Head Start/Early Head Start Associate Instructor (Continuous) ID-1206

May 28, 2025

Is a passionate educator that wants to make a positive difference in the lives of Oakland children and families
Likes to plan developmentally age-appropriate activities for children
Is a strong relationship builder with good communication skills. You will have the opportunity to interact in a culturally diverse workplace with infants, toddlers, parents, and community members.
Has a genuine interest in learning and developing their career. Within Head Start, there are opportunities to grow professionally.
Has a strong interest in creatively getting children ready for TK or kindergarten.

What you will typically be responsible for:

Instructing children in education concepts utilizing the approved curriculum.
Assisting in organizing and setting up developmentally appropriate education and play materials for the classroom and/or the home.
Assisting in conducting fire, disaster and safety drills in the classroom; inspecting facility for safety standards and maintenance needs.
Assisting in planning, organizing and scheduling daily activities at the center classroom or in the home.
Assisting in conducting developmental screenings, on-going child observations, developmental assessments, and devising Individual Development Plans (IDP) on all children enrolled in program; assisting in children meeting IEP goals through weekly lesson planning.
Supporting the initial and final home visits; making additional/on-going home visits as needed.
Preparing snacks and serving meals.

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*Click on the link below to see a video on what it's like to work for the City of Oakland!

Working for the City of Oakland
A few reasons you might love this job:

You will be a part of a dynamic Head Start team.
Your work will have a direct impact on providing important services to a community with a rich and dynamic history.
You will have great colleagues. Head Start employees are fiercely passionate about public service and community, and proud to uplift Oakland as a dynamic, innovative, vibrant city.
You will have excellent learning opportunities to grow and develop your expertise in early childhood development.

A few challenges you might face in this job:

Teachers need to find balance in their teaching style to ensure all children are learning as their skill levels may vary within the classroom.
As an Associate Instructor, you will face a considerable amount of change, and you must remain flexible and adaptable.
You will need to maintain composure, keeping emotions in control, in very difficult situations.

Competencies Required:

Adaptability: Responding positively to change and modifying behavior as the situation requires
Building & Maintaining Relationships: Establishing rapport and maintaining mutually productive relationships
Decision Making: Choosing optimal courses of action
Fact Finding: Obtaining facts and data pertaining to an issue or question
General Physical Ability: Using strength, endurance, flexibility, balance, and coordination
Handling & Resolving Conflict: Managing interpersonally strained situations
Handling Stress: Maintaining emotional stability and self-control under pressure, challenge, or adversity.
Oral Communication: Engaging effectively in dialogue
Professional & Technical Expertise: Applying technical subject matter to the job
Reading Comprehension: Understanding and using written information
Using Technology: Working with electronic hardware and software applications
Valuing Diversity: Appreciating the benefits of varied backgrounds and cultures in the workplace
Writing: Communicating effectively in writing

Minimum Requirements for Application
This recruitment will produce two eligible lists. The restricted list will be for full-time, permanent part-time, or part-time City and Port of Oakland employees who maintain employment for the duration of the recruitment and pass all stages of the recruitment process. The open list will be for all other applicants who pass all stages of the recruitment process.

This is a public contact position. The City highly encourages all bilingual candidates to apply! Some positions may require bilingual skills in Spanish, Cantonese, or Mandarin. Under the authority of Civil Service Rules Section 5.03, if a position requires bilingual language skills, only those candidates who have indicated they are bilingual in the required language(s) will be referred. Bilingual candidates will be required to successfully pass a language proficiency test if selected for hire.

Any combination of education and experience that is equivalent to the following minimum qualifications is acceptable.

Education: Twelve (12) post-secondary semester units or equivalent quarter units in early childhood education or child development completed at an accredited or approved college or university. Candidates must have units that cover the general areas of child growth and development, child family and community, child and family, or program/curriculum;

AND hold, or qualify for, an Associate Teacher Child Development Permit (or higher level permit) issued by the State of California.
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENT FOR EARLY HEAD START PROGRAM SUBSTITUTES: Education must include six (6) units of Infant/Toddler coursework.
Experience: Four months of full-time work experience or equivalent part-time experience in a licensed childcare center or comparable group childcare program.
License or Certificate / Other Requirements
Individuals who are appointed to this position will be required to maintain a valid California Driver's License throughout the tenure of employment OR demonstrate the ability to travel to various locations in a timely manner as required in the performance of duties.
Must obtain a State of California Child Development Associate Teacher Permit within 6 months of employment. Must demonstrate proof of application for Associate Teacher (or higher level) permit from the State of California upon hire. Failure to obtain relevant teaching permit within six months will be grounds for removal.
Must obtain Pediatric First Aid and CPR certifications within one year of employment and maintain throughout tenure of employment.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS
Depending on nature of assignment, candidates who receive offers of employment will be required to submit fingerprints, undergo a criminal record clearance, and have a physical examination including a TB screening.
Proficiency in a foreign language may be required.

