Reports To:    Child Care Coordinator          

Job Summary

Are you passionate about supporting the growth and development of young learners in a preschool environment?  Are you inspired about making an impact on young children and their families? If so, Hawkeye Community College has a great opportunity for you!

The Hawkeye Child Development Center is looking for a Preschool Lead Teacher to join their team.  At the Hawkeye Child Development Center, staff work together as a team to provide high quality early childhood care and education to children while maintaining compliance with DHHS regulations, National Association for Education of Young Children (NAEYC) accreditation, Iowa Quality for Kids (IQ4K), Shared Visions Preschool and Head Start Standards. All staff respect diversity in children, families and colleagues. 

As the Preschool Lead Teacher in the Child Care center, you would be responsible for providing developmentally appropriate, high quality early childhood care and education to children. This is done by promoting social, emotional, intellectual, and physical growth and development, guiding the children to independence, self-direction, self-control as they move forward to their next level. Additionally, you would be responsible for creating and maintaining an enthusiastic, respectful, and positive work environment for children, staff, students, families, and faculty.

Hawkeye Community College is a comprehensive community college focused on meeting the needs of the community by providing quality, affordable learning experiences for a wide array of students through our Adult Learning Center, Business and Community Education Department as well as through more than 50 career and technical programs and liberal arts transfer programs.  Hawkeye Community College’s mission is about empowering students, strengthening businesses and enriching communities with a vision to improve the quality of life in the communities we serve. 

Essential Job Functions  

Important responsibilities and duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Creates and prepares age-appropriate lessons and activities in compliance with accreditation and assessments that are individualized to meet each child's needs developmentally.
• Conducts observations, assessments, and obtain documentation of each child, with an awareness of where each child is developmentally regarding social, emotional wellbeing, physical health, and cognitive development.
• Partners with the Early Childhood Education Program faculty to supervise, mentor, and evaluate Early Childhood student performance, requirements, and expectations.
• Collaborates with the Coordinator in designing a curriculum that supports center philosophy and meets children's needs to maintain a high-quality early education program.
• Analyzes and resolves any problems that may arise with parents, staff, students or children and reports them to the Coordinator.
• Prepares and distributes necessary communication letters to families including monthly and weekly newsletters and educational handouts.
• Creates and prepares daily reports for each child.
• Models best practices in the classroom and demonstrates professionalism in the Child Development Center.
• Prepares and conducts parent/teacher conferences with specialists when necessary.
• Supervises and trains work study staff and assigns daily jobs and responsibilities within the classroom and the Center.

• Works in collaboration with the Coordinator and Assistant Coordinator in meeting all required criteria and standards of the state, applicable agencies and applicable grants.
• Prepares food for scheduled meals and curricular activities and maintains record-keeping on Child and Adult Care Food Program food forms.
• Collaborates with Coordinator in overseeing the maintenance of the safety and cleanliness of the classroom.
• Participates in campus committees as assigned.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
• Unless otherwise approved under Hawkeye’s remote work policy, regular on campus and/or onsite attendance is considered an essential function of the position.

Working Conditions

Anticipated schedule is Monday – Friday from 8:30 am through 5:00 pm.

Work is performed either in or a combination of a classroom or outdoor setting, using technology with a combination of natural and fluorescent light.  Requires good hand-eye coordination including visual acuity to use a keyboard and read technical information; arm, hand and finger dexterity, including ability to grasp.   Sit, stand, bend, lift and move frequently during working hours. During course of day, interact with children, students, faculty and staff in person, by telephone and computers.

Employment Status

Full time, non-exempt position with comprehensive or competitive benefits program including health, dental, vision, life, and LTD insurance, a Section 125 plan for medical and dependent care expenses; holiday, personal, sick, and vacation leave; tuition remission/reimbursement; and a choice of retirement programs—IPERS (defined benefit) or TIAA (defined contribution).

• Salary is determined based on education, experience and internal equity.
• The wage range for this position starts at: $16.32/hr (approximately $33,950 annually)

Application Procedure

• Complete an online application at hawkeyecollege.edu/employment
  • Submit/upload a cover letter addressing the following:
    • Please talk about your past and current Child Care experience and include any certificates or accomplishments as it relates to the position.
    • Share why you feel qualified for this position as well as what interests you about working at the Hawkeye Child Development Center.
  • Submit/upload a resume.
  • Submit/upload 3 professional references with a minimum of 1 being from a current/past supervisor.
• Application Deadline: Sunday, March 8, 2026
• Priority screening is set to begin on: Monday, March 9, 2026
• Completed applications, along with the required materials, received after the priority screening date will be considered at the discretion of the college.

Hawkeye Community College is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer, committed to equity and diversity in its educational services and employment practices: https://www.hawkeyecollege.edu/about/diversity-inclusion/equal-opportunity. The College does not discriminate on the basis of sex; race; age; color; creed; national origin; religion; disability; sexual orientation; gender identity; genetic information; or actual or potential parental, family, or marital status in its programs, activities, or employment practices. Veteran status is also included to the extent covered by law. Any person alleging a violation of equity regulations shall have the right to file a formal complaint. Inquiries concerning application of this statement should be addressed to: Equity Coordinator and Title IX Coordinator for employees, 319-296-4405; or Title IX Coordinator for students, 319-296-4448; Hawkeye Community College, 1501 East Orange Road, P.O. Box 8015, Waterloo, Iowa 50704-8015; or email equity-titleIX@hawkeyecollege.edu, or the Director of the Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education, Citigroup Center, 500 W. Madison, Suite 1475, Chicago, IL 60661, phone number 312-730-1560, fax 312-730-1576, email: OCR.Chicago@ed.gov. 

If any applicant is in need of a reasonable accommodation in completing the application process, please notify a member of Human Resource Services.

Minimum Qualifications

• Associate's Degree in Early Childhood Education or currently enrolled in an Early Childhood Education Program and will graduate within six (6) months from their date of hire.
• Six (6) months of experience in a related field.
• Knowledge of compliance and/or accreditation standards used in child care.
• Knowledge of Creative Curriculum philosophy and techniques.
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience with young children ranging in age from infants to 5 years old.
• Must hold or have the ability to promptly obtain CPR, First Aid, Mandatory Reporting for Child Abuse, and Universal Precaution certificates.
• Ability to pass National Fingerprinting, Department of Health & Human Services (DHHS), criminal, and Child Abuse Registry record check.
• Ability to lift 30-50 pounds from floor to a waist high table 10-15 times daily.
• Knowledge of day care licensing and early childhood education development requirements.
• Demonstrated ability to identify and use appropriate assessments and evaluation instructions.
• Demonstrated ability to work flexible hours.
• Demonstrated ability to work with a wide array of students, faculty, staff, and the general public.
• Ability to demonstrate strong interpersonal communication.
• Ability to use Microsoft Office Suite, Google applications, and various forms of technology.
• Demonstrated ability to execute organization and department policies and procedures.
• Demonstrated ability to handle confidential/sensitive information with discretion.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree.
• Knowledge of IQ4K (Iowa Quality for Kids) criteria, National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) accreditation, Shared Visions Preschool and Head Start Standards.
• Knowledge of Teaching Strategies GOLD assessments.

About Hawkeye Community College

Hawkeye Community College is focused on meeting the needs of the community by providing quality, affordable learning experiences for a diverse student body through our Adult Learning Center, Business & Community Education Department as well as through more than 50 career & technical programs & liberal arts transfer programs. Hawkeye's mission is about empowering students, strengthening businesses & enriching communities with a vision to improve the quality of life in the communities we serve.

Connections working at Hawkeye Community College