Job Description
The Infant Program Specialist plays a key role in maintaining and elevating the quality of care and education for infants (ages 0–12 months) within the center—while actively working as the go-to teacher in the infant classrooms they supervise and support.
This hybrid role blends hands-on classroom teaching with program leadership responsibilities. The specialist models best practices through daily work with children, trains and coaches infant teachers, ensures developmentally appropriate care, and provides ongoing support through regular classroom presence and digital communication channels such as Lillio and GroupMe. They foster a nurturing and professional culture of continuous improvement within the infant teaching team.
Primary Responsibilities
Direct Infant Teaching & Classroom Leadership
- Serve as a lead teacher in an assigned infant classroom for a portion of each day.
- Create a safe, nurturing, and engaging environment for infants, including implementing lesson plans and routines that support developmental milestones.
- Model responsive caregiving, positive interactions, and appropriate guidance techniques for other staff.
- Build strong relationships with families through daily communication and a welcoming classroom culture.
Program Coaching & Support
- Develop and deliver hands-on training sessions and onboarding programs for new infant room teachers.
- Mentor and coach existing infant teachers to ensure high-quality, consistent classroom practices.
- Conduct regular classroom visits to observe infant care, model effective techniques, and provide in-person feedback.
- Identify areas for growth in the infant program and create actionable improvement plans.
Collaboration & Communication
- Work closely with the Center Director to align infant care practices with program-wide goals and licensing/accreditation standards.
- Partner with the Director of Training to align training content, structure, and delivery with organizational goals for infant care.
- Partner with the Programming Director to ensure age-appropriate implementation and intentional teaching strategies within infant classrooms.
- Utilize GroupMe, Lillio, and other tools to provide daily/weekly tips, answer questions, and offer encouragement to the infant team.
- Create and share resources, checklists, and visual aids to support daily infant room operations.
Compliance & Quality Assurance
- Stay current on early childhood and infant development research, sharing updated best practices with the team.
- Ensure infant classrooms maintain compliance with health, safety, and developmental guidelines.
- Track progress and outcomes of coaching efforts and provide regular updates to leadership.
Why We Think You Will Thrive
- Instructional Leadership: You model best practices daily while coaching others.
- Emotional Intelligence: You build trust with staff and families.
- Clear Communication: You give feedback effectively and motivate others.
- Organizational Agility: You adapt strategies while staying aligned with program goals.
- Vision-Driven Mindset: You inspire excellence in infant care.
- Collaborative Spirit: You work as a partner with leadership and peers.
- Accountability & Follow-Through: You track and deliver on support plans.
- Calm Presence: You handle challenges with composure and solutions.
- Growth-Oriented: You embrace coaching and continuous improvement—for yourself and others.
Why Join Us?
At A Step Ahead, we value all people, not just the children in our care—but our staff too. You’ll be part of a values-driven team that believes in growth, positivity, and servant leadership. We’ll support your training, celebrate your milestones, and offer a workplace where you can lead with both heart and purpose.