Department: Campus Services - Vivian Olum Child Development Center
Classification: Early Childhood Assistant
Appointment Type and Duration: Temporary
Salary: $18.06 - $22.84 per hour
FTE: Variable
Review of Applications Begins
Continuously, as needs arise
Special Instructions to Applicants
To apply, please submit an online application that addresses how you meet the qualifications for the position.
Applications will be reviewed as they come in for any available openings.
Department Summary
The Vivian Olum Child Development Center offers a comprehensive program providing education and care for infants through pre-kindergarteners. The center's mission is to serve the needs of university employees’ families by providing a foundation of experiences that foster growth and development of children and a safe and nurturing environment for children and families. The center consists of seven classrooms which collectively serve over 80 children each day. The center curriculum is both emergent and constructivist, and is highly individualized, especially for our youngest children.
The Vivian Olum Child Development Center is a unit within Campus Services in the Finance and Administration portfolio. Finance and Administration is a vibrant and varied portfolio serving all aspects of campus life. Our employees perform a wide range of functions including offering essential financial tools and support to the university’s many departments, providing key resources to employees, and keeping campus safe, clean, accessible and beautiful.
Position Summary
Step into a vibrant, playful learning environment where curiosity is encouraged, messes are part of the magic, and every day brings something new! As an on-call substitute, you’ll support our teaching team in creating joyful, meaningful experiences for children ages 3 months through pre-kindergarten.
Instructional Support & Engagement: Bring energy and creativity as you help Early Childhood Associate Teachers plan, prepare, and guide hands-on learning experiences. From art and music to stories, building, science, and imaginative play, you’ll support children’s motor, language, social, cognitive, and creative development. You’ll join children in small groups, large groups, and one-on-one moments—leading activities, encouraging exploration, and helping little ones practice important self-help skills.
Observation & Classroom Insight: You’ll play an important role in noticing and documenting children’s growth. This includes observing behaviors and recording developmental data. Outdoors, you’ll help maintain a safe, positive playground environment—keeping a close eye while children run, climb, imagine, and play.
Classroom Community Contributions: Every team member helps keep our space welcoming and running smoothly. You’ll assist with snack and meal routines, help maintain a tidy and child-friendly classroom, and contribute to bulletin boards and displays that celebrate children’s work.
You may also help keep children’s files up to date, communicate occasional concerns to families, and join staff meetings when needed.
Supervision: This position reports directly to the Assistant Director/Program Coordinator and works closely with the teaching team to support a warm, inclusive, engaging preschool community.
Expected Physical Functions:
• Frequent lifting of children
• Sitting on the floor for extended periods of time
• Bending down to a child's level often, following safety measures in bending and lifting
• Performing caregiving activities for children if needed; diapering, toileting, feeding, and arrival/departure routines
Work Conditions:
This job takes place in a facility constructed as a child-care center. This job requires bending, lifting up to 50 lbs., and sitting on the floor on a daily basis. The duties include walks outside the building. There is frequent exposure to cleaning solutions such as disinfectant hand soap and sanitizing agents. The work environment may frequently include high noise and activity levels. There is frequent exposure to childhood illnesses.
Special Requirements:
• Position is subject to a background check, including criminal record check and fingerprinting.
• Selected candidate must have current Infant/Child First Aid and CPR, childcare worker food handler's card, and clearance with the Central Background Registry (CBR) prior to the start of work.
• The candidate must also enroll in ORO and complete a Step Evaluation and complete 15 hours of professional development annually.
About the Temporary Substitute Pool:
Temporary work is not a guarantee of a permanent position at the UO, but it can be a great opportunity for those seeking flexible or transitional work and offers the opportunity to gain experience that can be applied toward qualifying for future opportunities. Those hired through the Early Childhood Assistant Substitute Pool will be appointed as temporary employees to cover unexpected needs. Temporary employees will be contacted when there is a need for coverage, so hours will be variable and intermittent. Some temporary classified employees may become eligible for representation by Service Employees International Union (SEIU) or may be eligible for health insurance based on hours worked.
Minimum Requirements
• A minimum of twenty semester hours (thirty quarter hours) of college courses in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, or Special Education; OR
• Child Development Associate (CDA) credential; OR
• One year of full-time experience in a certified day care center or comparable child care program.
Professional Competencies
• Ability to work cooperatively as part of a team.
• Excellent communication skills; ability to communicate effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds and cultures.
Preferred Qualifications
• Availability to work in an intermittent, on-call capacity
• Availability to work over academic breaks
• Prior experience working with children 3 months to 5 years old
FLSA Exempt: No
All offers of employment are contingent upon successful completion of a background check.
This is a classified position represented by the SEIU Local 503, Oregon Public Employees Union.
The University of Oregon is proud to offer a robust benefits package to eligible employees, including health insurance, retirement plans, and paid time off. For more information about benefits, visit our website.
The University of Oregon is an equal-opportunity institution committed to cultural diversity and compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The University encourages all qualified individuals to apply and does not discriminate on the basis of any protected status, including veteran and disability status. The University is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. To request an accommodation in connection with the application process, please email us or call 541-346-5112.
UO prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy (including pregnancy-related conditions), age, physical or mental disability, genetic information (including family medical history), ancestry, familial status, citizenship, service in the uniformed services (as defined in federal and state law), veteran status, expunged juvenile record, and/or the use of leave protected by state or federal law in all programs, activities and employment practices as required by Title IX, other applicable laws, and policies. Retaliation is prohibited by UO policy. Questions may be referred to the Office of Equal Opportunity and Access. Contact information, related policies, and complaint procedures are listed here.
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