The Salvation Army

Hawaiian and Pacific Islands Division

Ewa Beach, Hawaii

Job Description rev. 12/6/2024

 

POSITION TITLE:           Early Childhood Education Assistant Director

DEPARTMENT:               Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center (Kroc Center Hawaii)

SUPERVISOR:                 Early Childhood Education Director

FLSA STATUS:                 Exempt

CLASSIFICATION:         Full-time- Salary Range $46,800 - $48,672

 

GENERAL STATEMENT: The Salvation Army is a branch of the Christian Church, and the goal of all programs is a spiritual, emotional and physical regeneration of all people.

 

MISSION STATEMENT: The Salvation Army, an international movement, is an evangelical part of the universal Christian Church. Its message is based on the Bible. Its ministry is motivated by the love of God. Its mission is to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination.

 

KROC CENTER HAWAII VISION: Kroc Center Hawaii will be a dynamic and flourishing gathering place for diverse community; where all are welcomed, inspired and transformed through the love of Christ.

 

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Assistant Director plays a crucial role in the management and operation of the center.  This position assists the Director in overseeing all aspects of daily operations, staff management, curriculum development and accreditation, and ensuring the safety and well-being of the children in our care.  The Assistant Director supports a positive and nurturing environment, fostering the growth and development of both children and staff.

 

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Minimum: CDA Credentials from Accredited College or University in Early Childhood Education and 12 or more credits in ECE or Child Development coursework. At least five years of daycare or preschool teaching experience. Director/teacher qualified by State Licensing agency (CANOE registry) Demonstrated teaching and leadership abilities.

 

PREFERENCES:

Master’s degree in early childhood education or a related field of study. Proven computer abilities with Microsoft Office or comparable software. Previous leadership experience in Preschool or a school setting required.

 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Operations:

Assist and oversee daily duties that might be temporary in the event the Director is not available. Assist the ECE Director in leading department meetings. Work with administrators and teaching staff to offer fresh, creative solutions for difficult situations and systematic problems. Assists with formal written performance evaluations and sets annual goals with staff. Provides appropriate feedback to staff on work performance and other job-related activities as needed. Serve as an expert resource and mentor for new and developing KKLC staff. Help to lead various areas of the school including course planning/curriculum development, professional development, special education, staff scheduling, standardized testing improvement or other subjects, depending on the needs of the department. Ensure the equipment and the facility are clean, well-maintained, and safe always. Assist in the daily inspection of the environment to identify potentially hazardous objects or situations.  Report on information to the ECE Director. Creates a welcoming climate for both child and parent, especially at drop-off and pick-up times.

Classrooms:

Leads and teachers own class when need arises. Plans and implements activities to meet the physical, emotional, intellectual, spiritual, and social needs of the children in the program. Prepares the classroom at the beginning of the day and performs cleanup and set up for the next day’s activities. Provides weekly and monthly schedules of activities. Establishes routines and provides positive guidance. Provides activities that introduce math, literacy and other academic concepts and culturally appropriate programs and activities. Provides daily lesson/activity plans which integrate our co-developed Bible thematic units and include a variety of experiences and activities for children including songs, games, and storytelling. Ensure children are always supervised, adhering to The Salvation Army procedures for Protecting the Mission. Provides a safe and secure environment for children to feel comfortable and builds children’s esteem. Clearly and effectively communicates in a manner that children understand. Implements positive discipline when required. Observes children and makes notes of progress. Develops and maintains current, accurate and confidential files. Communicates with parents, discusses children’s development with parents and keeps parents informed of program expectations, program activities and their child’s progress. Plans together with and provides information, training, and guidance to Assistant Teachers, Aides, trainees, and volunteers. Promote team spirit and cooperation between staff, volunteers, and parents. Teaches proper eating habits and personal hygiene. Serves meals and snacks in accordance with nutritional guidelines. Knows emergency procedures. Attends scheduled KKLC Family Events outside of regular work hours. Follow and ensure adherence to The Salvation Army Policies and Procedures. Maintain the Code of Ethics policy, which has been established for the Kroc Center Hawaii. Attend staff meetings and other administrative meetings. Maintain regular and punctual work attendance. Perform other duties as assigned.

 

MENTAL DEMANDS:

Caring for children can be stressful. The Keiki Learning Center Assistant Director must:

Ensure that children are always supervised, and that children are involved in safe and appropriate activities. Must be prepared to handle accidents and emergencies at any time. Must maintain poise under pressure, respond to crisis situations in a calm and effective manner, and be resilient in the face of workplace stressors such as customer service complaints, maintaining the security of people and property, competing priorities, etc. Must maintain a self-motivated and self- directed schedule, able to work with limited supervision, and in a team setting with other professionals. Must prioritize and organize work assignments and take projects from beginning through completion. Must possess the self-discipline necessary to perform repetitive tasks without lowering quality of work, exercise good judgment and be comfortable taking initiative with projects. Able to perform job functions with attention to detail, speed and accuracy. Able to work in a fast-paced environment. Be self-motivated, energetic, enthusiastic, motivational and able to maintain a self-directed schedule. Have a genuine interest and commitment to providing quality service.

 

 

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The Keiki Learning Center Assistant Director

May be lifting and carrying children and equipment and may spend time sitting on the floor or child sized furniture. Will be expected to help clean and maintain equipment and facility and may move throughout the community with children. May encounter children who are ill and/or contagious and must take precautions to ensure the health and safety of all children, parents, staff and themselves. Will be working in a busy and occasionally noisy environment. May be required to sit, climb, balance, stoop, kneel, bend, stretch, crouch, crawl, stand, walk, use manual dexterity and eye-hand coordination, have good vision, drive a vehicle, push, pull, lift, carry at least 25 lbs.

 

COMMUNICATION DEMANDS:

This position requires:

Strong communication and interpersonal skills. Conduct regular staff meetings to facilitate communication and professional development. Collaborate with the Director to evaluate staff performance and provide constructive feedback. Handle parent inquires, concerns, and communication effectively and professionally. Foster positive relationships with parents and guardians through open communication and regular updates. Organize and participate in parent-teacher conferences and family engagement. Assist in maintaining accreditation and quality standards set by accrediting agencies.

 

EQUIPMENT NEEDS:

Activity mats & tables, classroom chairs, blocks, carts, outdoor play equipment/furniture, toys, arts & crafts accessories, books, classroom lockers/storage units, diaper changing tables, easels, etc. The equipment used includes general office equipment such as computers, photocopiers, scanners, printers, fax machines, and telephone.

 

CERTIFICATES & LICENSES

Current First Aid and Child CPR cards (must be obtained within 6 months of hire date)

Registry Card from Hawaii Careers with Young Children

TB Test Clearance Card (current within 12 months before beginning childcare)

 

CLEARANCES:

The candidate chosen for this position will be required to pass a criminal history information check and Child Abuse Index and fingerprint clearance with the FBI and Department of Justice. Conviction of a crime will not automatically preclude employment. The circumstances involved in the conviction(s) will be considered.

 

The information in this job description indicates the general nature and level of work performed by an employee in this classification. It is not to be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory, or all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications of employees assigned to this job. Management has the right to add to, revise, or delete information in this description. Reasonable accommodation will be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by management.

 

This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an "at will" employment relationship.