Salary: $17.71 – $18.24 Hourly
Location : Tacoma, WA
Job Type: Part-time, 29 hrs per week or less
Job Number: PreInstTNC23
Department: Parks and Recreation
Opening Date: 06/12/2023
Closing Date: Continuous
Job Description
Work where you play!
Join our team at Metro Parks Tacoma to put your skills to use serving your community and making Tacoma a vibrant, healthy, and welcoming place to live.
Who We Are
Metro Parks Tacoma (MPT) is a CAPRA-accredited and AZA-accredited, independent park district that leads efforts to build a healthy, sustainable community. Located in Tacoma, Washington, Metro Parks’ mission is to create healthy opportunities to play, learn, and grow. The independent park district spans the city providing a wide range of life-enriching destinations and services, including 70+ parks, 80+ miles of trails, 1,000+ acres of urban forest, 66 playgrounds, four community centers, Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium, Northwest Trek Wildlife Park, Point Defiance Park, and much more. Our work is guided by eight core values that are the foundation of our actions and goals: innovation, excellence, equity, inclusiveness, sustainability, accountability, safety, and fun.
Why You’ll Love it HereCome work with us and work where you play! You will contribute to the overall vitality and well-being of your community when you work for Metro Parks Tacoma, and you’ll do so as part of a supportive team of committed, passionate, and mission-driven professionals. The people of Metro Parks are the key to its success, and you just might be the next great addition to our team. On top of that, you’ll wake each day knowing that you’re helping make Tacoma a great place to call home.
Position Information
Under the direction of an assigned supervisor, this position is responsible for developing and leading preschool activities at the Tacoma Nature Center.
In the performance of their respective tasks and duties all employees are expected to:
- Perform quality work within deadlines with or without direct supervision.
- Interact professionally with other employees, customers and suppliers.
- Work effectively as a team contributor on all assignments.
- Work independently while understanding the necessity for communicating and coordinating work efforts with other employees and organizations.
- Observe applicable safety requirements, use safety equipment provided, implement appropriate safety practices at all times and report immediately any unsafe working conditions or hazards.
Essential Duties
This position is responsible for developing and leading pre-school activities for 3-6 year olds to meet the physical, emotional, intellectual and social needs of the children, all with a nature focus; communicating with parents about their child’s development; preparing and staffing parent informational sessions outside of normal assigned shift 3x a year; supporting family social events several times per year; ensuring equipment and the facility are clean, safe and well-maintained at all times with support from maintenance staff; assisting with fund-raising activities; meeting with the teaching coach to develop and implement a growth plan. Other duties as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications
- Must have at least two years of college level coursework in education or related field
- Must have at least two years of experience working in early childhood education
- Natural history background desired
- Must have the ability to communicate effectively, both orally and written
- Must be creative, energetic and patient
- Current valid First-Aid and CPR cards required
DESIRABLE SKILLS:
Team building skills; Analytical and problem solving skills; Decision making skills; Stress and time management skills; Teaching skills; Customer service skills
Additional Information
HOURS:
Up to 29 hours per week.
Position starts late August and ends mid-December (potential for more long-term)
Schedule is mornings from 8:30-1:00 M-TH or T/W/Th plus some evenings and weekends
PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
Seeing to prepare written or hand-produced program material and reports, and monitor activities. Hearing and speaking to conduct classes and exchange information. Walking over rough or uneven surfaces during hikes and field trips. Lifting up to 25 pounds. Standing for extended periods of time; kneeling or sitting on the ground. Extended periods working outdoors in all weather conditions.
METRO PARKS TACOMA IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
.All qualified persons will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, political affiliation, disability or any other merit factor. Members of ethnic minorities, women, special disabled veterans, veterans of the Vietnam-era, recently separated veterans, and other protected veterans, persons of disability and/or persons age 40 and over are encouraged to apply.
MPT employs only U.S. citizens and lawfully authorized non-U.S. citizens. All new employees must show employment eligibility verification as required by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
MPT is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation in its services, programs, activities, education and employment for individuals with disabilities. To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact Human Resource at
Employment is subject to a national background check.
This position is an at-will position with no written or implied contractual agreement.
Enrollment in the the Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS) through the Washington State Department of Retirement Services (DRS) may be mandatory.
Sick Leave: 1 hour earned for every 40 hours worked.
Employee Assistance Program (EAP) –SupportLinc provides emotional wellbeing and work-life balance resources to keep you at your best. Administered by CuraLinc Healthcare, the program offers guidance to help you address and resolve everyday issues at no cost to you or your family. Features include:
Kinside – A child care benefit, connecting you with open spots and discounts of up to 20 percent at top daycares, preschools, camps and after school programs.
Community Center Fitness Pass – All Metro Parks Tacoma employees get a Staff Pass to use at our community centers.The All Center Pass allows access to all four centers – Center at Norpoint, Eastside Community Center, People’s Center and STAR Center – plus three indoor pools, all semi-outdoor fitness classes, and our exciting new online virtual community center.
Note: THIS BENEFIT OVERVIEW IS FOR INFORMATION ONLY AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED CONTRACT. ANY PROVISION CONTAINED HEREIN MAY BE MODIFIED AND/OR REVOKED WITHOUT NOTICE.