Title: Environmental Safety Specialist

Position Type: OJC CDS Part Time

College: Otero College

Division: OC Child Development Services

Department: OC Head Start

Campus: Otero College Child Development Services

Location: La Junta

Salary Range: $25.00-$35.00/hour

Who We Are: Otero College Child Development Services provides comprehensive services, including full-day early childhood education, for children and their families through home-based and center-based services located throughout southern Colorado. It is the mission of Otero College Child Development Services to provide high quality, comprehensive early childhood education programs for children from birth to compulsory school age; to provide parent education programs that strengthen the family, develop basic literacy, encourage job training and personal development; and to develop community partnerships and coordination of community-based services.

Job Summary: Conduct indoor and outdoor health and safety inspections at all centers. Complete corrective action plans, work orders and follow up. Assist with informing and suggesting changes in order to build capacity to ensure children are safe while on premises.

Duties & Responsibilities:

1. Adhere to Otero College Child Development Services policies and procedures.
2. Comply with Head Start Performance Standards and State of Colorado Rules and Regulations for Child Care Centers.
3. Support and implement the mission and goals of Otero College Child Development Services.
4. Encourage and support family engagement in all aspects of the Head Start program.
5. Participate in all required in-service training and applicable workshops.
6. Work as part of a team providing a welcoming environment for families and visitors.
7. Be an effective problem solver.
8. Report and document any suspected child abuse and neglect in compliance with Colorado law and agency policies and procedures.
9. Understand and implement Head Start Performance Standards, Head Start Act, and Child Policies and Procedures as they apply to program management and supervision.
10. Conduct indoor and outdoor quarterly health and safety inspections using Child Plus at all OC CDS facilities.
11. Complete corrective action plans with each Center manager at the completion of each inspection.
12. Conduct follow up of corrective action plans.
13. Input work order information into the online database program from the corrective action plans developed from the health and safety inspection.
14. Assist Center Managers with the completion of their monthly health and safety inspections, corrective action plans and follow as needed.
15. Inform, suggest and work with content area managers if inspections identify needed policy or procedures changes to ensure safe environments.
16. Assist Facility Operations Specialist in updating policy, procedure and training of emergency preparedness for staff and/parents.
17. Assist with parent night presentations in the areas of emergency preparedness, health and safety.
18. Maintain ongoing communication with Facilities Operations Manager on all aspects of health and safety inspections, corrective action plans and follow up.
19. Notify Facilities Operations Manager if situations arise which are an immediate threat of health or safety to children or staff.
20. Maintain documentation of health and safety inspections including when due and when complete.
21. Ensure all work order requests are in put in a timely manner.
22. Develop and maintain knowledge and understanding of compliance regulations – State of Colorado Child Care Regulations, Head Start Performance Standards, Caring for our Children Standards, Colorado Department of Health and Environment regulations, Colorado Retail Food Standards, Playground Safety Standards and any other regulations that Early Childhood Programs are required to follow.
23. Ability to interpret regulations and policies for early childhood environments.
24. Participate in workshop/training opportunities to increase or update content area knowledge.
25. Encourage and support parent involvement in all aspects of the Head Start programs.
26. Other program related duties assigned by supervisory personnel and/or Executive Director.

Competencies/KSAs:

• Able to perform physical activities such as kneeling, bending, crawling and lifting.
• Strong communication, teamwork, analysis, and judgment skills.
• Able to obtain and keep current any required professional licenses or certifications.
• Proven communication, interpersonal and leadership skills.
• Be computer literate with knowledge of Microsoft office programs as it pertains to your position.
• Be eligible to work in a childcare setting.
• Have valid First Aid and Infant/Child CPR card and keep current or obtain within 30 days of employment if applicable to position.
• Positive role model for children; language, dress, and behavior must be appropriate to a childcare setting.
• Be able to establish an atmosphere of trust and respect with HS families, children and staff.
• Able to adhere to strict standards of confidentiality.
• Be able to work effectively as a member of a team.
• Must submit regular ongoing medical statements signed and dated by a licensed physician or other health care professional and self-reported annual health history, verifying that they are in good mental, physical and emotional health appropriate for the position hired for. Pursuant to State of Colorado Rules Regulating Child Care Centers and HS Performance Standards.
• Demonstrate the highest standard of integrity, truthfulness, honesty and ethics.

Minimum Qualifications:

Broad knowledge in environmental health and safety and experience working in field or related field of health and safety.

Application Instructions: 

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATION: Open until filled with first review October 28, 2026
Inquiries May Be Directed To Candi Miell (719) 384-3103
Applicants must submit to and pass a background check before an offer of employment can be extended.

Additional Information/Benefits:

PERA, paid sick leave