Early Childhood Specialist - South Hadley, MA

Join our Early Childhood team as a CFCE Specialist and take the lead in providing essential support and engaging, early literacy-rich experiences to families with young children (ages 0-6) in our community. We are looking for a dedicated individual to manage and coordinate aspects of this critical program, ensuring services are delivered effectively and in compliance with professional standards and funding expectations. The work schedule varies and may include evenings and weekends. This position will provide programming in South Hadley. What you will do You will be the welcoming face and key resource for families, directly providing weekly parent/child drop-in playgroups and specialized early childhood activities. Your primary focus will be to strengthen parent-child relationships and foster children's early development and kindergarten readiness skills. This involves:

• Planning and leading developmentally appropriate activities 
• Integrating early literacy into programming
• Conducting community outreach 
• Providing families with resources and referrals (including Welcome Baby visits)
• Supporting transitions such as entering kindergarten 

Additionally, you will be responsible for program management tasks such as: registering new families; collecting required data; assisting with ASQ developmental screenings; completing monthly reports; and overseeing communications such as a newsletter or social media outreach. What we are looking for We are seeking a candidate with an Associate's Degree in Early Childhood Education (completed or in-progress) or a related field, and a minimum of two years of experience working with parents and young children. You should possess basic knowledge of child development, family dynamics, and pre/postpartum issues. Essential skills include:

• Ability to establish rapport with diverse families with empathy
• Working effectively both independently and collaboratively as a team member
• Computer skills for Google documents, calendars, and spreadsheets
• Ability to work a flexible schedule that occasionally includes evenings and weekends
• Ability to actively lead groups for 1-2 hours (move and interact with children, lift up to 40 pounds and maintain a safe, engaging environment)

Compensation and Schedule

• Schedule: varies by assigned region, but generally between 8 and 20 hours per week, and may include evenings and weekends.
• Dates of Service: 38 weeks during the school year and reduced programming in July and August. Non-programming periods align with school district holiday/vacation calendars with possible flexibility to extend services in June.
• Compensation:  $22.00 per hour, Benefits available as outlined in the CES Handbook for staff who work more than 20 hours/week. 

If you are passionate about supporting families and creating a positive, nurturing environment where children and their families can thrive, we would love to hear from you. Apply today to join our team and make a meaningful difference in the lives of parents and their children! CES is an equal opportunity employer and is particularly interested in candidates from diverse backgrounds, especially candidates whose backgrounds are well-suited to understanding and addressing the needs of the diverse student populations we serve.