Child Development Jobs in Springfield, IL (NOW HIRING)

Under the direction of the ASM Site Coordinator, the ASM Lead Counselor will oversee a group of twelve to fifteen (12 to 15) children while leading the daily activities of After School Matters. Provides quality experience to children and parents focused on YMCA core values of honesty, respect, responsibility, and caring. Understands character development as the chief mission of the YMCA and personally exhibits a commitment to the goal in all YMCA operations.

• Always demonstrates responsibility for the safety and well-being of all program participants. Follows all policies for emergencies, incident reporting, child abuse prevention and YMCA procedures.
• Guides supporting counselors through activities and programs.
• Celebrates group successes and reports issues to Site Coordinator.
• Provides a high level of customer service while dealing with YMCA members, guests, and staff.
• Maintains program areas and reports on any maintenance issues. Maintains cleanliness of program areas.
• Assists Site Coordinator in leading daily huddle with ASM team.
• Is a positive role model for program participants.
• Actively engages with program participants in all activities.

OUR SERVICE EXPECTATIONS:

• Display a friendly, helpful, and positive disposition.
• Provide customer service that is thorough, timely, organized, and accurate.
• Help ensure the Y is meeting member and participant needs by utilizing good listening skills, attentiveness, objectivity, and patience in all situations.
• Place members and participants as the first and highest priority, always showing kindness and compassion.
• Demonstrates the Y core values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility through all daily activities and responsibilities.

Child Abuse Policies & Prevention: The YMCA enforces policies to prevent child abuse. Allegations or suspicions are taken seriously and reported to authorities. Procedures include unscheduled visits, open doors for parents, and a code of conduct for staff. We screen carefully to prevent abusers from being hired and provide child abuse prevention training to staff. Employees who fail to support these policies will be subject to discipline, up to termination.

• Must complete onboarding process within designated time.
• Have leadership competencies in the identified key areas.
• Ability to learn quickly.
• Ability to work with integrity, discretion, and a professional approach.
• Prefer knowledge of, and previous experience with, diverse populations (language, culture, race, physical ability, sexual orientation, social, economics, ).
• Ability to complete all required trainings within 60 days of employment, including but not limited to CPR, first aid, Living Our Cause, DCFS Mandated Report, IL Gateway Registry Modules and to maintain these certifications as current as outlined by regulations or requirements.

WORK ENVIRONMENT & PHYSICAL DEMANDS: 

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

• Ability to speak concisely and effectively communicate. Be able to communicate using a computer and phone/smart device. 
• Visual and auditory ability to respond to critical situations ability to act swiftly in an emergency. 
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust
• May require physical effort and cardiac endurance while reaching with hands and arms, stooping, kneeling, crouching, standing, walking, balancing, bending, leaning, kneeling, walking, and climbing. 
• Specifically, 
  • Travel between multiple work sites within one workday. 
  • Walk extensively both within the YMCA facility and the programs supervised. It would not be unusual to walk 10,000 steps during a workday. 
  • Walking up and down stairs multiple times a day. 
  • Carrying supplies to and from work locations, normally lifting less than 25lbs. 
  • Playing large motor games with youth. 
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to loud. 

• Free 1 Parent Family Membership
• 8% Retirement for Vested Employees
• Paid Leave for All

Our mission and core values are brought to life by our culture. In the Y, we strive to live our cause of strengthening communities with purpose and intentionality every day.  We are welcoming: we are open to all. We are a place where you can belong and become.We are genuine: we value you and embrace your individuality.We are hopeful: we believe in you and your potential to become a catalyst in the world.We are nurturing: we support you in your journey to develop your full potential.We are determined: above all else, we are on a relentless quest to make our community stronger beginning with you.