Child Development Center Teacher 2 (On-site)

Hiring Range
The University of California, Merced is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role. This range takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, and other business and organizational needs. It is not typical for an individual to be offered a salary at or near the top of the range for a position. Salary offers are determined based on final candidate qualifications and experience. The full salary range for this position is Step 1: $26.12 - Step 17: $35.90. The hourly range the University reasonably expects to pay for this position is STEP 1: $26.12/hr.

Job Closing Date
Remote/Hybrid eligibility: This position is fully on-site.
Initial applicant review will begin on or around May 22nd, 2026. This posting will remain open position are filled.
Clerical & Allied Services- CX Teamsters Local 2010.
UC Merced offers generous benefits effective day one of employment.
Upon offer phase, all credentials, proof of degree, transcripts, and permits will be required. Please feel free to add core curriculum courses or transcripts to resume to facilitate review.

About UC Merced

The University of California, Merced, is the newest of the University of California system's 10 campuses and one of the youngest universities to be designated an R1 research university. With approximately 9,100 undergraduate and graduate students, UC Merced is a smaller, more intimate campus compared to its sister campuses, while equipped and staffed as a cutting edge, 21st century research institution. With bachelor's, master's and doctoral degree programs, strong research and academic partnerships and a growing community in the heart of the San Joaquin Valley, the UC Merced campus is continually evolving and requires talented, knowledgeable and dynamic educators, researchers, management and staff.
Ranked in the top 30 among the best public universities in the nation by U.S. News and World Report and #1 for social mobility by the Wall Street Journal, UC Merced is uniquely equipped to provide world class educational opportunities to dynamic and enterprising students in the Valley and throughout the state. In partnership with UC San Francisco, UC Merced has launched a rigorous medical education program that will supply the Valley with culturally competent providers dedicated to improving local access to quality care. The campus enjoys a special connection with nearby Yosemite National Park, is on the cutting edge of sustainability in construction and design and is accelerating the continued economic development of the region.

About the Job

The Teacher 2 is a senior level teacher who is fully responsible for planning and implementing quality, developmentally appropriate curriculum and programing for young children, working cooperatively with other ECEC staff to coordinate and put into action an individualized program for the children in their assigned classroom and in ECEC activities. The incumbent participates in preparing and putting into practice age appropriate language arts, social studies, cognitive arts, science, art, music, social and emotional development, nutrition, multi-cultural awareness, and physical development experiences for the children in their group. Sustain with the classroom team all required documentation and paperwork for the children assigned and classroom group, as per mandates and ECEC procedures.
Maintain program quality, adhering to Title 22 State Licensing regulations, National Accreditation Commission of Early Care and Education (NAC), and other best practices program standards and requirements that the ECEC adopts. Responsible for assuring compliance with codes of all State and local governing contracting agencies.
Promotes partnerships with parents and encourages parent participation in the classroom, the ECEC, and during parent/teacher conferencing and activities. Promotes a constructive working relationship with the ECEC staff, children, and families through conflict resolution, effective communication, and participation in problem-solving activities

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

CLASSROOM AND DIRECT SERVICES

• Fully responsible for planning, initiating, and implementing quality classroom curriculum and programming for children.
• Using UC Merced ECEC philosophy and pedagogy as a foundation and working with the classroom team, plan and implement developmentally age-appropriate activities for the individuals and group of children in an assigned classroom. These activities and experiences will be provided both indoors and outdoors. The environments (indoors and outdoors) will be planned to provide appropriate, rich, engaging, explorative, diverse, child-initiated, and teacher-initiated learning experiences. Opportunities in the following areas, but not limited to these areas, will be made available: cognitive skills, language and literacy, art, social studies, science, physical development, social/emotional development, diversity, problem-solving, health, nutrition, safety and music.
• Activities and experiences will be developed from the children's interests, based on their individual and group skills and needs.
• Participates in classroom meetings to develop written lesson planning with activities to support individual goals and needs of the children through interactive processes.
• Plans and implements written lesson planning, activities, and scheduling, taking into consideration any needed changes due to the needs of the children in the classroom or unforeseen events/activities.
• Interacts with the children in a responsive, nurturing manner. These interactions are verbal and non-verbal.
• Participates in activities such as all child-related routines and transitions, conflict resolution, behavior management, case management, documentation, observation, anecdotal notes, portfolio, assessments, and children's file maintenance, and other daily classroom necessities in relation to thecare and education of young children.
• Maintain a safe and healthy environment for the children as required by Title 22, UC Merced, and best practices. This may include, and not exclusive to the following activities: cleaning surfaces (mopping, disinfecting, sanitizing), laundry, picking up materials, sweeping the playground, handling biohazard-infected materials, administering first aid/CPR, caring for ill children, medication administration, etc.
• Regularly review and update medication and emergency storage and paperwork. Check for expired items and notify Assistant Director/Director as needed to maintain.
• Maintain complete, accurate, and timely child, family, and agency records and forms. Update as required and/or needed.
• Works with children for 8 hours of classroom time or as scheduled.
• Responsible for DRDP Summary for the classroom. Using assessment data, develop a whole classroom summary to use for environment and activity planning for classroom and outdoors.
• Identify and work with Children with suspected needs, IFSPs, and/or IEPs. When identified in the classroom, have child added to primary group and build relationships with the parents/families to help get the needed supports for the child. Work closely with the Assistant Director as soon as child is identified of needing support/diagnosis. Director will support as needed.
• Provide class field trips onto the campus and Merced community accessible by CatTracks and public transportation.
• NAC Classroom Observation reflection and implementation 2x/year. Co-develop a corrective action plan with co-teacher. Responsible for submitting documentation of the written plan to the Assistant Director and takes the lead on the implementation of the finalized action plan and resulting recommendations.
• Participates in the overall evaluation of the program.

