Lead Child Specialist

CEDARS Youth Services; Lincoln (NE); On-site; USD 19,000 - 27,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision

Paid holidays

Retirement plan

Overtime opportunities

Professional development

Job summary

Cedars Youth Services in Lincoln, Nebraska seeks a Lead Child Specialist for the Community Learning Center. The role supports elementary-age children with safe supervision, engaging activities, and alignment to school-day curricula.

The position requires at least an associate degree or equivalent, 19+ years old, a valid driver's license, and strong communication skills. On-site work with potential overtime opportunities and comprehensive benefits accompany the role.

Qualifications

• Associate’s degree required.
• Six months of working with elementary school children and families preferred.
• Valid driver’s license with a good driving record.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Age 19 years or older.

Responsibilities

• Create a safe, nurturing, and culturally appropriate environment.
• Provide supervision of children and positive behavior management with individualized support.
• Develop developmentally appropriate program activities and lesson plans aligned with school-day curriculum.
• Ensure compliance with Nebraska childcare licensing regulations and accreditation standards.
• Maintain program documentation for completeness and accuracy.
• Provide parents with relevant information and respond to reasonable parent requests.
• Assist with day-to-day program operations, maintain cleanliness, and manage supplies.

Skills

Communication skills

Childcare experience

Team collaboration

Driver's license

Education

Associate's degree or equivalent

Job description

Lead Child Specialist(Community Learning Center)

Lincoln, NE, United States of America

$16.75 - $16.75

Overview

As one of Nebraska's leading child-serving organizations, CEDARS helps children and youth achieve safety, stability, and enduring family relationships. We provide programs and services that help kids and families navigate challenges, strengthen connections, and build brighter futures.

Guided by the belief that every child deserves safety, support, and the opportunity to thrive, we work alongside families, foster parents, community partners, and supporters to make a lasting difference in the lives of children and youth.

At CEDARS, we strive to createa workplace that reflects the community we serve, and where everyone feels like their identities are embraced and valued. When we practice empathy, and celebrate the diverse perspectives of our employees, it fuels innovation and creates an environment where we can attract a broad range ofcandidatesand our employees are empowered to do their best work.

Job Skills / Requirements

Reports To: Program Director

Classification: Non-Exempt

Rate of Pay: $16.75/hour

Schedule: Monday-Friday 12:00pm-5:00pm, some AM shifts required

CEDARS Community Learning Centers (CLC) offer on-site before-and-after school childcare and specialized clubs that enhance academic performance for elementary school children at Clinton, Hartley, Roper, and Randolph Elementary. The CLC programs provide students with positive experiences, enrichment, and academic clubs that help them become lifelong learners. The CLC programs also focus on family engagement and community outreach.

Responsibilities

• Create a safe, nurturing, and culturally appropriate environment.
• Provide effective supervision of children and positive behavior management with individualized support.
• Responsible for developmentally appropriate program activities and lesson plans that are aligned with school-day curriculum and provide opportunities for enrichment.
• Must be knowledgeable of all State of Nebraska Childcare Licensing regulations and relevant accreditation standards.
• Ensure the completeness and accuracy of relevant program documentation.
• Provide parents with relevant child-specific information and follow through on reasonable parent requests.
• Assist with day-to-day program operations, be responsible for cleanliness and upkeep of the program environment and manage storage and supply needs.
• Perform other duties as assigned by supervisors.
• Adhere to all policies and procedures of CEDARS Youth Services.
• Maintain confidentiality of clients served by this organization and professional boundaries in the provision of services. Treat all clients with dignity and respect.

Job Skills/Requirements

• 19 years of age or older.
• Associate’s degree or two years of college.
• At least six months of working with elementary school children and families is preferred.
• Valid driver’s license with a good driving record.
• Basic understanding of routines and expectations for school age children.
• A genuine interest in and concern for all youth and families.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Education Requirements (All)

Associate's Degree Required

Additional Information / Benefits

As a full-time active employee, you are eligible to participate in the following benefits:

medical, dental, and vision coverages

flexible spending accounts and health spending accounts

personal leave, emergency leave, paid holidays, and floating holidays

retirement plan up to 5% company match

life & long-term disability insurance

employee assistance program

wellness and engagement program

opportunities to collect overtime hours if desired

shift differentials for overnight hours worked and holidays

extensive training and professional development opportunities