Salary: $18.86 - $20.52 Hourly
Location : Various Metro Parks locations and Tacoma Public School sites, WA
Job Type: Part-time, 29 hrs per week or less
Job Number: ChildAsst2024
Department: Parks and Recreation
Opening Date: 04/09/2024
Closing Date: 7/9/2024 11:59 PM Pacific
Job Description
Join our childcare team with Metro Parks Tacoma! This position is responsible for providing licensed childcare care to Tacoma Public School families at one of our 3 school sites- Reed, Stafford, and Larchmont Elementary.
This position is responsible assisting with Kindergarten to 5th grade students in a childcare program at a designated Tacoma Public School location, ensuring a safe environment for all youth by complying with safety/emergency protocols at all times while actively engaging students in the childcare programming activities.
Work where you play!
Join our team at Metro Parks Tacoma to put your skills to use serving your community and making Tacoma a vibrant, healthy, and welcoming place to live.
Who We Are
Metro Parks Tacoma (MPT) is a CAPRA-accredited and AZA-accredited, independent park district that leads efforts to build a healthy, sustainable community. Located in Tacoma, Washington, Metro Parks' mission is to create healthy opportunities to play, learn, and grow. The independent park district spans the city providing a wide range of life-enriching destinations and services, including 70 parks, 80 miles of trails, 1,000 acres of urban forest, 66 playgrounds, four community centers, Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium, Northwest Trek Wildlife Park, Point Defiance Park, and much more. Our work is guided by eight core values that are the foundation of our actions and goals: innovation, excellence, equity, inclusiveness, sustainability, accountability, safety, and fun.
Why You'll Love it Here Come work with us and work where you play! You will contribute to the overall vitality and well-being of your community when you work for Metro Parks Tacoma, and you'll do so as part of a supportive team of committed, passionate, and mission-driven professionals. The people of Metro Parks are the key to its success, and you just might be the next great addition to our team. On top of that, you'll wake each day knowing that you're helping make Tacoma a great place to call home.

Position Information
Implement, lead and/or oversee programming and activities in Licensed Childcare related programs and activities.
In the performance of their respective tasks and duties all employees are expected to:

• Perform quality work within deadlines with or without direct supervision.
• Interact professionally with other employees, customers and suppliers.
• Work effectively as a team contributor on all assignments.
• Work independently while understanding the necessity for communicating and coordinating work efforts with other employees and organizations.
• Observe applicable safety requirements, use safety equipment provided, implement appropriate safety practices at all times and report immediately any unsafe working conditions or hazards.

Essential Duties

• Provide support to and collaborate with other Metro Parks staff as needed to assist with implementing recreation programs.
• Lead, instruct, and/or teach activities to participants using excellent citizenship, sportsmanship, and inclusivity.
• Provide each participant the opportunity to succeed and grow their social skills through recreational opportunities.
• Understand, explain and up-hold program and facility expectations.
• Ensure program/facility rules, policies and procedures are followed; maintain and enforce safety standards.
• Responsible for reporting all participant behavioral problems and incidents to appropriate staff and supervisor.
• Responsible for overseeing participants during program activities.
• Provide a positive attitude toward program participants and staff; encourage and serve as a positive role model.
• Administer first aid as needed.
• Ensure proper use, care, and storage of program equipment.

Minimum Qualifications

• At least 16 years of age.

• Previous experience in licensed childcare settings highly desired
• Ability to maintain a shift availability AM 7 am - 9 am AND/OR 3-6 pm (Monday - Friday), which will be assigned based on program need.

Additional Childcare requirements within two weeks of hire:

• Must Register for STARS ID #
• DCYF Portable Background check with fingerprinting (Out of State requires notary)
• TB Skin test
• Blood Borne Pathogens (yearly)
• First Aid/CPR (every 2 years)
• 30 hrs. School Age Basics Course (online via School's Out Washington)
• Mandatory Reporter training (annually)
• MMR Vaccination Records
• Transcripts (HS Diploma)
• Food Handler's Permit (ever 2 years)
• 10 Hours of Additional STARS Training (annually

Additional Childcare training will be assigned at time of hire and will be required to be completed within 90 days of hire.
Additional Information

HOURS:
Up to 29 hours per week, Monday-Friday
Shifts include: AM Shift-7am-9am; 7am-10am on Wednesdays; PM Shift 3-6 pm
COMPETENCY REQUIREMENTS:

• Demonstrate thorough knowledge of assigned recreation programs, activities, and services.
• Demonstrate knowledge of safety guidelines and practices.
• Skill in overseeing and leading the work of others.
• Ability to handle conflict and solve problems using good judgement, patience, and courtesy.
• Ability to navigate emergency situations.
• Work with diverse groups of people in a tactful, effective, and respectful manner.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff, the community and program participants.
• Follow instructions, both written and verbal.
• Ability to safely perform job tasks in a variety of park and non-park settings.

WORK ENVIRONMENT/PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• Work is performed indoors and outdoors.
• Lift or move items weighing up to 15 pounds on occasion.
• Frequent communication with district employees and customers.
• Noise level is moderately loud.
• Work various schedules including mornings and afternoons

METRO PARKS TACOMA IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER.
All qualified persons will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, political affiliation, disability or any other merit factor. Members of ethnic minorities, women, special disabled veterans, veterans of the Vietnam-era, recently separated veterans, and other protected veterans, persons of disability and/or persons age 40 and over are encouraged to apply.

MPT employs only U.S. citizens and lawfully authorized non-U.S. citizens. All new employees must show employment eligibility verification as required by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

MPT is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation in its services, programs, activities, education and employment for individuals with disabilities. To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact Human Resources at

Employment is subject to a national background check.

This position is an at-will position with no written or implied contractual agreement.
Enrollment in the the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) through the Washington State Department of Retirement Services (DRS) may be mandatory.
Sick Leave: 1 hour earned for every 40 hours worked.
Employee Assistance Program (EAP) - SupportLinc provides emotional wellbeing and work-life balance resources to keep you at your best. Administered by CuraLinc Healthcare, the program offers guidance to help you address and resolve everyday issues at no cost to you or your family. Features include:

Kinside - A child care benefit, connecting you with open spots and discounts of up to 20 percent at top daycares, preschools, camps and after school programs.

Community Center Fitness Pass - All Metro Parks Tacoma employees get a Staff Pass to use at our community centers.The All Center Pass allows access to all four centers - Center at Norpoint, Eastside Community Center, People's Center and STAR Center - plus three indoor pools, all semi-outdoor fitness classes, and our exciting new online virtual community center.

Note: THIS BENEFIT OVERVIEW IS FOR INFORMATION ONLY AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED CONTRACT. ANY PROVISION CONTAINED HEREIN MAY BE MODIFIED AND/OR REVOKED WITHOUT NOTICE.