Portland State University, Helen Gordon Child Development Center
Portland, Oregon 97201
Start Date: July 18, 2022
Portland State University’s Helen Gordon Child Development Center (HGCDC) is a full-day infant-toddler and preschool program for the campus community serving 200 children aged 6-weeks through 5 years with priority enrollment for PSU students and faculty/staff. The center operates with 11 classrooms and employs 30 full-time staff and 80-100 student employees each term. The Center is accredited by NAEYC, has a 5-star SPARK rating, and plays a strong role in the community as a model school. The Center serves as an academic laboratory welcoming faculty, students, and teacher-researchers to learn about child development and early childhood education through observation and participation :https://www.pdx.edu/helen-gordon-center/
Our campus partner school, the Children’s Center offers PSU families a flexible short-hour and full-day program for children aged twelve months to nine years. The core values of the two campus centers are grounded in respect for human diversity and commitment to inclusion and social justice.
Our programs find inspiration in the educational philosophy and pedagogy of the Reggio Emilia schools (Italy). Our approach to learning and teaching is child-centered and constructivist where children construct knowledge through interactions between their own ideas and experiences in the social and physical world. As part of curriculum development, our educators strive to provide contexts for experimentation, facilitate theory building by making materials and tools accessible, and design learning environments that foster autonomy, participation, collaboration, and child agency. As a campus-based, highly respected full-day early childhood program, HGCDC is committed to supporting the success and retention of student parents and contributes to a family-friendly, supportive workplace for faculty and staff with young children.
The Director of the Helen Gordon Child Development Center provides overall administration and leadership, including finance, staff development, family and University community relations, and program policy.
In addition, the Director oversees the short-hour campus childcare program, ASPSU Children’s Center. The position is centered on anti-bias, equity, and inclusion education.
Minimum Qualifications:
• MA or MS degree in Early Childhood, Child Development, or a closely related field.
• Minimum of five years of experience in the early childhood education field including three years in a leadership role working with medium to large center(s).
• Experience with budget development, tracking, and annual reporting.
• Demonstrated knowledge of approaches and theories in early childhood education, including RIE, Reggio Emilia philosophy, anti-bias, equity and inclusion education, constructivism, and trauma-informed practices.
• Expertise in working with and promoting a diverse community of families, including children with an array of abilities, children whose families are culturally and linguistically diverse, children from diverse socioeconomic groups, and children with individual learning styles, strengths, and needs.
• Effective written and oral communication skills in early childhood settings.
• Proficiency with computer technology and software systems such as Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and Google Applications.
• Ability to enroll in the State of Oregon Early Learning Division central background registry by start date.
• Current certification in Infant/Child CPR and First Aid.
• Be at least 21 years of age, per child care state licensing requirements.
• Successful completion of a criminal background check.
Preferred Qualifications:
• Three or more years of early childhood directing.
• Demonstrated ability to work comfortably and effectively in a diverse workplace setting.
• Experience in fund development and grant-writing
• Experience with adult learning and leadership.
• Professional experience in a higher education setting and/or lab school.
• Effective and creative leadership in complex changing organizations.
• Experience with NAEYC Accreditation.
• Experience as an early childhood educator.
Additional Information:
All Portland State University employees, regardless of work location, must submit either (1) Proof of Vaccination; or (2) have an approved medical or religious exemption, on their first day or employment. To read the full PSU vaccination policy, please visit: https://www.pdx.edu/policies/covid-vaccination
The Helen Gordon Child Development Center Director may be required to sit for long periods of time, stand and walk, reach, pull and regularly lift and/or move up to 40 lbs. Dexterity of both hands are required to operate a computer keyboard. The Director may be required to bend at waist, kneel, or crouch to work at a child’s level. Hearing and speaking are required to exchange information, as well as visual activity to read financial and statistical reports.
The starting annual salary rate for this position will be between $64,728 and $67,728. The starting salary may be negotiable above this range, however it will be dependent upon the knowledge, experience, skills and abilities of the chosen candidate, the budget of the hiring department, and approval from HR.
PSU’s excellent benefits package includes 95% premium paid healthcare; a generous retirement and vacation package; and reduced tuition rates for employee, spouse or dependent at any of the Oregon Public Universities :https://www.pdx.edu/human-resources/benefits-overview
Please visit our total compensation calculator to see the full value of our benefits package: https://www.pdx.edu/human-resources/psu-total-compensation-calculator
Required documents for the application include:
Resume or CV
Cover Letter
Contact information for three professional references
Please submit your application to https://jobs.hrc.pdx.edu/postings/38414
Portland State University (PSU) is an urban university and Oregon’s largest, located in the heart of the vibrant city of Portland. PSU educates over 20,000 students and offers programs for Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral degrees. PSU is an internationally recognized urban university known for excellence in student learning, innovative research, and community engagement. PSU contributes to the economic vitality, environmental sustainability, and quality of life in the Portland region and beyond. Employees describe Portland State University as a vibrant, diverse, progressive place to work and an environment that welcomes process improvement and innovation. Portland State’s 50-acre downtown campus is located in the heart of one of America’s most vibrant centers of culture, business, and technology.
Portland State University’s Helen Gordon Child Development Center (HGCDC) is a full-day infant-toddler and preschool program for the campus community serving 200 children aged 6-weeks through 5 years with priority enrollment for PSU students and faculty/staff. The center operates with 11 classrooms and employs 30 full-time staff and 80-100 student employees each term. The Center is accredited by NAEYC, has a 5-star SPARK rating, and plays a strong role in the community as a model school. The Center serves as an academic laboratory welcoming faculty, students, and teacher-researchers to learn about child development and early childhood education through observation and participation :https://www.pdx.edu/helen-gordon-center/
Please contact Katie Hulshizer at coehrsupport@pdx.edu.
Together, we are empowering exceptional education.