Head Start Instructor (Continuous)

City-of-Oakland,-Ca; Oakland (CA); On-site; USD 48,000 - 68,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

15 paid holidays

Vacation – 2 weeks per year

CalPERS retirement

Health – Kaiser and other plans

Dental – Delta Dental

Vision – VSP

Sick leave – 12 days per year

Deferred Compensation – 457(b) and ROL

Flexible Spending Account

Wellness Program

Employee Assistance Program

Life Insurance

Tuition Reimbursement

Employee Training

Telecommuting

Job summary

The City of Oakland is seeking Head Start Instructors to deliver developmentally appropriate education to children in Head Start/State Preschool programs. You will collaborate with families, staff, and teachers to promote positive outcomes for children of all abilities.

Ideal candidates are passionate educators dedicated to serving Oakland’s diverse communities, with strong communication skills and a commitment to ongoing professional growth within Head Start.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor's or advanced degree plus twelve post-secondary units in ECE/CD and three supervised field experience.
• Master Teacher Child Development Permit (or higher) required or pending eligibility.
• Six months of full-time or one year part-time child care center experience.

Responsibilities

• Instruct children in infant/toddler education concepts.
• Organize developmentally appropriate education and play materials.
• Conduct safety drills and inspect facilities for safety standards.
• Plan, organize, and schedule daily activities at the center or home.
• Develop IDPs and IFSPs for children with special needs.
• Maintain a clean indoor and outdoor learning environment.

Skills

Adaptability

Relationship building

Decision making

Ownership & accountability

Teamwork

Oral communication

Reading comprehension

Using technology

Writing

Managing stress

Education

Bachelors or advanced degree in Early Childhood Education

Job description

The City of Oakland is an equal opportunity employer that values workforce diversity, inclusion, and equity. Oakland has a long history of activism around issues of justice and equity. Both oppression and this resistance to oppression have shaped the city’s historical roots and the lives of its residents to this day. As public servants in one of the most diverse cities in the nation, we strive to develop employees who understand the harm and impacts of systemic inequity to create lasting, meaningful outcomes for everyone. Oakland strives to establish an environment that embraces the richness of culture, community, and individualism of employees.

Why join the City of Oakland's Human Services Department?

Situated at the heart of the Bay Area, the City of Oakland is a vibrant, diverse, and exciting place to work. It is easily accessible, at the forefront of Race and Equity work, and a full-service organization with many innovative community services.

Are you searching for a fulfilling career that allows you to make a difference and have a positive impact on the local community? Look no further! The City of Oakland's Human Services Department, Head Start Division, is seeking highly skilled individuals to join our team as Head Start Instructors. Come join a dynamic team of enthusiastic professionals dedicated to providing important services to a community with a rich history. You'll work with great colleagues in the Head Start Division who are fiercely passionate about public service and community.

As a Head Start Instructor, you will be responsible for the full range of instructional duties associated with teaching the children enrolled in the Head Start Program/State Preschool Program. You will work collaboratively with other teachers, family members, and staff to achieve positive outcomes for children of all abilities.

We are looking for someone who:

• Is a passionate educator who wants to make a positive difference in the lives of Oakland children and families
• Likes to plan developmentally age-appropriate activities for children
• Is a strong relationship builder with good communication skills. You will have the opportunity to interact in a culturally diverse workplace with infants, toddlers, parents, and community members.
• Has a genuine interest in learning and developing their career. Within Head Start, there are opportunities to grow professionally.

What you will typically be responsible for:

• Instructing children in infant/toddler education concepts.
• Organizing and setting up developmentally appropriate education and play materials for the classroom and/or the home.
• Conducting fire, disaster, and safety drills in the classroom; inspecting facility for safety standards and maintenance needs.
• Assisting in planning, organizing, and scheduling daily activities at the center classroom or in the home.
• Conducting developmental screenings, ongoing child observations, developmental assessments and devising Individual Development Plans (IDP) on all children enrolled in the program; assisting in developing Individual Family Service Plans (IFSP) for special needs children.
• Maintaining a clean and organized indoor and outdoor environment, including the food service area.
• Making initial and final home visits; making additional/on-going home visits as needed.

A few reasons you might love this job:

• You will be a part of a dynamic Head Start team.
• Your work will have a direct impact on providing important services to a community with a rich and dynamic history.
• You will have great colleagues. Head Start employees are fiercely passionate about public service and community, and proud to uplift Oakland as a dynamic, innovative, vibrant city.
• You will have excellent learning opportunities to grow and develop your expertise in early childhood development.

A few challenges you might face in this job:

• Teachers need to find balance in their teaching style to ensure all children are learning as their skill levels may vary within the classroom.
• As a Head Start Instructor, you will face a considerable amount of change, and you must remain flexible and adaptable.
• You will need to maintain composure, keeping emotions in control, in difficult situations.

