Posting Date:

9/18/26

Department:

DHSP - Childcare Programs

Job Code:

X980 (#1871)

Salary Plan/Grade:

Number of Hours Per Week:

19.5

Additional Work Hours Information:

Afternoons Monday through Friday

Union Affiliation:

Non Union

of openings:

7

Type of Employment:

Regular

Civil Service Type:

None

ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT:

The Department of Human Service Programs (DHSP) creates and coordinates services that enhance the quality of life for Cambridge residents. Driven by the needs of residents, DHSP’s extensive services and programs touch almost every sector in the city: from newborns to senior citizens, from school-aged children to homeless families, from non-profit organizations to local employers.

ABOUT THE ROLE:

The Substitute Teacher will provide teaching support for 7 preschool programs and 7 afterschool programs. Support includes helping teachers maintain normal classroom schedules and activities as well as supporting children’s engagement in the program.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Upon arrival, ask the site director for instructions regarding their job responsibilities for the time period they are in the classroom.
• Support a positive learning environment in the classroom by actively engaging with the children in classroom activities and routines. Be alert to situations that may result in conflicts between children and scan the environment as to always ensure the children's safety.
• Assist teachers in the facilitation of learning activities. This may require working one-on-one with a child or with a small group of children as they work towards completing the activity.
• With staff, ensure the safety of children while playing outdoors, on field trips or while transitioning from one location to another. This includes situational awareness and knowledge of elementary safety precautions.
• Assist teachers with a variety of classroom duties such as lunch and snack preparation. Maintain classroom, including classroom clean-up, as needed.
  Refer any children's behavior or disciplinary issues and parent concerns to teachers.
• Maintain professional manner at all times.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

Education and Experience

• Experience working with children preschool through 5th grade.
• High School Diploma or G.E.D. required, associate’s degree preferred.
• Meets or exceeds EEC regulations for Substitute Teacher.
• Must be 18 years or older.
• Applicants must successfully pass EEC Background Records Check which includes CORI, SORI, DCF and Fingerprinting.
• First Aid & CPR certified or obtain within 6 months of hire.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Adaptable to different working environments and styles.
• Strong communication skills.
• The City of Cambridge's workforce, like the community it serves, is diverse. Applicants must have the ability to work and interact effectively with individuals and groups with a variety of identities, cultures, backgrounds, and ideologies.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS, WORKING CONDITIONS, WORK FLEXBILITY AND ACCOMODATIONS:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.

• Be agile in their movements; moving quickly from sitting on the floor to standing, to kneeling so as to be at the child’s eye level. Employees may have to run after children, both in play and to respond to an emergency.
• Be able to hear children who speak in a soft voice or mumble words when distressed.
• Be able to use their hands and arms to move, reach, handle, and manipulate objects in the classroom. This includes moving furniture once a year when room is re-organized.
• Be able to occasionally lift and/or move a child.
• Vision abilities are required for the supervision of children.
• The noise level in work environment is moderately to very loud. The work environment includes classroom and outdoor playgrounds and occasional field trips.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

SUPERVISION:

Receives onsite supervision from Afterschool Head Teacher or Preschool Director.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS:

Please upload the following documents to complete your application:

• Resume
• Cover Letter

COMPENSATION PHILOSOPHY

The City of Cambridge is committed to providing fair, transparent, and competitive compensation to all employees. The salary range listed in this job posting reflects the full range for this position's pay grade (Steps 1–10). New employees joining the organization are hired within the hiring range, Steps 1 through 5, with placement at the midpoint reserved for the most qualified candidates. Starting placement is based on directly related education and experience relative to the minimum qualifications of the position, required licenses or certifications, internal equity with current employees, and relevant labor market factors. Employees progress through the 10 steps over time through the City's established step and pay progression policies.

This compensation philosophy applies to non‑union positions. For union positions, please refer to the applicable collective bargaining agreement.

Current City employees applying to another position should refer to the Compensation & Classification Manual for the policies governing promotions, lateral transfers, and other internal salary changes.

ABOUT THE CITY OF CAMBRIDGE

The City of Cambridge is a diverse and vibrant community that 120,000 residents of different ethnic, racial, religious, U.S. nationals and other backgrounds call home. We take pride in our City’s diversity and strive to create a workplace that is reflective of the community we serve - one in which all employees can thrive. The City is also deeply committed to creating an environment in which all our employees are treated equitably and feel included. In joining our team, you would work in a workplace environment that advances and values antiracism, diversity, equity, and inclusion (ADEI), and that is committed to embedding ADEI best practices and tenets in all aspects of our work. City of Cambridge residents are especially encouraged to apply to job openings.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY / AFFIRMATIVE ACTION

The City of Cambridge is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate based on race, color, sex, religion, age, national origin, disability, or any other protected category. Women, minorities, veterans, members of the LGBTQ+ Community, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. The City is committed to advancing a workforce culture of antiracism, diversity, equity, and inclusion. Auxiliary aids and services, written materials in alternative formats, and reasonable modifications in policies and procedures will be provided to qualified individuals with disabilities free of charge, upon request by contacting Human Resources at [email protected].