Child Watch Lead

The YMCA of Pierce and Kitsap Counties is seeking a part-time Child Watch Lead for the Lakewood Family YMCA in Lakewood, WA. This onsite role supports parents using YMCA facilities by creating a safe, caring, and playful space for children while they take advantage of the center’s offerings. The organization emphasizes inclusion and community impact, with a strong focus on its core values of Honesty, Respect, Responsibility and Caring.

The position offers afternoon coverage and a clear path for someone who enjoys caring for young children and wants to contribute to a supportive family-friendly environment. The wage ranges from $18.24 to $18.69 per hour, with compensation based on relevant experience and qualifications; most new hires start near the minimum end of the posted range. This part-time role is up to 25 hours per week, scheduled from 3:35 PM to 8:15 PM at the Lakewood location, and it follows an onsite arrangement.

If you’re energized by helping kids thrive in a supervised setting and want meaningful, after-school hours work, this could be a great fit for you.

Afternoons at the Lakewood family YMCA

On your shifts, you’ll help maintain a safe, caring, and engaging space for children from 6 weeks to 7 years old while their parents are using the YMCA facilities. You’ll support the supervision of the Child Watch program under the direction of the Program Director, contributing to a quality experience aligned with the YMCA’s values.

You’ll guide activities and supervise play, ensuring kids stay engaged with games, crafts, and age-appropriate programs. Keeping communication open with families about their child’s day is part of the job, and you’ll help support youth staff and classes as needed. A focus on inclusivity means you’ll foster a welcoming environment for children and families from diverse backgrounds, while participating in required trainings such as online Child Abuse Prevention on day one and any additional online or in-person training as required.

What you’ll bring to the role

Must-haves help ensure you can step into this role smoothly:

• Able to pass background and reference checks in line with the WA State Fair Chance Act
• Committed to valuing diversity and contributing to an inclusive working and learning environment
• Willing to complete online Child Abuse Prevention training on the first day and participate in other required trainings
• Experience with children in a program setting and familiarity with diverse populations
• Strong organizational, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills
• Current CPR, First Aid and AED certifications are preferred

Nice-to-haves can help you stand out:

• A high school diploma or equivalent (preferred)
• One year or more of related experience (preferred)
• Experience working with children of all ages in program settings and with diverse populations
• Ability to instruct youth in sports, games, and activities and to support youth staff and classes

Pay, schedule and benefits

The role pays $18.24 to $18.69 per hour, with compensation determined by experience and qualifications; new hires commonly begin near the minimum of the range. The annual equivalent is listed from $36,000 to $38,000 per year for the posted range. The position is part-time, up to 25 hours weekly, with afternoons from 3:35 PM to 8:15 PM at the Lakewood Family YMCA in Lakewood, WA, onsite. Training includes online Child Abuse Prevention on the first day and other online or in-person sessions as required, and background checks are required for this role.

All YMCA employees receive benefits such as a Personal YMCA membership and YMCA360 virtual streaming membership, flexible scheduling around school and extracurricular activities, paid sick leave accrued over time, an employee assistance plan with digital mental health resources, a wellness program, LifeMart employee discounts, and opportunities for professional training, education, and certification. There is a 20% discount on YMCA programs, childcare services and merchandise. Part-time employees who work more than 20 hours per week are eligible for voluntary benefits like HealthiestYou with Teladoc, Willamette Dental Plan, and VSP Vision Plan.

The YMCA is dedicated to empowering people and strengthening communities, and it promotes equal opportunity for all. The organization explicitly states it is an Equal Opportunity Employer, Women/Minority/Veteran/Disabled.

Tips for applicants

Lead your resume with childcare experience that aligns with this role, especially any work with infants through early elementary ages and any program-setting or diverse-population exposure. Highlight your ability to create safe, engaging environments and your experience supporting youth activities and classes.

When you present your qualifications, emphasize how you’ve demonstrated organizational skills, good interpersonal interactions, and practical problem solving in child-care or program settings, and show readiness to complete required trainings on day one.

Be prepared to discuss how you would keep a space safe and welcoming for young children, while upholding YMCA core values of Honesty, Respect, Responsibility and Caring. Have ready a couple of short examples that illustrate how you’ve handled conflicts, safety concerns, or challenging behaviors in a preschool or childcare context.

Ask a thoughtful question at the end of your interview about onboarding and training details, the supervision structure under the Program Director, and any opportunities for ongoing professional development or additional certifications.

How to apply

To apply, visit www.ymcapkc.org. The YMCA of Pierce and Kitsap Counties is an Equal Opportunity Employer and welcomes applicants from diverse backgrounds.