Early Education Center Program Coordinator

Reports to: Riverwest EEC Senior Manager

Direct reports: None 

Driver Status: Personal Vehicle

Primary Location: Riverwest Center, 909 E Garfield Avenue, Milwaukee 53212 

Compensation: $24.00/hour 

Mission: COA Youth & Family Centers nurtures children, supports families, and builds strong and resilient communities – one child, one family, one community at a time. 

Summary: This position requires a dynamic individual who will be responsible for supporting all activities directly connected to the Early Education Center. This position requires flexibility of schedule but with primary working hours Monday- Friday between 6:00 a.m.  and 6:30 p.m. (The exact schedule within those hours is usually set two weeks in advance.) There may be occasional instances of evening or weekend work hours, which would be communicated well in advance. This is a full-time, year-round position that is eligible for benefits. 

Benefits include generous paid time off, health plans (medical, dental, vision), life insurance, Employee Assistance Program, 403(b) retirement plan, 11 paid holidays, and a great working environment. 

Main Job Responsibilities 

Classroom Support/Coaching (70% of time) 

• Primary short-term, as-needed classroom coverage to accommodate breaks, lunches, planning time, calls for support, and PTO or Sick coverage
• Support classroom teachers through modeling, coaching, and ensuring DCF, Early Head Start, Head Start, and NAEYC requirements are being met
• Appropriately manage child behavior while coaching and being supportive to classroom teachers
• Ensure curriculum is delivered with fidelity
• For long-term classroom coverage, support classroom teachers with lesson planning, anecdotal notes, and Next Door paperwork compliance

Administrative Support (30% of time) 

• Alternate open/close schedule with the Riverwest EEC Senior Manager to ensure appropriate administrative coverage of the Riverwest Center during open hours 
• Support the Riverwest EEC Senior Manager to ensure effective, accurate, and timely data collection reflecting EEC program activities, attendance, and participation
• Provide front desk support and coverage
• Support the Riverwest EEC Senior Manager with tracking of Next Door compliance pieces, such as in-kind tracking, submission of lesson plans, etc.
• Primary support for scoring ASQs and follow-up when necessary

Qualifications 

Education/Knowledge/Experience 

• An Associate’s Degree (or higher) in Early Childhood Education or closely related field is required.
• 5 years of experience working in early childhood classrooms 
• Experience managing child behaviors and have an understanding of developmentally appropriate child guidance strategies
• Experience and enjoyment working with the community at large. 
• Computer literate: able to use Word to create, edit, and format documents and flyers, as well as Excel to enter data and prepare relevant reports.
• At least 25 years old
• Valid Wisconsin driver’s license, an acceptable driving record, and adequate auto insurance is required
• Must hold a current certificate in CPR/First Aid/AED, or obtain within 30 days

Skills/Personal Qualities/Attitude 

• Maintain confidentiality and dignity of children, families, and other program participants
• Role model appropriate behavior at all times
• Embody COA’s mission and core values
• High level of creativity and problem-solving ability 
• Proven ability to gain support and respect of peers and colleagues, and interact effectively with individual stakeholders in a variety of roles
• Strong youth and family management skills; familiarity with Social Emotional Learning and trauma-informed care
• Belief in positive child guidance and strength-based family guidance and/or interaction
• Organizational and Administrative Skills: detail-oriented
• Effective interpersonal skills to develop strong working relationships
• Must be a self-starter, take initiative, and be able to work independently as well as follow directions very accurately
• Patience, positive attitude, and cultural competency

Physical Requirements/Working Conditions 

The physical requirements are: 

• Ability to sit and stand for long periods of time. 
• Ability to engage physically with participants (e.g., run, play, etc.). 
• Ability to lift/move 50 pounds on a regular basis. 
• Ability to push, pull, and carry using arms and legs. 

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit and use hands to touch, handle, or feel. The employee is occasionally required to stand and reach with hands and arms. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus. 

The work environment is an active environment with urban youth and families in a variety of settings. This requires the ability to respond quickly to changing situations and be able to move around the COA site as needed. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. This position also requires occasional evening and weekend work. 

These characteristics described are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential job functions. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions. 

The above is intended to describe the general content and requirements of this job. It is not meant to be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities, or requirements. In other words, other duties as assigned.