Supplemental Information

Recruitment Process:
The City of Oakland works with a Civil Service system. Applicants apply online, and HR staff reviews their experience, education, and training listed on the application against the "minimum qualifications" listed for each position.
Please make sure to scan and attach your college transcripts (required documents) to your on-line application. Applicants who do not submit the required documents at the time of application will be screened out from further consideration.

This is a continuous recruitment. This recruitment may close without notice once a sufficient number of applications have been received.
TENTATIVE EXAM DATE
Applications Submitted During the Below Timeframe

Review of Applications
3/8/25 - 3/31/25Week of 4/7/254/1/25 - 4/30/25Week of 5/5/255/1/25 - 5/31/25Week of 6/9/256/1/25 - 6/30/25Week of 7/7/257/1/25 - 7/31/25Week of 8/4/258/1/25 - 8/31/25Week of 9/1/25

Candidates who demonstrate that they meet the minimum qualification requirements will receive their applicable ranking on the eligible list.

Candidates who do not demonstrate that they meet the minimum qualification requirements will have an opportunity to request a final review. Candidates must request a final review within 5 business days of being notified that they did not meet the minimum qualifications.

In the final review, candidates may clarify information already provided on their application. No additional work history, education, or certifications will be accepted. Any decisions made during this review process will be final.
For this recruitment, you will be asked to complete a Supplemental Questionnaire as part of the application process regarding your experience, training and certifications. Your responses to the Supplemental Questionnaire will be scored and used for ranking on the eligible list. Applicant response to the supplemental questions must demonstrate that they meet the minimum qualifications in order to be placed on the eligible list.
Candidates who pass each stage in the process will be placed on an eligible list. Some candidates may receive extra points, for example, if you are a Veteran with an honorable discharge, or if you are a current City of Oakland resident. If you're applying to a "restricted" posting and you are eligible as a current City employee, you may also receive additional points for your City service. Extra points are only applied to passing scores, so if you do not pass every element of the testing process, you cannot use extra points to pass.

The City of Oakland reserves the right to modify the selection process and date of examination as necessary to conform to administrative or business necessity. The information contained in this announcement is subject to change and does not constitute either an expressed or implied contract.

What's in it for you?

15 paid holidays
Vacation - 2 weeks per year minimum with the ability to accrue more depending on public sector years of service
Retirement - CalPERS (California Public Employees' Retirement System) with a pension formula of 2.5% @ 55 (for Classic CalPERS members) and 2% @ 62 for new CalPERS members. Classic Employees contribute 8% of pre-tax wages. The City of Oakland does not participate in Social Security
Health - The City of Oakland pays for the cost of employee and eligible dependent coverage at the Kaiser rate. Other plans include Anthem, Blue Shield, United Health Care and other HMO and PPO plans
Dental - The City of Oakland pays for Delta Dental full premium for employees and eligible dependents
Vision - The City of Oakland pays for VSP full premium for employees and eligible dependents
Sick leave - Employees accrue 12 days per year
Deferred Compensation - 457(b) pre-tax plan and an after-tax ROTH 401(k)plan
Other benefits include a Flexible Spending Account, Wellness Program, Employee Assistance Program, Life Insurance, Tuition Reimbursement, Employee Training, & Telecommuting.

Applicants are required to submit criminal history information upon request after receiving a conditional offer of employment. If the requested information is not furnished in a timely manner, applicants will not qualify for further consideration and will be removed from the eligible list.
Disaster Service Workers

All employees are designated Disaster Service Workers through state and local law. Employees are required to complete all Disaster Service Worker-related training as assigned and to return to work as ordered in the event of an emergency.
How to Apply

Apply prior to the closing time of the job announcement and allow at least two to three hours to submit your application if you are ...

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