Lead Child and Youth Program Assistant CY-02

Summary

This position is located at Fort Meade, Maryland. Child and Youth Services (CYS) Employee Childcare Fee applicable to employees working at least 15 hours per week: First Child: 100% childcare fee discount (all CYS employees) Second and Subsequent Child: 25% childcare fee discount (all CYS employees) Incentives and Bonuses Incentives will not be paid.

Duties

• Serves as a team leader with responsibility for ensuring the program staff provides appropriate developmental care and instruction for children and youth ranging in age from 6 weeks to 18 years in Child and Youth Services (CYS) programs.
• Ensures the implementation of a developmentally appropriate program that promotes the social, emotional, physical and cognitive growth of children and youth in the ages served.
• Instructs team members in specific tasks and job techniques; makes available written instructions, reference materials, and supplies.
• Develops, plans and implements age-appropriate educational lesson plans, schedules, and developmentally appropriate activities based on observed needs and interest of individual children and youth.
• Ensure staff follow health and safety standards when performing diapering, toileting, hand washing, cleaning/sanitizing/disinfecting surfaces and materials, food service, safe sleep practices, and caring for ill children and youth.

Qualifications

Resumes must be two pages (or less). Resumes should clearly demonstrate the applicant's relevant experience, skills, knowledge and abilities as they pertain to this position. A qualified candidate must possess the following: All Candidates must: Must be 18 years of age and possess a high school diploma or equivalent. The incumbent must communicate effectively in English, both orally and in writing to communicate with CYS team and customers, prepare reports and plans, and document observations. In addition, candidates must meet one of the following: Minimum of 18 months experience working in group programs with children/youth as well as demonstrated knowledge in theories and principals of child/youth development AND Education:- Completion of DoW standardized training course OR Child Development Associate (CDA) or Military School-Age (MSA) credential. OR Experience: Minimum of 12 months experience working in group programs with children/youth as well as demonstrated knowledge in theories and principals of child growth and development AND Education:- Associate's degree or 60 semester hours of college credit in early childhood, elementary, or secondary education; child and youth development, special education, Human Development, Youth Program Administration, Recreation (children and youth), Physical Education or directly related behavioral sciences (developmental psychology, child psychology/sociology for the family. General psychology/sociology course work is not qualifying) OR related field which includes a major course of study (24 semester hours) with content directly related to the age group to which assigned, from a regionally or nationally accredited college or university. OR Bachelor's degree or advanced degree in early childhood, elementary, or secondary education; child and youth development, or special education, Human Development, Youth Program Administration, Recreation (children and youth), Physical Education or directly related behavioral sciences (developmental psychology, child psychology/sociology for the family. General psychology/sociology course work is not qualifying) or related field which includes a major course of study (24 semester hours) with content directly related to the age group to which assigned, from a regionally or nationally accredited college or university. In addition to the above qualifications, candidates who possess the following qualifications will be considered "Highly Preferred" or "Best Qualified": At least two (2) years of experience as a Child and Youth Program Assistant (Target Level) in group environments and be able to demonstrate a thorough knowledge of child growth and development theories and principles.

How You Will Be Evaluated

Your Application Matters: How We Will Review ItWe want to help you put your best foot forward! Please take time to carefully follow all application instructions - missing information or skipped steps could impact your eligibility. Your application will be thoughtfully reviewed to see how well your experience and qualifications align with the requirements listed in this announcement. This includes your resume, supporting documents, and responses to the assessment questionnaire. We will consider your responses to our application questionnaire. If you're tentatively qualified, we'll take a closer look to ensure your questionnaire responses match the experience reflected in your resume and documentation. Note: If it's later found that qualifications or experience were overstated, it may affect your consideration for the position - so honesty and clarity are key. Understanding Eligibilities: What You Can Claim When Applying When you apply for a federal position through USAJOBS or USA Staffing, you may be eligible for selection preference or priority consideration based on your background or status. These eligibilities can improve your chances of being considered or referred for a position. Depending on your situation, you may be able to claim one or more of the following eligibilities: NAF Preference 1 Spouse Employment Preference (SEP) NAF Preference 2 Involuntarily Separated From the Military (ISMP) NAF Priority Consideration 1 Business Based Action (BBA) NAF Priority Consideration 2 Former NAF Employee (FNE)/Current NAF (CNE)/Current APF Employee (CAE) NAF Priority Consideration 3 Outside Applicant Veteran (OAV) (Includes spouses and parents) Tip: Be sure to review each eligibility question carefully and provide the required documentation. Claiming an eligibility without proper support may affect your application status. Looking for more details? Refer to the Who Gets Initial Consideration (Selection Preferences) and the What Other Considerations are Available sections of our Applicant Information Kit.

Education

Proof of education is required at the time of application. Note: Education must be directly related to the position to be filled. General Education courses do not count toward the credit total. If qualifying via DoW approved competency training courses, you must supply one of the following: A completed Foundation IDP signed by both the employee and the supervisor/training specialist A signed Foundation (or equivalent) certificate A memorandum stating completion of Foundation training from a supervisor or CYS Training Specialist that contains their full name, title, and full contact information (email and/or phone number) VLS certificates without an accompanying IDP will not be accepted.

