Learning And Development Associate Jobs in Alabama

Salary: Depends on Qualifications
Location : Florence, Alabama
Job Type: Staff
Division: Academic Affairs
Department: Kilby Laboratory School
Opening Date: 04/09/2026
FLSA: Exempt
Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven days. This job may be removed from posting boards and filled any time after the minimum posting period has ended. The posted salary and/or position title may be adjusted dependent on the successful candidate's education, experience, and unique qualifications as they relate to the position. Sponsorship is not available for any staff positions and unless otherwise indicated within the posting information is not available for most faculty positions.
Description
This position supports the lead teacher in planning and preparing the learning environment, setting up learning centers, and preparing needed materials and supplies. The duties of this position also include supervising play, interacting with the children, and observing each child daily to assess skills, interests, and needs. Additional responsibilities may also include evaluating students' social, educational, and physical development, completing checklists, and taking pictures to document student growth. The successful incumbent should be prepared to take on the role of lead teacher when needed.
*This is a grant-funded position. Initial and continued employment in this position is contingent upon funding by the sponsoring agency.*
Essential Job Duties

• Assist the lead teacher with curriculum planning and implementation;
• Maintain a safe, clean, and engaging classroom environment;
• Support the lead teacher in providing preschool experiences for four-year-old children;
• Interact with children;
• Prepare snacks;
• Teach children about numbers, colors, and shapes;
• Help children with dressing activities and teeth brushing;
• Supervise outside play, lunch, and nap activities;
• Evaluate students' social, educational, and physical development;
• Participate in mandated Office of School Readiness (OSR) training;
• Perform all other duties as assigned.

ADDITIONAL DUTIES:
Participate in school-wide training and PTO functions, as needed.
Minimum Qualifications

• High school diploma/equivalent, required;
• Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood, Child Development, or a related field, preferred;
• Must be 19 years of age or older;
• Child Development Associate Credential (CDA) OR at least nine (9) credit hours of college coursework in the field of Early Childhood Education or Child Development from a regionally accredited institution, required;
• Appropriate experience (at least 12 months) working in early childhood or experience in other OSR-approved settings, required;
• Experience with STEM instruction is preferred.

LICENSES, CERTIFICATIONS, OR REGISTRATIONS:
None
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Ability to keep current of job-related issues and best practices;
• Support all program activities, know and promote the goals and objectives of the program, the school, the college, and the University;
• Knowledge of and ability to adhere to program policies and procedures.
• Ability to communicate and interact effectively with an increasingly diverse array of students, staff, faculty, administrators, parents, visitors, and the general public;
• Ability to work together with co-workers to plan and implement developmentally appropriate lesson plans, to prepare and maintain the classroom environment, and to assess children's growth and development;
• Extensive knowledge of child development and early childhood education;
• Knowledge of curriculum planning and implementation;
• Ability to follow program confidentiality policies concerning information about children and families;
• Ability to structure time effectively;
• Ability to respect and promote the unique identity of each child and family;
• Ability to work collaboratively with others;
• Reliable, responsible, flexible, and conscientious;
• Highly motivated and self-directed.

