Jobs at Western

Early Childhood Program Specialist 3

Apply now Job no: 502431
Work type: Permanent Full Time
Location: Bellingham, WA
Categories: Student Affairs

Position Title Early Childhood Program Specialist 3
About the University

Western Washington University, with over 15,000 students in seven colleges and the graduate school, is nationally recognized for its educational programs, students and faculty. The campus is located in Bellingham, Washington, a coastal community of 90,000 overlooking Bellingham Bay, the San Juan Islands and the North Cascades Mountain range. The city lies 90 miles north of Seattle and 60 miles south of Vancouver, British Columbia. Western has additional sites in Anacortes, Bremerton, Everett, Port Angeles, and Poulsbo. Western is recognized nationally for its successes, such as being named one of the top public master's-granting institutions in the Pacific Northwest for 25 years in a row by U.S. News & World Report.

Western Washington University is committed to achieving excellence through advancing inclusive success, increasing our Washington impact, and focusing on transformational education grounded in the liberal arts and sciences and based on innovative scholarship, research, and creative activity. Western's greatest strength is the outstanding students, faculty, staff, and alumni/ae who make up its community. Western supports an inclusive governance structure for all and provides a learning and working environment in which everyone can thrive. In pursuit of this excellence, individual employees are expected to establish and maintain productive and effective inclusive working relationships amongst diverse populations including staff, faculty, administration, student, and external constituents. Further, individual employees are expected to have the ability to operationalize sustainability concepts (economic, societal, environmental) into all aspects of performing their job duties.

About the Department The Child Development Center supports Western's mission, which states that together with our students, staff, and faculty, we are committed to making a positive impact in the state and the world with a shared focus on academic excellence and inclusive achievement. We encourage applications from women, people of color, people with disabilities, veterans, and other candidates from underrepresented backgrounds and with diverse experiences interested in this opportunity.
About the Position Western Washington University welcomes and engages students, faculty, and staff in building a diverse community through employment, academic excellence, leadership, campus involvement and creative expression. The WWU Child Development Center is a service under the division of Student Affairs that seeks to support these values by providing high quality Early Childhood Education that meets the social, intellectual and physical needs of their children, enabling parents, caregivers and students to achieve academic and professional success. The Child Development Center participates in the Washington State Department of Early Learning Early Achievers program and currently holds a Level 3 rating.

This position is a Lead Classroom Teacher position which functions under the supervision of the Program Director and in partnership with an Assistant Teacher and student staff. The population in care age-range is 1-5. This is a full-time, 11.5 month cyclic position.

Required Qualifications
  • Two years’ experience in an early childhood program with children, age 1-5
  • Demonstrated ability to build positive relationships with children and their families, coworkers, and supervisors
  • Demonstrated ability to meet deadlines
  • Demonstrated attention to detail
  • Demonstrated ability to work with diverse populations
  • Demonstrated mental and physical rigor for effectively managing an active classroom with rotating adult support of varying skill levels.
  • Effective written and verbal communication and observation skills
  • Competent in computer skills needed to create documentation of learning, use online assessment tools, and perform data entry
  • Must meet all DEL requirements for Lead Teacher and show evidence of having registered through the MERIT program (www.del.wa.gov/providers-educators)
  • Must be able to lift 50 pounds when needed
Preferred Qualifications
  • Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education or related field
  • Three years’ experience in an early learning program with children age 1-5
  • Knowledge and experience training and supervising classroom assistants
  • Experience using Teaching Strategies Gold assessment tool
  • Experience mentoring preservice teachers
Conditions of Employment All employees must comply with our Immunization policies, including Proof of Rubeola Measles Immunity within 60-days of hire. Please reach out to HR@wwu.edu if you need information regarding medical or religious exemption and applicable accommodations.

This position requires a fingerprint background check.

Salary $3,715 - $4,962/month depending on qualifications and experience
Benefits Information Benefits Overview for Classified Positions
Bargaining Unit This position is part of bargaining unit PT and is covered by the collective bargaining agreement with Public School Employees of WWU.
Application Instructions

Application materials should address your experience related to the position responsibilities and the required and preferred qualifications.

Closing Date Notes Position open to PSE, DCA and permanent WWU employees (including project-employees); PSE will receive priority consideration.  Position closes 05/06/2025 at 11:55 pm.

Western Washington University (WWU) is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer committed to assembling a diverse, broadly trained faculty and staff. Women, minorities, people with disabilities and veterans are strongly encouraged to apply. In compliance with applicable laws and in furtherance of its commitment to fostering an environment that welcomes and embraces diversity, WWU does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex (including pregnancy and parenting status), disability, age, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status or genetic information in its programs or activities, including employment, admissions, and educational programs. See WWU’s Policy on Ensuring Equal Opportunity and Prohibiting Discrimination and Retaliation. Inquiries may be directed to the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance, Title IX and ADA Coordinator, Western Washington University, Old Main 126 (MS 9021), 516 High Street, Bellingham, WA 98225; 360.650.3307 (voice) or 711 (Washington Relay); crtc@wwu.edu

WWU is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. To request this document in an alternate format or to request an accommodation, please contact Human Resources Disability Services, 360.650.3751 or 711 (Washington Relay).

Annual Security and Fire Safety Report: This report is provided pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act ("The Clery Act"). It includes statistics for the previous three calendar years concerning reported crimes that occurred on Western's campus; in certain off-campus buildings or property owned or controlled by Western; and on public property within, or immediately adjacent to and accessible from, the campus. The report also includes institutional policies concerning campus security, such as policies concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters. You can obtain a copy of this report in printed or alternate formats by contacting the Office of the Vice President for Enrollment and Student Services at vpsa.office@wwu.edu. The report can be found at: Annual Security and Fire Safety Report.

All new employees must comply with the immunization policy and show employment eligibility verification as required by the U.S. Citizen and Immigration Service before beginning work at WWU. A thorough background check will be conducted on all new hires which includes a sexual misconduct background check.

Advertised: Pacific Daylight Time
Applications close: Pacific Daylight Time

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