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Program Associate (Pre-Kindergarten) NF-03

Department of the Army
United States Army Installation Management Command
Child and Youth Services
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position is with the CYS Child Development Center at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

Morale Welfare & Recreation (MWR) Child and Youth Services (CYS) Employee Childcare Fee:

  • Available to MWR CYS Regular and FLEX (working a minimum of 15 hours)
  • First Child: 100% childcare fee discount (all CYS employees)
  • Second and Subsequent Child: 25% childcare fee discount (all CYS employees)

For additional incentive information, please see additional information section.

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
10/09/2025 to 11/12/2025
Salary
$45,331 to - $58,925 per year
Pay scale & grade
NF 3
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
Not required
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time - This is a Regular Full-Time position that is eligible for leave accrual and benefits.
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
None
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
Yes
Announcement number
C2SCNAFCY-25-12814468
Control number
847891600

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

United States (U.S.) Citizens and Non-U.S. Nationals who have resided in the U.S. or U.S. territory for three (3) or more continuous years immediately preceding the start of Federal affiliation.

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Duties

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  • Serves as a Pre-Kindergarten Program Associate in the CYS Services Strong Beginnings Pre-K Program.
  • Motivates children to develop “Kindergarten Etiquette” skills, knowledge and behaviors that build a strong foundation for school success such as taking turns, raising hands, walking in a line, etc.
  • Provides supervision, oversight, and accountability for children in compliance with DoD, Army and local policies, guidance, and standards.
  • Works with the School Liaison Officer and school officials to ensure a smooth and successful transition to Kindergarten.
  • Completes designated training requirements and tracks and records training on own Individual Development Plan (IDP).

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Direct Deposit and Social Security Card is required.
  • Meet qualification/eligibility/background requirements for this position.
  • A one-year probationary period may be required.
  • Satisfactorily complete an employment verification (E-Verify) check.
  • Must be at least 18 years of age at the time of appointment.
  • Subject to satisfactory completion of all pre-employment checks in accordance with AR 215-3, para.2 to include a Child Care Tier 1 background investigation.
  • Must complete a health assessment.
  • Successful completion of prescribed training (transition and/or annual) is required.

Qualifications

Eligible candidates that apply by Oct 23rd may be sent first for consideration.

Resumes must be two pages (or less). Resumes should clearly demonstrate the applicant's relevant experience, skills, knowledge and abilities as they pertain to this position.

A qualified candidate must possess the following:

- Meet Target-level requirements and satisfactory performance.
- Possess eighteen (18) months experience working in a group program with children and/or youth.
- Possess and maintain a Child Development Associate (CDA) or Military School-Age Credential.

OR

-Meet Entry -level requirements.- Possess twelve (12) months experience working in a group program with children and/or youth.
- Possess AA degree with major emphasis in early childhood education or child development.

OR

-Meet Entry -level requirements.
- Possess BA/BS degree with a major emphasis in early childhood education, Elementary Education, Child Development, Home Economics, Special Education or related behavioral sciences.

In addition to the above qualifications, candidates who possess the following qualifications will be considered "Highly Preferred" or "Best Qualified" and may be sent first for consideration. Additional certificates will be sent at management request:
Experience working as a Lead Child and Youth Program Assistant, Child and Youth Program Technician, or Child and Youth Program Assistant (Target Level - 4) is highly preferred.

Education

Proof of education is required at the time of application, if applicable.

Please provide relevant transcripts to support your eligibility for the position. Note: Education must be directly related to the position to be filled (general psychology/sociology/counseling courses are not qualifying). To be considered, transcripts must be in English, must be legible, and must reflect the name of the school as well as the name of the applicant.

FOREIGN EDUCATION:
If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university.

Additional information

Eligible candidates that apply by Oct 23rd may be sent first for consideration.

