Defense Department Child and Youth Development Career Opportunities

The Defense Department is the nation’s largest employer-sponsored child care system and one of the largest youth development programs in the country — and they’re looking to fill a wide range of entry and management-level positions working with military-connected children and youth. Whether you’re just starting your career or have years of experience, child and youth development centers have opportunities for everyone — in the classroom, as part of the support staff or managing their programs.

The DOD’s career opportunities initiative, Come Grow With Us, offers employment with high-quality child development and youth programs on or near military installations worldwide, making it a fantastic portable career.

DOD employees receive competitive pay and benefits, including:

• Health and life insurance
• Paid vacation and sick time
• Retirement and 401(k) benefits
• Tuition assistance
• Training, mentoring and professional development
• Career advancement opportunities

If you know someone who would like to start a career working with children or youth — or know professors who teach early care and education or youth development — then share these job boards so they can learn more about the child and youth development careers with the DOD. Find available positions:

• The Army Child & Youth Services Careers
• The Marine Corps Community Services
• The Navy Child & Youth Programs
• USAJOBS — Search for “Child and Youth” jobs in your area. You can also search by entering the name of your service branch and “Child and Youth,” for example “Air Force Child and Youth.”

Potential candidates can read more about military child and youth development careers through the “Start Your Career With Military Children and Youth — Come Grow With Us” article and decide if this career is right for them.