WORK COOPERATIVELY WITH ECEC CENTER STAFF AND UC MERCED CAMPUS

• Attend and participate in staff meetings and required training.
• Attend and participate in parent meetings/activities/work days, at least once per year.
• Fulfill obligations for Title 22, National Accreditation Commission of Early Care and Education Programs (NAC) and any other best practices or program requirements that the ECEC adopts.
• Submit, with co-teacher(s) assistance, all required paperwork to the Assistant Director or Director as designated.
• Work with ECEC staff, parents, children, UC Merced affiliates, and Merced community members with a professional demeanor.
• Continue professional growth to maintain a valid California Child Development Permit.
• Provide functional on the job training and guidance for student workers, volunteers, interns, and research students.
• Leads student workers and student volunteers. Assigns work, provides direction, answer questions of students as they arise in relation to classroom operations and provide timely verbal feedback as needed. Responsible for end of semester written feedback for student aides and ongoing student volunteers.
• Participate, as needed, in UC Merced faculty and graduate student research efforts at ECEC.
• Welcome, orient, and support undergraduate students assigned to their classroom for coursework.

PARENT PARTNERSHIPS

• Conducts a parent orientation and interview prior to the child's first day in the program. Schedules parent/teacher conferences twice per program year and as needed through the request of the parent or teacher.
• Interacts with parents daily during drop off, welcoming them into the class and exchange of information, and during pick up, saying good bye and exchange of information.
• Promoting parent participation within the classroom and for other parent oriented ECEC activities.
• In conjunction with the ECEC, inform parents of policies and procedures, upcoming events, current issues and information in the form of announcements, reminders, article reprints, newsletters, parent meetings, workshops, emails and website portal.
• With co-teacher(s), maintain classroom parent information, including: documentation panels, lesson plans, special classroom events, daily schedule and web portal.
• With co-teacher(s), develop monthly articles for ECEC Bobcat Kittens Newsletter.
• In conjunction with ECEC Director, Assistant Director, parents, and others assist in the annual program evaluation and goal setting process.

Qualifications

EDUCATION and EXPERIENCE

• Associate degree or equivalent in ECE/Child Development or related field.
• Bachelor's degree in ECE/Child Development or related field. (Preferred)

AND

• Three years of classroom experience or an appropriate combination of education and experience in Child Development or related field.
• A minimum of 3 units in Infant/Toddler Development from an accredited college.

AND

• Must have a valid Child Development Teacher Permit or higher from the California Commission of Teacher Credentialing.

CRITICAL KNOWNLEGE and SKILLS

• Strong working knowledge of early childhood education processes, as well as related policy and regulatory compliance requirements, in an early childhood education setting.
• Ability to provide professional early childhood education services to infants, toddlers, and preschoolers, display a professional demeanor and be able to maintain the confidentiality of information and materials.
• Strong interpersonal skills, service orientation, active listening, critical thinking, ability to multi-task effectively in a challenging environment, and organizational skills.
• Demonstrated ability to perform basic computer use, including: keyboard and mouse, simple data entry, use of email software and internet search.
• Ability to safely manage multiple children (within established ratios) and provide engaging activities and appropriate interactions to encourage learning and social emotional development.
• Demonstrated time management skills to develop appropriate lesson plans on a consistent basis based on age-appropriate practices.
• Meet all reporting requirements for tracking student development.
• Adjust to unexpected team shift absences.
• Ability to proofread own work (DRDPs, documentation boards, email or other communication, etc.) for accuracy.
• Ability to work with diverse clientele professionally using patience, tact, sensitivity and diplomacy.
• Demonstrated ability and experience, minimum of two years of classroom experience, to teach and work independently in a center-based child development program.
• Knowledge of developmental needs and appropriate learning experiences for children 6 weeks to 5 years.
• Familiarity with child development theory and practice.
• Proficiency in writing and speaking in English.