Required Documents

About Your Resume Federal agencies are required to limit resumes to two pages or less and it must support the general or specialized experience described in this announcement. Your resume must be 5 megabytes (MB) or less. We recommend saving and uploading your resume as a PDF to preserve formatting and page count. Click this link for more tips: https://help.usajobs.gov/faq/application/documents/resume/page-limit. Please do not include photographs, personal images or other inappropriate content in your application materials. Expedite Your Hiring To better expedite the hiring process, we recommend including contact information (name, email, phone number) for professional references in your application. Required Documents Required documents may vary based on the requirements for the position. The below document(s) are required and MUST be submitted with your application by the closing date of this job announcement: HS Diploma/GED, College transcripts/Diploma, CDA, Proof of education Etc. Resume Other Accepted Documents Other accepted documents to support a qualification and/or claimed preference/priority eligibility may include: Cover Letter DD-214/ Statement of Service Disability Letter (VA) HS Diploma/GED, College transcripts/Diploma, CDA, Proof of education Etc. DA 3434 or equivalent References or letters of recommendations PCS Orders Proof of Marriage Status Resume Transcript

How To Apply

You may submit your application package using one of the two methods identified below: 1. Electronically (preferred) at https://www.usajobs.gov/ and search for Announcement number C2SCNAFCY-26-13015103. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM Eastern Time on 07/27/2026 to receive consideration. Click Apply to access the online application. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply. If you do not have a USAJOBS account, you will need to create one before beginning the application. Follow the prompts to select your resume and/or other supporting documents to include in your application. Reminder: Federal agencies are required to limit resumes to two (2) pages or less. Please review the Required Documents section of this announcement for more details. You will have the opportunity to upload additional documents to include in your application before it is submitted. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process. After acknowledging you have reviewed your application package, complete the Include Personal Information section as you deem appropriate and click to continue with the application process. You will be taken to the online application which you must complete to apply for the position. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation is included with your application package and submit the application. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USAJOBS account and designate the document type when submitting your application. It is the applicant's responsibility to verify that the application package (resume, supporting documents, and responses to the questionnaire) is complete, accurate, and submitted by the closing date. Uploaded documents may take up to one hour to clear the virus scan. Click this link to preview the application:https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13015103. Additional information on how to complete the online application process and submit your online application may be found at https://appsupport.usastaffing.gov/hc/en-us. To verify or check the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account. Once logged in, the Welcome screen lists your applications, your application status and the date it was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://help.usajobs.gov/how-to/application/status 2. Manually: Please refer to the "Additional Information" section of this announcement for instructions on how to request a paper application.

Benefits

Working for Army Non-Appropriated Funds (NAF) can offer numerous advantages. Army NAF employment can provide a sense of pride and fulfillment, as you'll be supporting communities comprised of military and civilian personnel, and their families, which contributes to the Department of Defense's overall mission. We offer a wide range of career opportunities, including jobs in childcare, recreation, hospitality, and more. Many employees have opportunities for professional development, including training, education, and certification programs to help towards career advancement. As an Army NAF employee, you'll have access to some on-base facilities, including fitness centers, libraries, and many other amenities. Regular full-time and part-time employees are eligible for enrollment in health and life insurance, participation in 401k and retirement plans, and paid personal time off and federal holidays. NAF flexible employees, working in the United States or a U.S. citizen or spouse or child of a U.S. citizen working for a NAFI in a foreign area, are eligible to participate in the NAF 401(k) plan. Some flexible employees may also be eligible to receive health insurance. For a slideshow presentation regarding these benefits, please click the Review Our Benefits link below.

Security Clearance

Not Required

Other Information

Area of Consideration This job is open to candidates who are affiliated with Fort Meade, Maryland. (Military Spouse Preference (MSP) and Involuntarily Separated Military Preference (ISMP) eligible candidates are included in the area of consideration.) NOTE: Affiliation means that you are either: 1.) Currently employed on this installation, or 2.) A spouse/family member of an active duty soldier assigned to this installation (NOTE: If you are a Military Spouse moving into the area within 30 days, please respond to this question with 'Yes'.), or 3.) A family member/dependent to someone that is currently employed on this installation, or 4.) An involuntarily separated military member. Manual Application Option If you are unable to apply online, you can complete a paper application. To get started, contact servicing NAF Human Resources representative or office listed in the Agency Contact Information section (at the bottom of this announcement) to request a copy of the application form. Be sure to submit your completed application form, along with your resume and any required supporting documents, no later than 3:00PM CST on 07/27/2026 to ensure timely processing. Important: Incomplete applications, including missing responses to questionnaire items may result in an ineligible rating. PCS Costs Payment of Permanent Change of Station (PCS) costs are not authorized based on a determination that a PCS move is not in the Government's interest. Allowances and Differentials This job is part of a pay-banded system. Sunday premium pay for regularly scheduled employees and night differential pay may be authorized by the Garrison Commander. Important Information Regarding Access to Certain Federal Facilities: Access to certain federal facilities may require a REAL ID-compliant driver's license/ID (marked with a star) or an Enhanced Driver's License (EDL) from WA, MI, MN, NY, or VT. See https://www.tsa.gov/real-id for details. Your Application may be Considered for Multiple Opportunities: After you apply, your application remains valid for 90 days and may be referred to hiring officials as new vacancies arise. Additional referrals may occur for up to 90 days after the closing date. This announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies throughout the program. Management has the right to assign staff to locations as mission requires. Termination of Spouse Employment Preference Refusal of a military spouse to participate in established recruitment procedures for a Regular Full-Time (RFT) or Regular Part-Time (RPT) position (for example, interview, and so forth) is considered a declination of employment and is a basis for termination of Spouse Employment Preference (SEP) entitlement for the current Permanent Change of Station (PCS) of the sponsor. Discover Your Path to Success Before you apply, take a moment to explore our Applicant Information Kit, your go-to guide for understanding our hiring processes and making your application stand out. For more information on working with Child and Youth Services, please go here: https://www.armymwr.com/cys-careers/professions Inside you will find helpful tips, insights, and everything you need to feel confident and prepared. Click this URL to view the kit: https://publicfileshare.chra.army.mil/Applicants/NAF_Applicant_Information_Kit.pdf