being
• Affirm positive behavior and deliver coaching conversations and redirection when needed
• Assist outside agencies and volunteers that come into Tots Club, determine specific volunteer activities, and develop positive and encouraging relationships with all volunteers
• Provide crisis management and set appropriate limits as needed
• Drive Mary's Place vehicles as requested for program needs
• Perform other duties as assigned

Requirements

Skills/Qualifications

• High School diploma or two years in relevant work experience; some experience in social or homeless services preferred
• Multilingual applicants — namely Spanish or Portuguese speaking — highly preferred
• Experience facilitating activities for children 0-5
• Understanding of youth development principles, ability to motivate youth in a positive way
• Ability to model and guide youth in strengths-based problem solving, goal setting, and study skills
• Demonstrated problem solving, conflict mediation, and crisis management skills
• Self-motivated, mature, energetic, and able to maintain clear and healthy boundaries with guests, families, and staff
• Resourceful, flexible, and possesses a positive attitude and sense of humor
• Strong, age-appropriate communication skills
• Displays good stewardship of program supplies and materials
• Exhibits compassion and empathy; works well with families and children from all ethnic, social, economic, and sexual orientation backgrounds
• Ability and willingness to work a flexible schedule as needed
• Current CPR and First Aid Certifications or ability to complete within 30 days
• Ability to travel between Mary's Place sites during working hours as needed
• Able to proficiently speak, read, write, and understand English.
• Proficiency in another language is preferred, particularly in Portuguese, Amharic, Spanish, Lingala, Oromo, French, Russian, Tigrinya, or Marshallese.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to converse with and listen to people in many different settings
• Ability to use a computer and telephone, as well as other standard office equipment
• Ability to sit, walk, stand, bend, squat, climb, kneel and twist on an intermittent or continuous basis
• Ability to occasionally push, pull, lift and/or carry supplies up to 25 pounds
• Work takes place in a social services environment where long periods of sitting, working on a computer, walking to various work areas, going up and down stairs, and standing are required
• Travel to program sites and meetings outside the site and around the county is necessary
• Ability to work in an environment where there may be animals present, including dogs

In compliance with the ADA Amendment Act, should you have a disability that requires assistance and/or reasonable accommodation with the job application process, please contact the Human Resources department.

Qualified individuals must perform the essential duties of the position with or without accommodation. A qualified person with a disability may request a modification or adjustment to the job or work environment to meet the physical requirements of the position. Mary's Place would attempt to satisfy requests if the accommodation needed is reasonable and no undue hardship to Mary's Place would result.

Details

• Sick Time in accordance with Seattle Paid Sick and Safe Time Ordinance. Sick Time accrues at 0.03846 hour for each hour in timesheet (equal to 40 hours/year when 20 hours/week in timesheet)
• Paid Time Off (PTO) accrues at 0.03846 hour for each hour in timesheet during first year of employment, with increasing accruals for each year worked up to 0.05769 hour for 5+ years of employment
• 403(b) plan with a 50% employer match on the first 6% employee contribution. Eligible to participate upon hire; eligible for the match after 1 year of employment and 1,000 Hours of Service.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Mary's Place is an equal opportunity employer. We value a diverse workplace and strongly encourage women, people of color and other underrepresented groups, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, foreign-born residents, and veterans to apply. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.