The Child and Youth Program (CYP) Leader provides direct care and instruction to children and youth (6 weeks to 18 years) in addition to guidance, assistance, and mentoring for CY Program Assistants. Routine day-to-day assignments are normally performed independently with technical assistance available from supervisor when required. Routine assignments are spot-checked; the more technical assignments are closely reviewed for adherence to policies, procedures, and instructions.

The duties and responsibilities have been grouped into categories, including mentor, curriculum, indoor and outdoor environment, interactions and relationships, supervision of children and youth, parent and employee communication, assessment, compliance, and additional responsibilities.  Each is described below.

Mentor

Mentors assigned CY Program Assistant team.

Works with senior employees to provide instruction and training to lower-level employees.

Assists lower-level employees in completing the Standardized Module Training.

Assists the Training and Curriculum (T&C) Specialist in helping lower-level CY Program Assistants translate professional development training into practice by mentoring, guiding and role-modeling.

Models appropriate behaviors and techniques for working with children and youth.

Provides suggestions and makes recommendations to credential practicum candidates.

Assists the T&C Specialist with recording observations and charts progress of team members' on-the-job skills.

Consults frequently with the T&C Specialist for guidance on strategies to further assist team members' professional development efforts.

Curriculum

Plans activities for program participants based on observed needs of individual children and youth.  Continually reviews activities and plans for appropriateness.

Works with T&C Specialist, supervisor, and the CY Program Assistants to implement activities and special events that meet the physical, social, emotional, and cognitive needs of children and youth.  Incorporates special instructions provided by parents such as special dietary needs, physical needs, or other information that may affect the child or youth's experience in the program.

Prepares and implements program options for children and youth with special requirements.  Assists children and youth with special projects, homework, and life skills.

Recommends to the T&C Specialist and CY Program Assistants changes and adjustments to activities and plans where necessary to meet unusual situations.

Sets up displays and bulletin boards.

Arranges for and/or serves appropriate snacks or meals where applicable.

Indoor and Outdoor Environment

Works with team members to prepare, arrange, and maintain indoor and outdoor activity areas and materials to accommodate daily schedules.  Makes suggestions about improvements to the activity areas.

Inventories equipment on a recurring basis and recommends replenishing damaged, missing, and depleted supplies.

Secures supplies, equipment, and facilities.

Interactions and Relationships

Encourages participant interest and establishes a program setting that promotes positive interactions with other children, youth, and adults.

Interacts with children and youth using approved child guidance and youth development techniques.

Supervision of Children and Youth

Provides care and supervision, oversight, and accountability for program participants in compliance with the Department of Defense (DoD), NAF Component, and local installation command policies, guidance, and standards.

Maintains control of and accounts for the whereabouts and safety of children and youth. Ensures children and youth (as applicable) depart with authorized person according to written parental instructions.

Oversees arrival and departure of children and youth.

Supervises children and youth during daily schedule of indoor and outdoor activities and on field trips, outings, and special events.

Parent and Employee Communication

Interacts professionally with employees, parents, and local installation command personnel.

Participates in conferences with parents, employees, school representatives, and local installation command personnel.

Briefs other employees and parents.

Assessment

Observes children and youth and documents developmental progression and/or concerns and uses the information in planning.

Assists CY Program Assistants with assessment tasks when needed.

Compliance

Ensures assigned area achieves and maintains standards for DoD certification and national accreditation or equivalent.

Ensures compliance with law, policies, and regulations applicable to DoD CY programs.

Additional Responsibilities

Collects, maintains, and reports program participation data.

Performs other related duties as assigned.

A complete list of duties and responsibilities will be provided at the time of hire.

Conditions of employment

• You must be at least 18 years of age with a high school diploma or equivalent Unit
• This is a designated position and Random Drug Testing required
• May be required to pass a Drug Screening as a condition of employment
• Must pass a pre-employment medical examination, be free of communicable disease and current on immunizations
• Must successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. Any discrepancies must be resolved as a condition of employment
• Childcare background check required
• Must provide proof of U.S. Citizenship or U.S. National
• Must have your salary sent to a financial institution of your choice by Direct Deposit/Electronic Funds Transfer

Qualifications

Qualification Requirements:  Must provide proof of High School Diploma or equivalent, and any additional education, certification, and or training as required prior to placement and must possess one of the following: 

• Completion of DOD Standardized Training Modules AND 12-months experience at the GSE-04 Level. OR
• A Child Development Associate (CDA) credential or Military School Age (MSA) credential AND completion of 1 year at the CY Program Assistant/Base Level 4 where incumbent displayed knowledge of competency in developmentally appropriate programming for children and youth. OR
• A minimum of a 2-year degree in Youth Development, Child Development or a related field which can include Recreation, Youth Recreation, Physical Education, Elementary Education, Secondary Education, Early Childhood Education, Psychology, Social Work, Home Economics with an emphasis in Human Development, or other degrees as appropriate AND 1 year at the CY Program Assistant/Base Level 4 where incumbent displayed knowledge and competency in developmentally appropriate programming for children and youth.

Conditions of Employment:  These positions are subject to background check and pre-employment drug screening in accordance with federal regulations.  The work requires considerable walking, standing, bending, stooping and lifting up to 40 pounds.  Ability to favorably pass pre-employment physical, provide evidence of immunization and be free from communicable disease and ability to favorably pass pre-employment drug screening.  Please note: Marijuana is a Schedule I drug under the Controlled Substances Act and therefore use of marijuana is illegal under Federal law regardless of State laws. A positive drug test result for marijuana (or any other drug tested for) will result in withdrawal of the tentative job offer and ineligibility to apply for a position within the Department of Defense for 6 months from the date of the drug test. 

Other Information: Participation in the Direct Deposit/Electronic Fund Transfer within 30 days of employment is required. We utilize E-Verify to confirm selectee’s eligibility to work in the United States. The Department of the Navy (DON) is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. All qualified candidates will receive consideration without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, mental or physical disability, genetic information, reprisal, marital status, political affiliation, sexual orientation, or any other non-merit factor.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

All resumes will be reviewed to determine if they meet the hiring eligibility and qualification requirements listed in this announcement, and will be rated based on the information provided in the resume to determine the level of KSAs related to the job requirements.  Using the qualifications of the position, a predetermined rating criterion of KSAs will be used for each resume.  Best qualified applicants will be referred to the hiring manager.