Clarification from the agency

This public notice is to gather applications that may or may not result in selection.

• Exercises 2nd level (or higher) technical and administrative supervisory personnel management responsibilities for 25% or more during duty time.
• Plans, organizes, and oversees the activities of a Child Development Center, ensuring the programs comply with legal and regulatory requirements and meets customer needs.
• Develops, administers and evaluates an ongoing program of individual and group developmental and educational activities for staff implementation and execution. Provides oversight in the care of full day, part day, and specialized settings.
• Responsible for the financial operation of the Child Development Program, the facilities, grounds, equipment, health and safety.

Conditions of employment

• U.S. Citizenship is required
• Males must be registered for Selective Service, see Legal and Regulatory Guidance
• If authorized, PCS will be paid IAW JTR and AF Regulations. If receiving an authorized PCS, you may be subject to completing/signing a CONUS agreement. More information on PCS requirements, may be found at: https://afciviliancareers.com/regulatory/
• This posn is subject to provisions of the DoD Priority Placement Program
• For more information on Acq Demo please go to DoD AcqDemo Homepage http://acqdemo.hci.mil/ and Fact Sheet http://acqdemo.hci.mil/faq.html
• Recruitment incentives may be authorized
• Position may require an appropriate security clearance
• Employee must maintain current certifications
• Position may be subject to random drug testing
• Employee may be required to work other than normal duty hours, to include evenings, weekends and/or holidays
• Shift work and emergency overtime may be required
• Disclosure of Political Appointments
• All federal employees are required to have direct deposit.
• Must possess a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college in the field of child development, early childhood education, home economics (early childhood emphasis), elementary education, special education or other fields appropriate to the position.
• Must complete physical examination and required immunizations for childcare programs in accordance with guidance from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP).
• May be required to serve a probationary period.
• This position is a child care/youth services position subject to background checks in accordance with Public Law (PL) 101-647. This is a condition of employment.

Qualifications

Experience requirements are described in the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards for General Schedule Positions, Group Coverage Qualification Standard for Professional and Scientific Positions.

BASIC REQUIREMENT OR INDIVIDUAL OCCUPATIONAL REQUIREMENT:

1. Degree: that included or was supplemented by major study in education or in a subject-matter field appropriate to the position.

   or

2. Combination of education and experience -- courses equivalent to a major in education, or in a subject-matter field appropriate to the position, plus appropriate experience or additional course work that provided knowledge comparable to that normally acquired through the successful completion of the 4-year course of study described above.

In addition to meeting the basic requirement above, to qualify for this position you must also meet the qualification requirements listed below:

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must have at least 1 year (52 weeks) of specialized experience at the next lower broadband NH-02, equivalent to the next lower grade GS-11 or equivalent in other pay systems. Specialized experience is experience managing a large, complex child development program offering a wide range of services, in a variety of settings.. NOTE: Due to the use of 120-day rosters, this period of experience may be completed within 120 days of the closing date of this announcement.

OR
EDUCATION: Bachelor's degree from an accredited college in the field of child development, early childhood education, home economics (early childhood emphasis), elementary education, special education or other fields appropriate to the position to include education, social work and psychology in addition to nine credit hours in leadership, management and/or administration. NOTE: You must submit a copy of your transcripts.

OR
COMBINATION OF EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION: NOTE: You must submit a copy of your transcripts.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs): Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following areas:
1. Professional knowledge of child development theory, methodology, and practices relating to physical, intellectual, social and special education needs and center management.
2. Knowledge of and the ability to interpret and apply laws and regulations governing child care to include regulatory requirements, policies, and practices.
3. Knowledge of financial, budget, resource management practices and principles, and analytical and evaluative methods and techniques.
4. Skill in educating, counseling, and advising child care providers and parents; assessing training and children's developmental needs.
5. Skill in effectively organizing and utilizing community resources within the program framework to augment the program to meet installation objectives. 6. Ability to analyze, plan and adjust work operations of one or more organizational segments to meet program requirements and objectives within available resources.