Competencies Required:

• Adaptability: Responding positively to change and modifying behavior as the situation requires
• Building & Maintaining Relationships: Establishing rapport and maintaining mutually productive relationships
• Decision Making: Choosing optimal courses of action
• Displaying Ownership and Accountability: Holding self and others accountable for measurable high-quality, timely, and cost-effective results
• General Physical Ability: Using strength, endurance, flexibility, balance, and coordination
• Handling & Resolving Conflict: Managing interpersonally strained situations
• Handling Stress: Maintaining emotional stability and self-control under pressure, challenge, or adversity.
• Oral Communication: Engaging effectively in dialogue
• Professional & Technical Expertise: Applying technical subject matter to the job
• Reading Comprehension: Understanding and using written information
• Teamwork: Collaborating with others to achieve shared goals
• Using Technology: Working with electronic hardware and software applications
• Valuing Diversity: Appreciating the benefits of varied backgrounds and cultures in the workplace
• Writing: Communicating effectively in writing

Education: Bachelor's or advanced degree in Early Childhood Education or related field including twelve (12) post‑secondary semester units or equivalent quarter units in early childhood education or child development, plus three (3) units supervised field experience in ECE/CD setting completed at an accredited or approved college or university.

AND hold, or qualify for, a Master Teacher Child Development Permit (or higher‑level permit) issued by the State of California.

Experience: Six months of full‑time work experience or one year of part‑time experience in a licensed childcare center or comparable group childcare program.

The Recruitment Process:

The City of Oakland works with a Civil Service system. Applicants apply online, and HR staff reviews their experience, education, and training listed on the application against the “minimum qualifications” listed for each position.

Please make sure to scan and attach your college transcripts (required documents) to your online application. Applicants who do not submit the required documents at the time of application will be screened out from further consideration.

This is a continuous recruitment. This recruitment may close without notice once a sufficient number of applications have been received.

Recruitment Timeline:

• 8/1/26 - 8/31/26 – Week of 9/7/26
• 9/1/26 - 9/30/26 – Week of 10/5/26
• 10/1/26 - 10/31/26 – Week of 11/2/26
• 11/1/26 - 11/30/26 – Week of 12/7/26
• 12/1/26 - 12/31/26 – Week of 1/4/27

Candidates who demonstrate that they meet the minimum qualification requirements will receive their applicable ranking on the eligible list. Candidates who do not demonstrate that they meet the minimum qualification requirements will have an opportunity to request a final review. Candidates must request a final review within 5 business days of being notified that they did not meet the minimum qualifications.

In the final review, candidates may clarify information already provided on their application. No additional work history, education, or certifications will be accepted. Any decisions made during this review process will be final.

For this recruitment, you will be asked to complete a Supplemental Questionnaire as part of the application process regarding your experience, training, and certifications. Your responses to the Supplemental Questionnaire will be scored and used for ranking on the eligible list. Applicant responses to the supplemental questions must demonstrate that they meet the minimum qualifications to be placed on the eligible list.

Candidates who pass each stage in the process will be placed on an eligible list. Some candidates may receive extra points, for example, if you are a Veteran with an honorable discharge, or if you are a current City of Oakland resident. If you’re applying to a “restricted” posting and you are eligible as a current City employee, you may also receive additional points for your City service. Extra points are only applied to passing scores, so if you do not pass every element of the testing process, you cannot use extra points to pass.

The City of Oakland reserves the right to modify the selection process and date of examination as necessary to conform to administrative or business necessity. The information contained in this announcement is subject to change and does not constitute either an expressed or implied contract.

What's in it for you?

• 15 paid holidays
• Vacation – 2 weeks per year minimum with the ability to accrue more depending on public sector years of service
• Retirement – CalPERS (California Public Employees’ Retirement System) with a pension formula of 2.5% @ 55 (for Classic CalPERS members) and 2% @ 62 for new CalPERS members. Classic Employees contribute 8% of pre‑tax wages. The City of Oakland does not participate in Social Security
• Health – The City of Oakland pays for the cost of employee and eligible dependent coverage at the Kaiser rate. Other plans include Anthem, Blue Shield, United Health Care and other HMO and PPO plans
• Dental – The City of Oakland pays for Delta Dental full premium for employees and eligible dependents
• Vision – The City of Oakland pays for VSP full premium for employees and eligible dependents
• Sick leave – Employees accrue 12 days per year
• Deferred Compensation – 457(b) pre‑tax plan and an after‑tax ROTH 401(k)plan
• Other benefits include a Flexible Spending Account, Wellness Program, Employee Assistance Program, Life Insurance, Tuition Reimbursement, Employee Training, & Telecommuting.

Applicants are required to submit criminal history information upon request after receiving a conditional offer of employment. If the requested information is not furnished in a timely manner, applicants will not qualify for further consideration and will be removed from the eligible list.

Disaster Service Workers

All employees are designated Disaster Service Workers through state and local law. Employees are required to complete all Disaster Service Worker‑related training as assigned and to return to work as ordered in the event of an emergency.