Office/ Childcare Assistant

Job Title(s): Office/Benefits Administrator & Childcare Assistant

Reports To: General Manager
Location: Middletown, RI
Summary of Position:

We are looking for an organized office administrator, who will carry out daily reception and administrative tasks, as well as offer support to our teachers within the childcare when needed.

We are looking for someone with experience, but we are willing to train the right person. Loving kids is a must for this position! This position will work directly for the General Manager and will include training with our Director of Childcare. The role includes daily interactions (in a COVID safe environment) with parents for pickup and afternoon drop off, checking children in and out and bringing them in and out of the childcare, as well as assisting with childcare duties as needed and as listed below. There is some flexibility in the schedule but primarily we are looking for the candidate to work from 10am-6PM, M-F.

Our goal is to positively enhance our community of families day to day lives from the second they walk through our doors. If you are a loving, nurturing and compassionate person who has a deep interest in enriching the lives of families during their children’s critically important first five years of life, you will be a great fit for our team. It is important that this candidate thinks about the role as both customer service based and administrative.

• Associates Degree or higher/degree in progress
• Two + years of experience in a general administrative role or office management
• Successful completion of all State Required Health and Background screenings
• Working knowledge of personal computers with experience in the use of Word, Excel and Outlook and the Google Suite
• Ability to demonstrate flexibility on the job
• Demonstrates initiative, is conscientious and provides complete follow-through on areas of responsibility
• Ability to communicate and work effectively within a team to achieve our goals

A college degree is a plus or experience in a related field. Customer service experience or experience in a management role is a plus.

• Full time employees qualify for benefits
• 50% of health, dental and vision coverage (50% for Employee only) after 60 days
• Paid Time Off including sick time and Paid Holidays
• Participation in company 401k plan after 500 hours of work in 6 months
• Educational assistance of up to $5260 per year for relevant continuing education
• Employee discount for their own enrolled children (pending space availability)
• Professional Development opportunities including safety and mental well being training
• Use of coworking and fitness space

The responsibilities of this position will include, but will not be limited to the following:

• The ideal candidate will have prior experience in a childcare setting, and have already completed, or will need to complete upon hire, their required Department of Human Services (or DCF) paperwork which includes a background check, among other required items, and they must provide proof of up to date immunizations.
• This position requires working with children of all ages from infant to 5 years.
• Staff supervision when acting as designated onsite administrator.
• Stand in for teacher bathroom breaks, and generally assist a teacher in their classroom if they need it. Assisting teachers can include tasks such as helping with nap times or child potty breaks etc.
• Covering for teacher breaks or in necessary times as a substitute if others are not available.
• For office administration duties: Answering phone inquiries, taking messages, answering parent messages as applicable, working closely with the General Manager for additional daily or weekly projects, keeping track of and ordering inventory for the daycare.
• Taking care of mid-day child pickups/drop offs.
• Acting as onsite administrator for daily end of day pick ups.
• Ensuring the club is stocked with all necessary supplies. Ensuring that supplies are full in areas where needed. (Bathrooms, Water Cooler, Snacks).
• Assist with organizing paperwork and keeping all staff and family documents up to date.
• Assist with new parent “onboarding” or introductions to our establishment and answer their questions about us, our childcare and our operations, and our upstairs offerings for parents (workplace and fitness).
• Assist with our internal scheduling application and office/gym management for parents
• Opportunity to assist with social media/monthly newsletters
• Assisting in administrative projects related to club events and community outreach

Interactions with Children

• Communicate with children in a positive manner helping to bolster their confidence.
• Treat each child with dignity and respect, helping to boost their confidence as they learn to navigate into their ever expanding world.
• Be approachable and engaging with children.

Interactions with Parents

• Establish regular communication with parents.
• Always remember that a parent’s day likely started well before they arrived at our doorstep, patience and grace are key ingredients to trusting relationships within our community.
• Partner with parents to create an easy transition into the program.
• Create an environment that embraces open communication with families.

Interactions with Staff

• Attend and participate in all staff meetings.
• Attend In-Service training and workshops if applicable.
• Be courteous and respectful of peers.
• Respond accordingly to childcare needs from Teachers.
• Direct issues to the appropriate persons in a timely manner.

Physical Requirements

• Able to observe and respond to children’s needs, emergencies and/or conflicts that might occur during the day.
• Able to supervise children outside being out in the sun, snow and changing temperatures.
• Able to lift up to 40 pounds from the floor to waist high table.
• Able to push a cart/buggy/stroller weighing up to 100 pounds for up to 3 miles.
• Able to walk or run as the job dictates
• Able to kneel down to children eye level
• Able to sit on the floor to work with children
• Able to react to a child that is up to 30 feet away within 30 seconds
• Able to carry a child up to 40 pounds, up to 100 feet
• Extremely patient and able to deal effectively with the stress involved in working daily with children, staff and parents.

As will be acknowledged upon receipt of our Employee Handbook, it is the responsibility of every employee to contribute to a positive work environment through cooperation and professional interactions with co-workers, customers and vendors.

Our business has a zero-tolerance policy for any negative actions or interactions which involve racist, homophobic, transphobic or otherwise offensive behaviors. This is an equal opportunity environment in which all sentient beings are treated with equal respect and love by all who enter our premises.

Kindred Communications is boutique direct-hire placement headhunting firm with a focus on diversity and inclusion tech placement. We strive to diversify the workforce once placement at a time.