Job Details

Title of Position: Director, Eat Play Learn Summer Program

Salary: $23.00/hr

Schedule: Paid Training: Early June (3 days, 4pm-7pm with food provided)
Programming Begins: June 30, 2025 – September (Mon-Friday, 9:30AM-2:30PM with Saturday hours of 11am-1pm also available)

Eat Play Learn Program Overview

The Eat Play Learn program activates parks across the city with free play, art, physical fitness, reading, and creative exploration in conjunction with the free federal meals program. Teams of trained Eat Play Learn facilitators provide activities and materials to inspire child-directed play and promote healthy habits for Providence youth visiting parks during the summer.

Director Responsibilities

Directors of the Eat Play Learn program will oversee Eat Play Learn Ambassadors in 3 parks (2 leaders in each park for a total of 6 Ambassadors) with each team assigned to a specific Providence neighborhood park.

Directors of Eat Play Learn will also receive training in community engagement and cultural competence, food insecurity and free federal summer meals program, restorative practices, and emergency protocols.

Responsibilities include:

• Deliver in the morning the EPL supplies to assigned parks, including large jugs of fresh water (to be emptied and refilled every day at EPL offices) as well as games, art supplies, sports equipment, etc. and secure their safe keeping at the end of the day.
• Create a fun and welcoming environment for city children visiting assigned parks.
• Provide guidance and support to Eat Play Learn Ambassadors at assigned parks on a daily basis to ensure they are prepared and enthusiastic Ambassadors for kids and families visiting the park.
• Assist with programming and service of free community meals program at assigned parks.
• Effectively redirect unacceptable behavior and assist children in resolving conflicts as needed.
• Oversee collection of data from Ambassadors daily to make sure it is being completed accurately. Provide instruction to make corrections when needed.
• Create a summer report from data collected at the end of each week to capture important findings at the end of the summer.
• Visit each assigned park once a day to deliver/pick up materials and check-in with Ambassadors.
• Make sure assigned parks are clean and free of hazards and trash.
• At the end of the day store all Eat Play Learn materials in a safe and secure area for the next day's use. Empty water containers to be refilled with fresh water the next day.
• Perform other duties as assigned relevant to Eat Play Learn operations.

In addition, the Director of Eat Play Learn is responsible for:

• Managing teams of Eat Play Learn Ambassadors.
• Leading their team in reflective practice, daily reflections to build and strengthen park experience for team and visitors.

Directors of Eat Play Learn will be trained and guided in basic play work, the practice of supporting children's play without directing it. As a result, they will:

• Understand the value of children's self-directed play.
• Be equipped to support children's play without directing every action.
• Be able to observe and assess children's behavior and know when to step in to redirect.
• Have strategies for effectively redirecting unacceptable behavior.
• Be prepared to implement a variety of play opportunities.

Requirements – Applicants must

• Seniors in high school, have a high school diploma or equivalent (completion of bachelor's program preferred).
• Have a valid driver's license and a reliable automobile with auto insurance as required by state law.
• Be comfortable working outside and actively engaging with diverse populations.

Qualifications

Successful applicants will:

• Respect and enjoy children and appreciate the value of free play to their healthy development.
• Have experience working with/caring for children.
• Have supervisory or team leadership experience.
• Be able to collect and track data using Word, Google Docs, and Excel.
• Show qualities of playfulness, resourcefulness, creativity, flexibility, enthusiasm, and tolerance.
• Be energetic, highly responsible, absolutely dependable and able to work independently and as a team member.
• Be able to manage staff.
• Be able to move quickly, sustain periods of prolonged standing, lift up to 25 pounds and work outdoors in all weather.
• Must have daily access to reliable transportation to travel to multiple sites delivering essential materials (large bin of play materials and large jugs of water).
• Conversant in Spanish or a Southeast Asian language a plus.
• Preference given to Providence residents.
• Preferences given to former Directors, Leaders, and Ambassadors of the Eat Play Learn Program.

Note: All applicants 18 and older will be required to complete a form for a background check, run by the Providence Police.

All applicants UNDER 18 will be required to complete an “Intent to Work” form, to be signed by a legal parent/guardian.

Application Deadline: May 31, 2025