Ideal Candidate:
-A Bachelor's degree from an accredited college in the field of child development, early childhood education, home economics (early childhood emphasis), elementary education, special education or other fields appropriate to the position to include education, social work and psychology in addition to nine credit hours in leadership, management and/or administration. NOTE: You must submit copies of your transcripts.
-Extensive experience in a child care setting is crucial, with a significant portion of that time in a leadership or supervisory role. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record of:
-Managing a Large Center: Experience overseeing a large child care facility, including staff supervision, budget management, and curriculum development.
-Working with Diverse Populations: Experience working with children and families from various backgrounds and cultures, which is typical of a military community.
-Military Child Care Experience: Previous experience working in a military child care center is a significant advantage, as it demonstrates an understanding of the unique needs and challenges of military families, such as deployments and frequent relocations.
-Accreditation and Licensing: A history of successfully leading a center through national accreditation processes (e.g., NAEYC) and maintaining compliance with all state and federal licensing regulations.
-A successful Child Care Center Director at a large military base must be an exceptional leader with strong management skills. These include:
-Staff Development and Supervision: The ability to recruit, train, and mentor a team of early childhood professionals, fostering a positive and collaborative work environment.
-Curriculum and Program Development: Expertise in creating and implementing a developmentally appropriate curriculum that supports the social, emotional, physical, and cognitive growth of children.
-Parent and Community Engagement: Strong communication and interpersonal skills to build positive relationships with parents and the broader base community. This includes providing support and resources to families, especially during times of stress, such as deployments.
-Financial Management: The ability to manage the center's budget effectively, ensuring financial stability and the responsible use of resources.
-Beyond formal qualifications and experience, the ideal candidate will possess certain personal attributes that make them particularly well-suited for this role:
-Empathy and Compassion: A genuine understanding of the challenges faced by military families and a commitment to providing a supportive and nurturing environment for their children.
-Flexibility and Adaptability: The ability to adapt to the dynamic and often unpredictable nature of military life, including changes in enrollment and family circumstances.
-Strong Ethical and Professional Standards: A commitment to upholding the highest ethical and professional standards in all aspects of the center's operations.
-Advocacy for Military Families: A passion for advocating for the needs of military children and families and ensuring they have access to high-quality child care and support services.

In essence, the ideal candidate is more than just a qualified administrator; they are a compassionate leader who is deeply committed to serving the military community and providing a safe, nurturing, and enriching environment for the children in their care.


PART-TIME OR UNPAID EXPERIENCE: Credit will be given for appropriate unpaid and or part-time work. You must clearly identify the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the total number of hours per week.

VOLUNTEER WORK EXPERIENCE: Refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service Programs (i.e., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student and social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge and skills that can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Your application package (resume, supporting documents, and responses to the questionnaire) will be used to determine your eligibility, qualifications, and quality ranking for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment.

Your responses to the questionnaire may be compared to the documents you submit. The documents you submit must support your responses to the online questionnaire. If your application contradicts or does not support your questionnaire responses, you will receive a rating of "not qualified" or "insufficient information" and you will not receive further consideration for this job.

Applicants who disqualify themselves will not be evaluated further.

APPRAISALS/AWARDS: Hiring Managers use objective methods and consider previous performance appraisals and awards in the selection process. Current Federal Civilian employees should list any relevant performance related rating and/or awards in your resume.

The following documents are required and must be provided with your application. Applicants who do not submit required documentation to determine eligibility and qualifications will be eliminated from consideration. Other documents may be required based on the eligibility/eligibilities you are claiming. Click here to view the AF Civilian Employment Eligibility Guide and the required documents you must submit to substantiate the eligibilities you are claiming.

1. Online Application: Questionnaire
2. Resume: Your resume may NOT exceed two pages, and the font size should not be smaller than 10 pts. You will not be considered for this vacancy if your resume is illegible/unreadable. Additional information on resume requirements can be located under "How To Apply".
3. Transcripts/Registration/License: If qualifying on education/position requires education, you must submit copies of your transcripts and if required for the position, submit an active, current registration/license.

ACTIVE DUTY SERVICE MEMBERS: The VOW Act requires federal agencies to treat an eligible active duty service member as a veteran, disabled veteran, and preference eligible (as applicable) when applying for civil service positions before the effective release or discharge date. Appointment of military members before the release or discharge date is permissible if the member is on terminal leave. At the time the active duty member applies for a civil position, he or she must submit a "certification" memo in lieu of a DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty. Active duty members applying for a civil service position without submitting a valid certification memo or DD Form 214 with their application will render the member ineligible for the position. The certification memo must originate from the member's military service branch on official letterhead and contain the following:

• Name/Rank/Grade of Service Member
• Branch of Armed Forces
• Dates of Active Service (Start and End Date(s)
• Expected Date of Discharge/Release from Active Duty
• Terminal leave start date (if applicable)
• Expected character of service/discharge and type of separation (i.e. separation or retirement)
• Must be certified within 120 days of anticipated discharge
• Signature by, or by direction of the adjutant, personnel office, unit commander, or higher headquarters commander.

Note: The VOW Act provides tentative preference. If appointed, a DD Form 214 must be submitted upon receipt.

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