Activity Specialist - Music @ PS 169

Center for Family Life in Sunset Park; New York (NY); On-site; USD 39,000 - 44,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

12 paid holidays

2 floating holidays

Up to 20 paid vacation days per year

One sick day per month

Job summary

Center for Family Life in Sunset Park is seeking an Activity Specialist – Music for PS169 in Brooklyn. The part-time school-year position involves creating and leading music activities for school-aged youth, with emphasis on vocal instruction and group performance.

You will design curricula, collaborate with a multidisciplinary team, and ensure adherence to NYS arts/ELA standards while participating in afterschool and summer programming.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree required.
• Strong vocal music instruction background.
• Skilled in piano and/or guitar accompaniment.
• Strong interpersonal and organizational skills.
• Experience working with youth of all ages.
• Ability to work well in a multidisciplinary team.
• Bilingual English/Spanish or English/Mandarin/Cantonese preferred.
• Background check and medical clearance after conditional offer.

Responsibilities

• Design age-appropriate, standards-based music curricula for elementary youth.
• Provide weekly vocal and composition instruction.
• Collaborate with colleagues to plan and execute program-wide performances.
• Attend field trips and supervise activities at multiple NYC locations.
• Incorporate NYS Arts and ELA standards into curriculum.
• Submit weekly lesson plans for all music activities.
• Support event planning and staff development activities.
• Maintain high energy and positive engagement with participants.

Skills

Vocal music instruction

Piano/guitar accompaniment

Interpersonal skills

Organizational skills

Youth engagement

Team collaboration

Bilingual English/Spanish or English/M

Background check clearance

Education

Bachelor’s Degree

Job description

Description

JOB TITLE: Activity Specialist – Music

JOB TYPE: Part-time – School Year

DEPARTMENT: School-Based Programming at PS169

EXEMPTION: Non-Exempt

PAY RATE: $30/hour, commensurate with education and experience

REPORTS TO: Program Director/Supervisor

SUPERVISES: N/A

LOCATION: PS169 (4305 7th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY, 11232)

WHO WE ARE

Center for Family Life in Sunset Park (CFL) (https://centerforfamilylife.org), is a nationally recognized social service organization. CFL's mission is to promote positive outcomes for children and adults in Sunset Park, Brooklyn by providing a comprehensive range of neighborhood-based family and social services.

PURPOSE OF THE POSITION: To create, implement, and facilitate age-appropriate music activities for school-aged participants as part of a multidisciplinary team.

I. SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES include, but are not limited to

• Designing age-appropriate, standards-based music curricula for groups of elementary age youth in afterschool and summer programs
• Designing activities that promote teamwork, communication, and experimentation in large and small group settings
• Utilize thoughtful group-management skills (restorative processes instead of punitive discipline) in a non-traditional classroom setting
• Providing weekly instruction in vocal music and composition, and leading weekly activities for youth of all ages
• Incorporating the NYS Learning Standards for the Arts and the NYS Next Generation Learning Standards for English Language Arts into the music curriculum
• Submit lesson plans for all music activities on a weekly basis
• Attend, supervise, and facilitate activities with participants on fieldtrips and off-site locations around NYC
• Collaborating with participants to compose and perform songs and musical arrangements showcased in performances for the program, school, and/or community
• Planning and collaborating with colleagues to produce program-wide performance
• Contribute to the planning and execution of special events, staff development training, and other community building activities
• Supporting the overall program through additional tasks that allow for efficient and safe operation and successful special events for participants and families (i.e. supervision of snack time, lunch, and mealtime, dismissal, set up and breakdown of special events, and more).
• Attend weekly professional development meetings
• Demonstrated ability to maintain a high energy level
• Adhere to all agency and NYC Public School policies, including dress code which requires a CFL T-shirt (provided) and clothing/shoes that allow you to move comfortably

II. QUALIFICATIONS

• Education/Degree minimum requirement: Bachelor’s Degree
• Demonstrable strong vocal music instruction background
• Skilled in piano and/or guitar accompaniment
• Strong interpersonal and organizational skills
• Skilled in working with youth of all ages
• Flexible and possesses the ability to work well as a member of a team of different disciplines (artists, teachers, young-adult staff)
• Interested in creating positive experiences for groups of youth, including participants with special needs and challenging behaviors
• Bilingual: English/Mandarin/Cantonese or English/Spanish, preferred
• Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a background check and medical clearance, which will be conducted after a conditional offer is made and accepted.

III. RELATIONSHIP WITH OTHERS

• Build and maintain positive working relationships and daily interactions with participants, volunteers, co-workers, and supervisors
• Be willing to fully engage in all professional development spaces, including staff meetings and individual meetings with supervisor
• Be willing to give and receive feedback from supervisors, colleagues, students, and other school stakeholders in a constructive and respectful manner
• Have a strong sensitivity to cultural differences present among staff and clients within our organization.
• Possess a strong belief in people’s ability to grow and change
• Forge a mutually respectful partnership with the people served and their families.
• Be willing to reflect on and expand understandings of authority, boundaries, positionality, and conflict resolution

IV. WORKING CONDITIONS

• Actively engage and interact with children each day
• Will be required to be active by walking, bending, standing, squatting or sitting on the floor with children
• May be exposed to all weather conditions and might be required to work in various temperatures in order to facilitate activities in various locations inside and outside of the school building

V. BENEFITS

• Voluntary life, disability, flexible spending account, and 403(b) retirement plan
• 12 paid holidays, 2 floating holidays, and up to 20 paid vacation days per year. One sick day per month

VI. SCOPE OF RESPONSIBILITY:

The Music Activity Specialist’s role focuses on creating, facilitating, and offering school-aged children the opportunity to engage in music activities and experiences.

VII. SCHOOL YEAR SCHEDULE

2026-2027 (Role begins early September)

• 20-24 hours per week
• Schedule: Monday – Friday, 2pm to 6pm; Individual schedule assigned by supervisor depending on program needs.
• One afternoon meeting and one evening meeting, to be scheduled
• Occasional holiday camps, extended professional development days, must attend CFL Agency Wide Retreat
• Timeframe: September 2026 – June 2027

NYC Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

It is the Agency’s policy to provide equal employment opportunity for all applicants and employees. Center for Family Life in Sunset Park does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of actual or perceived race, sexual and reproductive health decisions, height and weight, color, religion, religious creed, sex, sexual and reproductive health decisions, gender, gender identity, gender expression and sex stereotyping, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, physical or mental disability, legally protected medical condition or information, family care or medical leave status, military caregiver status, military status, veteran status, marital status, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking, enrollment in a public assistance program, engaging in protected communications regarding employee wages, requesting a reasonable accommodation on the basis of disability or bona fide religious belief or practice, or any other basis protected by local, state, or federal laws. Consistent with the law, CFLSP also makes reasonable accommodations for disabled applicants and employees; for pregnant employees who request an accommodation with the advice of their health care providers, for pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions; for employees who are victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking; and for applicants and employees based on their religious beliefs and practices.