Early Learning Specialist (bilingual English/Spanish)

Masa; New York (NY); On-site; USD 33,000 - 37,000; Full time

Job summary

Masa seeks a full-time, bilingual English/Spanish Early Learning Specialist to implement the ParentChild+ home visiting model with families and children in the Bronx. The role focuses on growth- and play-based learning, mentoring parents, and developing age-appropriate social-emotional skills in children aged 16 months to four years.

The specialist will visit homes, participate in training, and collaborate with Masa staff to support families.

Qualifications

• Bilingual in Spanish and English.
• Strong knowledge base of early childhood education and child development.
• Experience in a preschool, Head Start, or Early Head Start setting preferred.
• Warm and patient demeanor; enjoys reading and playing with young children.
• Willingness to undergo a comprehensive background check.
• Able to use Zoom and Microsoft Office programs.

Responsibilities

• Recruit families and build community connections.
• Engage in street outreach in the Bronx and East Harlem communities.
• Meet with the parent and child twice a week in the child's home for 30 minutes.
• Forge meaningful relationships with parent and child rooted in cultural fluency and trauma-informed practice.
• Complete a minimum of 16-hours of training in the ParentChild+ framework plus CPR and mandated reporting training.
• Complete required assessments, session reports and data collection.
• Provide referrals to program families for early childhood and social services as needed.
• Attend weekly group supervision and professional development meetings.

Skills

Bilingual English/Spanish

Tools

Zoom

Microsoft Office

Job description

Early Learning Specialist (bilingual English/Spanish)

Bronx, NY, United States of America

Full Time

About Masa

Masa partners with Mexican and Latino immigrant children, youth, and families to develop strong learners and leaders who fully contribute to the broader community. We offer a broad range of educational, leadership, and advocacy programs.

Masa’s community-led, integrated model engages the entire family, grounded in a deep commitment to strengthening literacy, leadership, and power for Mexican, Central American, and Indigenous People. Masa fosters a culturally responsive learning community in which families engage with direct service and advocacy programs to dismantle barriers to success .

About the Early Learning Specialist

We are seeking a FT Bilingual (English/Spanish) Early Learning Specialist to implement the ParentChild+ home visiting model with families and children. The Early Learning Specialist serves as a mentor/educator, working with parents/guardians of children aged sixteen months through four years old. Early Learning Specialists promote each child's growth and development by planning and implementing developmentally appropriate experiences focused on learning through play. In partnerships with parents, early learning specialists create environments in which children can develop personal relationships, experiment, make choices, solve problems, and develop age-appropriate social and self-help skills.

The successful Early Learning Specialist will have a strengths-based approach, understand her/his role as a mentor/model to the parent/guardian, and as an observer of the home environment and situations to make appropriate referrals. She/he will possess and ability to relate to parents/guardians as peers and equal partners in helping prepare children for life success, be non-judgmental, and be adept at involving parents/guardians in the child's education and well-being with every activity and during each visit.

The Early Learning Specialist is expected to participate in training, case conferences, and presentations as requested by Masa and ParentChild+. Additionally, the successful candidate should support the mission and goals of Masa. This is a FT (40 hrs/week) position that involves local travel to the homes of families in the program, as well as time spent at Masa's offices in the South Bronx.

Responsibilities

Recruit families and build community connections

Engage in street outreach: share information with families in the Bronx and East Harlem communities, visit and contact agencies, schools, clinics, businesses and others to share information about our program

Meet with the parent and child twice a week in the child's home for 30 minutes modeling nurturing and responsive caregiving that reflects the developmental stages, interests, and parents’ goals

Forge meaningful relationships with parent and child rooted in cultural fluency and trauma-informed practice, as well as a strengths-based and relationship-based approach

Complete a minimum of 16-hours of training in the ParentChild+ framework delivered by the local site Coordinator(s) prior to sessions, as well as training on CPR, mandated reporting, and other required topics

Complete required assessments, screenings, session reports and other data collection and reporting with families

Provide referrals to program families for early childhood and social services on an as-needed basis

Attend and participate in weekly group supervision and professional development (minimum of two hours a week) staff meetings

Requirements

Bilingual in Spanish and English

Have a strong knowledge base of early childhood education and child development; experience working in a pre-school, Head Start, Early Head Start setting, or childcare setting preferred

Enjoy playing and reading with young children; warm and patient demeanor

Possess an interest in and aptitude for learning the theory, techniques, and goals of the Program and a willingness to learn on an ongoing basis

Flexibility in adapting to different environments, the ability to operate within a variety of circumstances and challenges that may arise, and the judgment to seek help when needed

Clear understanding of client confidentiality; strong sense of responsibility

Basic knowledge of computers, ability to use zoom, and knowledge of Microsoft Office programs including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint a plus

Must enjoy working independently but able to work as a team and collaborate

Willingness to undergo a comprehensive background check

Physical Demands

This position is in-person at families’ homes and at Masa’s office; position will require significant time walking/working outside the office visiting homes and conducting street outreach, including during the winter months

Local travel by subway and bus is required, MTA card will be provided

Light to moderate carrying of program materials is required

Work schedule includes occasional evenings and weekends

Compensation

$24-$27/hour, commensurate with experience