Special Instructions to Applicants
Applicants must upload a cover letter and resume at the time of application as well as provide contact information for at least three professional/academic references. In addition, this position requires that applicants upload documents to verify their qualifications as listed above. If you have a CDA or Class A Early Childhood Professional Educator Certificate, please upload as a supplemental attachment under the attachment heading of Other Document 1. If you meet the requirements with the equivalent of nine (9) hours of approved coursework in child development from an accredited institution, please upload copies of your transcript showing completion of said hours as a supplemental attachment. Until the required cover letter and resume are uploaded the supplemental attachment link will not appear. Applications submitted without all required documentation will be considered incomplete and non-viable.
For questions or assistance, please email employment@una.edu or call 256-765-4291 and select option #2. Selecting an option other than #2 will result in a delayed response.
UNA is an equal opportunity employer. We seek a wide range of applicants for our positions so that our core values will be affirmed.
Staff Benefit Summary - For more details regarding each benefit listed below, please visit the HR website at or click on the links below. The benefits premiums listed below are effective March 1, 2026.
UNA has a fully-insured group health insurance program with , which includes medical, prescription drug, vision, psychiatric, and substance abuse benefits for full-time university employees, and their eligible dependents. The University covers the full individual premium for eligible employees.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama Health/Vision/RX - Monthly Premiums
Tier Employee Cost UNA Cost Total Premium
Employee $0.00 $728.36 $728.36
+Child(ren) $423.42 $778.36 $1,201.78
+Spouse $678.36 $778.36 $1,456.72
+Spouse & Child(ren) $786.88 $778.36 $1,565.24
UNA also provides dental coverage through The University covers the full individual premium for eligible employees.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama Dental - Monthly Premiums
Tier Employee Cost UNA Cost Total Premium
Employee $0.00 $29.61 $29.61
Family $39.07 $29.61 $68.68
UNA provides all eligible employees with basic life insurance at no cost to the employee. The basic life coverage level is 1.5 times the covered employee's annual base salary with a maximum benefit of $400,000. Included with your basic life coverage is Accidental Death and Dismemberment coverage at 3 times the covered employee's annual salary. The provider for this coverage is As a member of the , eligible employees have life benefits available through the TRS. Also, for eligible active employees, a death benefit of the payment of accrued sick leave is paid to the employee's beneficiary by the University.
This coverage provides benefits after a 90-day period of disability. The monthly benefit is 60% of the covered employee's monthly base salary not to exceed $10,000 per month. The cost for this benefit is paid in full by the University for eligible employees and the provider for this coverage is
Retirement Plans
The is a defined benefit plan in which participation is mandatory for eligible employees. Eligible employees are categorized by the TRS as Tier I or Tier II members.
Rates below are effective as of October 1, 2025

• Tier I - Employee contribution rate is 7.5% for regular employees and 8.5% for law enforcement employees.
• Tier II - Employee contribution rate is 6.2% for regular employees and 7.0% for law enforcement employees.

- this retirement plan is a voluntary, supplemental, deferred compensation plan.
- this plan is a voluntary, supplemental, deferred compensation plan offered by the Retirement Systems of Alabama.
The University provide a $6.00 per month credit to eligible employees to offset the cost(s) for supplemental, voluntary benefits. All full-time regular employees are eligible for this benefit on the first day of the month following the completion of 90 days of employment.

• Flexible Spending Accounts - HealthEquity
• Cancer Insurance - Allstate
• Short-Term Disability Insurance - Fort Dearborn Life
• Life Insurance - Symetra
• Accident Coverage - Symetra
• Critical Illness Insurance - Symetra
• Hospital Indemnity Coverage - Symetra
• Vision Insurance - Vision Blue by VSP
• Air Evac Lifeteam
• Long-Term Care Insurance - LTCi Plans

UNA provides remission of tuition to eligible employees and to their spouses and qualified dependent children.
Paid Time Off
- Annual leave is accrued for each hour worked. During the first 2 years of employment, the accrual is 10 workdays. After completion of 2 years of continuous service, eligible employees are entitled to 12 days of annual leave and, for each additional year of service, annual leave is increased by one day per year to a maximum of 20 days after 10 years.
- Full-time regular staff members are entitled to 96 work hours (12 workdays) of sick leave each year at the employee's regular rate of pay regardless of length of service.
- Full-time, regular staff employees are eligible for paid holidays.
Miscellaneous Benefits
01
Do you have a high school diploma or equivalent?

• Yes
• No

02
Are you nineteen (19) years of age or more?

• No
• Yes

03
Do you have a bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, or a related field?

• No, I do not have a bachelor's degree.
• No, but I have completed some college education toward a bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, or a related field.
• Yes, in Early Childhood Education or Child Development.
• Yes, in a related field.

04
Do you have a Child Development Associate Credential (CDA)/Class A Early Childhood Professional Educator Certificate OR equivalent nine (9) credit hours of approved coursework in early childhood education or child development) from an accredited institution?

• No, neither.
• Yes, a child development associate credential (CDA) or class A early childhood professional educator certificate.
• Yes, I have an equivalent nine (9) credit hours of approved coursework in early childhood education or child development from an accredited institution.

05
Do you have a minimum of twelve (12) months of recent experience working with young children or in another OSR-approved setting?

• No
• Yes, twelve (12) months of experience.
• Yes, more than twelve (12) months of experience.

06
Do you have STEM instructional experience?

• No
• Yes

Required Question