Early Learning Center Lead

Prepared on July 7, 2026

Department	Tribal Administration
Reports To	Tribal Administrator
Type of Employment	Full-Time
Work Hours	8am-4pm Mon-Fri
FLSA Status	Non-Exempt
Salary	$26 hour

Summary

The Early Learning Center Lead is responsible for all aspects of the daily operation of the Shoalwater Bay Indian Tribe Early Learning Center (ELC).

Job Description

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Include the following, other duties may be assigned.

Direct and supervises activities of the ELC department’s personnel.
Creates and reviews work schedules and duties to ensure adequate staffing at all times.
Responsible for daily classroom support, which includes, but not limited to setting up, clean up after mealtimes, daily sanitation at the beginning and end of each day, and regular laundry.
Collaborate with the Education/ELC Coordinator to create a monthly lunch menu following the food group pyramid.
Prepare healthy meals and snacks daily.
Collaborate with the Education/ELC Coordinator to prepare purchase orders for grocery and supply list for ELC
Help children establish good habits in nutrition, table manners, toileting, and cleanliness.
Responsible for awareness of health and safety guidelines
Ensures that all Federal, State, Tribal and local codes, rules and regulations are followed.
Develops budget in cooperation with the Tribal Administrator.
Must work with accounting department to submit billing through Brightwheel.
Attends meetings and training courses.
Work with the Cultural Manager to incorporate culture activities.
Work with school age children with the ability to develop and implement age-appropriate programs with an emphasis on academic improvement and relationship building skills.
Demonstrate the ability to develop and implement programs to help students improve academically, socially, and culturally.
Ability to work with diverse ethnic, gender, age and cultural groups.
Ensure feeding times and diaper changes are recorded daily.
Maintain excellent verbal and written communication with parents and guardians.
Work with other staff members in a professional and cooperative manner.
Uphold excellent attendance.
Work closely with WFD Program Case Manger & SPIPA Childcare program to ensure compliance for CCDF

Supervisory Requirements

This position has supervisory responsibilities.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Must be 21 years of age or older.
Must possess a valid Washington Driver’s License.
Must be able to pass a drug screen, and background check including fingerprinting.
Current First Aid/CPR Certification (within 3 months of employment)
Mandated reporter / child abuse and neglect training (within 3 months of employment)
Food handlers permit
Safe sleep training
Knowledge of Brightwheel (childcare management system) preferred
Have a genuine love for children and a personal commitment to making a difference in their lives
Experience working with Tribal community preferred
Ability to follow the SBIT ELC Handbook, policies, and procedures

Experience and Eduction

Associate's degree preferred in Early Childhood Education and/or Child Development and 1-3 years of work experience, and/or combination of education and years of work experience. DCYF Merit/ STARS certification training hours required.

Skills

LANGUAGE SKILLS: Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures or government regulations. Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS: Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.

REASONING ABILITY: Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

Essential Competencies

Interpersonal Skills – Focuses on solving conflict; maintains confidentiality; listens to others without interrupting; keeps emotions under control.

Oral Communication – Speaks clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations; listens and obtains clarification; responds well to questions.

Written Communication – Writes clearly and informatively; edits work for spelling and grammar; varies writing style to meet needs; presents numerical data effectively; able to read and interpret written information.

Teamwork – Balances team and individual responsibilities; exhibits objectivity and openness to others views; contributes to building a positive team spirit.

Ethics – Treats people with respect; works with integrity and ethically; upholds organizational values.

Professionalism – Approaches others in a tactful manner; reacts well under pressure; treats others with respect and consideration regardless of their status or position.

Safety and Security – Observes safety and security procedures; reports potentially unsafe conditions; uses equipment and materials properly.

Dependability – Follows instructions, responds to management direction; takes responsibility for own actions; commits to long hours of work when necessary.

Attendance and Punctuality – Is consistently at work and on time; ensures work responsibilities are covered when absent; arrives at meetings and appointments on time.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The employee may occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Common classroom environment.

At-Will Employment

This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee(s) incumbent in this position. Employee(s) will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job related duties requested by any person authorized to give instructions or assignments.

The employment relationship with Shoalwater Bay Indian Tribe is voluntary; there is no specified length of employment. Accordingly, either the Shoalwater Bay Indian Tribe or the employee may terminate the employment relationship at will, with or without cause, at any time, so long as there is no violation of applicable federal or state law.

This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise.

INDIAN PREFERENCE:

Indian preference will be exercised in the hiring of this position in accordance with Shoalwater Bay Indian Tribe’s policy 181 within the Tribes Employee Handbook.

Benefits

After 60 days of employment

Medical
Vision
Dental
Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment coverage
Short term disability
Long term disability
Disability resources

After 90 days of employment use of

Annual Leave accrual
Sick Leave accrual
Bereavement Leave
Military Leave
Jury Duty Leave
Paid Holidays

After 1 year of employment

401K contribution

Work Location	Work on Location Premises 2373 Tokeland Rd Tokeland, WA 98590
Job Posting Valid Through	Valid until filled
Position Start Date	Immediately