Program Assistant

Description

About the Job:

The Program Assistant provides program, community, and facilities support for our organization at the appropriate site. The goal of this position is to support the MountainStar team in providing great services that help strengthen families and keep children safe. This position reports to the Site Program Manager.

Why you want to join us:

You believe that every child deserves the best start possible. You believe that parenting is hard even in the best circumstances. You care about children who have experienced trauma and want to work to support vulnerable families to succeed. You enjoy working with children in a trauma informed workplace and a therapeutic classroom environment. You are motivated to engage with families and offer resources so that families are supported in nurturing their child’s emotional, physical, and intellectual development. 

About MountainStar Family Relief Nursery:

MountainStar Family Relief Nursery is a local non-profit that has been in Central Oregon for 20 plus years. We are a strength-based child abuse and neglect prevention program to support families with children ages 6 weeks through 5 years. We provide high quality trauma-informed care and services for children and families experiencing high stress. Services include a therapeutic classroom emphasizing social-emotional development, home visits, parenting classes and other full wrap around services.

Our values are:

1. Caring – welcoming, trauma-informed, non-judgmental, family-focused, compassionate, honest, and fun.

2. Collaborative –engaged with clients, supporters, program partners, and communities.

3. Excellence – committed to quality programs, current research, continuous learning, and robust evaluation.

4. Inclusive – seek out and value diverse perspectives, understand and address systemic barriers equitably.

What’s in it for you:

MountainStar offers comprehensive compensation and benefit package that includes 100% employer paid medical, vision, prescription, & dental (premium value of $772 monthly), Simple IRA Retirement Plan match up to 3%, vacation & sick pay accrued semi-monthly, 11 paid holidays, Oregon Paid Leave covered in full (employee cost covered by MtStar), Wellness Reimbursement Program, and a Short-Term Disability Plan. MountainStar offers a professional, agile workplace with its primary goal being a workplace of choice. MountainStar offers excellent leadership that works hard to align strategies with the company's mission statement, core values, empower employees’ autonomy, provide trauma informed workplaces, a culture of transparency, wellness days, learning and development opportunities. MountainStar was ranked the 100 best nonprofits to work for in 2022 and 2023, based on the survey responses of MountainStar’s employees and their work experience.

About the environment:

• Wellness days and 
• Team Appreciation days
• Professional growth opportunities
• Continuing education
• Diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives
• Engaging, purposeful, values-based work
• Meaningful connections
• Work/life balance
• Focus on well-being and health
• Positive, supportive work culture
• Autonomous schedule

Requirements

About the Role:

• Work closely with children and families
• Work with Program Manager on Projects
• Provide therapeutic care for children 6 weeks to 4 years as needed
• Provide developmentally appropriate activities
• Prepare & serve USDA meals following guidelines and record keeping
• Participate in staffing around family/children’s issues as appropriate
• Work as a team to provide the best care for children and families
• Cook and Grocery Shopping as needed by Program
• Transportation support, map routes and transport children and parents via the MtStar van/bus
• Greeting visitors to the center 
• Intake and store donations as needed
• Maintain clothes closets and food bank
• Support other nursery activities as appropriate
• Other duties as assigned

Preferred Qualifications: 

• High School Diploma or GED (General Equivalency Diploma) 
• Bilingual Spanish speakers
• Microsoft Office Suites, Proficiency
• Previous Office Experience

Physical Demands, Background, Driving and Training Requirements:

• May work outdoors intermittently with exposure to typical Oregon weather. There may be frequent interruptions, working alone, evening or weekend work, working long hours. Working in a close environment with active children. 
• Must be able to bend, kneel and stand for long lengths of time. In addition, staff must be able to get up and down from playing on the floor with children.
• Sufficient maturity and stability with good judgment to function in crisis situations
• Physical stamina. Ability to lift and carry children, donations, and event materials up to 40 pounds.
• Ability to answer phones and direct calls
• Ability to pass a background check 
• Valid driver’s license and reliable personal transportation. Clean driving record to drive company vehicles and transport children.
• Within 60 days of employment must be Pediatric CPR and First aid Certified, have a current food handlers’ card, and show proof of completing “Recognizing and Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect,” “Introduction to Child Care Health & Safety,” “Safe Sleep,” and “Prevention is Better than Treatment” courses as required by Oregon Office of Child Care 

What You’re Skilled At:

• Strong interpersonal communication skills
• Ability to work independently and as a part of a team — conflict resolution skills are beneficial
• Genuine interest in building knowledge about early childhood brain development, trauma, and other topics relevant to MountainStar’s mission 
• Energetic and forward-looking thinker who actively seeks opportunities and proposes solutions
• Ability to relate sensitively and non-judgmentally with at risk children and families
• Ability to be dependable and flexible
• Maintain a professional demeanor with clients, staff, and public always
• Work tactfully with a diverse population which may include special needs
• Consistent attendance is essential for both the smooth operation of our programs as well as fostering a sense of stability for the children and families we serve.

Salary Range + Benefits: 

This is a 32 hour per week position, starting at $20+/hour depending on experience and qualifications, wage differential if bilingual, plus benefits. To protect confidentiality at MtStar there is a standard procedure requiring at least a 2-year separation between being a program participant and serving as a staff member or volunteer within the organization. All staff and volunteer roles are at the discretion of MountainStar. All positions at the MountainStar Family Relief Nursery are contingent upon the availability of funding. 

Equal Employment Opportunity:

MountainStar is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, age, disability or sexual orientation.