Center Aid (Floater)

About the Role

This position prepares and serves food to children in classrooms, assists with classroom and outdoor activities, and ensures the health, safety, and cleanliness of facilities. The role may involve reassignment to various classrooms or centers as needed for program operations.

Key Responsibilities

Kitchen Aide

• Completes routine kitchen/dining room/food chores, including dishwashing, portioning foods, and logging food temperatures.
• Prepares food and serving items, accommodating special needs or disabilities.
• Participates in food service cleanup, inventory, and other related tasks.
• Assists the Cook as needed.
• Assists with inventory maintenance of supplies, food, and equipment.
• Assists with processing and storing delivered food and food-related items.
• Controls food waste to support a financially successful food service operation.
• Logs meals/snacks in the menu book following USDA/CACFP documentation requirements.
• Supports staff/parents in meal/snack preparation and cleanup for meetings and events.
• Ensures dishes are returned for cleaning and preparation for the next meal.
• Notifies supervisor of any safety or health issues.
• Participates in food preparation and nutrition training.
• Follows established cleaning systems for kitchen and storage rooms.
• Reports kitchen equipment in poor working order to the supervisor.
• Prepares food in a safe and sanitary manner.
• Complies with all local, state, and federal hygiene and sanitation standards.

Health and Sanitation

• Empties trash or garbage containers as needed.
• Sanitizes surfaces and organizes classroom or kitchen materials.
• Cleans and rotates classroom toys.
• Maintains organization and cleanliness of toy/supply storage.
• Upkeeps Center laundry.
• Performs light yard work, including blowing off the playground.

Classroom Aide

• Assists classroom staff with activities, field trips, and outdoor activities.
• Supervises children during mealtimes, encouraging good nutrition and social skills.
• Assists teachers with program aspects as needed, such as Family Nights, copying newsletters, and cutting classroom materials.
• Serves as a substitute for classroom teachers during daily breaks and occasional full-day absences.

General Job Duties

• Attends all workshops and meetings as deemed necessary by the supervisor.
• Attends all required staff meetings and meetings for activities.
• Understands Head Start Performance Standards and local child care licensing regulations.
• Is knowledgeable of regulations for preventing occupational disease and injury, including universal precautions and prevention of contamination.
• Maintains strict confidentiality concerning Early Head Start children, families, and staff.
• Adheres to Children's Coalition for Northeast Louisiana Employee Handbook, Human Resources Policies and Procedures, Operations Manual, and other relevant handbooks, manuals, and resources.
• Performs other duties as assigned by the supervisor.

Requirements & Tech Stack

• High School Diploma or GED
• Ability to perform basic arithmetic: addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division with simple fractions.
• Knowledge of working with infant & toddler children.
• Knowledge of basic food preparation, serving, and sanitation practices.
• Willingness to drive agency vehicles (if applicable) requires a valid driver's license, insurability, and an acceptable Motor Vehicle Record.
• Reliable transportation.
• If using own vehicle, must have minimum automobile coverage required by the state of employment.

Qualifications

• Individual must be 18 years of age.
• Bilingual (English/Spanish or English and other languages) is preferred.
• Acceptable tuberculosis screening results, a clear criminal records check (including child abuse registry check if required), and an initial health exam are required post-job offer.
• Current and former Early Head Start parents will receive preference for qualified employment vacancies.

Physical Demands and Working Conditions

• May be required to lift up to 40 pounds.
• Required to perform physical activities for engaging with toddlers/infants, including bending, squatting, and moving on and off the floor.
• Travel by car, bus, airplane, or train may be required for conferences, meetings, and duties at distant locations, potentially including overnight travel.
• Potential for some exposure to communicable diseases.
• Work environment may have moderate to loud noise levels.
• Work is typically performed in a classroom, kitchen, or bus setting, with some office work required.
• Evenings and weekend work may occasionally be required for home visits, parent-teacher conferences, Parent Committee meetings, and community/social events.