Area of Consideration

  • The Area of Consideration for this vacancy announcement is for U.S. Citizens and Non-Citizens within the Local Commuting Area (60-miles) of Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA. (Incoming military spouses set to report in the next 30 days and Involuntarily Separated Military Members are included in the Area of Consideration). Note: If your profile and resume do not show a current local address, you may be rated ineligible for the Area of Consideration.
This is an open continuous announcement to provide a ready pool of available applicants as needed. Applicants will be referred to selecting officials as vacancies occur.

Manual Application Option
  • If you are unable to apply online, you can complete a paper application. To get started, contact servicing NAF Human Resources representative or office listed in the Agency Contact Information section (at the bottom of this announcement) to request a copy of the application form.
  • Be sure to submit your completed application form, along with your resume and any required supporting documents, no later than 3:00PM CST on 11/12/2025 to ensure timely processing.
  • Important: Incomplete applications, including missing responses to questionnaire items may result in an ineligible rating.
PCS Costs
  • Payment of Permanent Change of Station (PCS) costs is not authorized based on a determination that a PCS move is not in the Government's interest.
Allowances and Differentials
  • This job is part of a pay-banded system. Sunday premium pay for regularly scheduled employees and night differential pay may be authorized by the Garrison Commander.
  • Non-foreign overseas allowances, cost of living (COLA), and differentials will not be paid.
Your Application may be Considered for Multiple Opportunities:
  • After you apply, your application remains valid for 90 days and may be referred to hiring officials as new vacancies arise. Additional referrals may occur for up to 90 days after the closing date.

Important Information Regarding Access to Certain Federal Facilities:

  • Access to certain federal facilities may require a REAL ID-compliant driver's license/ID (marked with a star) or an Enhanced Driver's License (EDL) from WA, MI, MN, NY, or VT. See https://www.tsa.gov/real-id for details.
Discover Your Path to Success Incentives and Bonuses
  • As an added employee incentive, the Department of Defense (DoD) granted approval to extend temporary limited commissary privileges (excluding the purchase of tobacco or alcohol products) to CYS employees. This temporary approval expires 31 December 2025.
Other:
  • This is a Regular Full-Time position that is eligible for leave accrual and benefits.
  • This announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies throughout the program. Management has the right to assign staff to locations as mission requires.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

How you will be evaluated

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

Your Application Matters: How We Will Review It We want to help you put your best foot forward! Please take time to carefully follow all application instructions - missing information or skipped steps could impact your eligibility.

  • Your application will be thoughtfully reviewed to see how well your experience and qualifications align with the requirements listed in this announcement. This includes your resume, supporting documents, and responses to the assessment questionnaire.
  • We will consider your responses to our application questionnaire.
  • If you're tentatively qualified, we'll take a closer look to ensure your questionnaire responses match the experience reflected in your resume and documentation.
Note: If it's later found that qualifications or experience were overstated, it may affect your consideration for the position - so honesty and clarity are key.

Understanding Eligibilities: What You Can Claim When Applying

When you apply for a federal position through USAJOBS or USA Staffing, you may be eligible for selection preference or priority consideration based on your background or status. These eligibilities can improve your chances of being considered or referred for a position.

Depending on your situation, you may be able to claim one or more of the following eligibilities:
  • NAF Preference 1 Spouse Employment Preference (SEP)
  • NAF Preference 2 Involuntarily Separated From the Military (ISMP)
  • NAF Priority Consideration 1 Business Based Action (BBA)
  • NAF Priority Consideration 2 Former NAF Employee (FNE)/Current NAF (CNE)/Current APF Employee (CAE)
  • NAF Priority Consideration 3 Outside Applicant Veteran (OAV) (Includes spouses and parents)


Tip: Be sure to review each eligibility question carefully and provide the required documentation. Claiming an eligibility without proper support may affect your application status. Looking for more details? Refer to the Who Gets Initial Consideration (Selection Preferences) and the What Other Considerations are Available sections of our Applicant Information Kit.

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