Chess Instructor - McWilliams

YMCA of Greater Houston; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 32,000 - 41,000; Full time

Job summary

The YMCA of Greater Houston is seeking a dedicated program assistant to help plan and deliver high-quality enrichment activities for children. You will create a safe, inclusive learning environment that supports youth development and confidence.

This role requires you to adapt lessons for diverse learners and maintain organized activity spaces, while communicating with families and site leadership to ensure a positive, supportive experience. Flexible hours and on-site work in Houston center.

Qualifications

• High School diploma or GED preferred.
• Minimum age of 18 years.
• Experience/expertise in an enrichment area; certification may be required.
• Previous experience working with children or in youth programs preferred.
• Ability to communicate effectively (written and oral) with children and adults.
• Ability to plan, organize, and implement age-appropriate program activities.
• Desire to work with children and families and the ability to relate to them in a positive, patient, sensitive and non-judgmental manner.
• Ability to connect with people of diverse backgrounds.
• CPR, First Aid, AED certifications and Child Abuse prevention trainings.

Responsibilities

• Plans, prepares, and delivers enrichment lessons or activities.
• Creates safe, welcoming, and inclusive learning environment for all participants.
• Adapts instruction to meet diverse learning needs, abilities, and backgrounds.
• Responsible for setup and cleanup of program areas before and after class.
• Supervises children under the direct guidance of site leadership.
• Maintains professional and friendly communication with children, families, and fellow staff.
• Follows all YMCA policies and program standards including safety, child abuse prevention, and incident reporting.
• Participates in center related events, meetings, and staff trainings as required.
• All other duties as assigned or in support of the role.

Skills

Enrichment experience

Communication

Diversity engagement

CPR

First Aid

AED

Child abuse prevention training

Education

High School diploma or GED

Job description

Position Summary

Implements high-quality enrichment curriculum and programming to participants in alignment with the YMCA's mission and values. Provides a quality experience to children and parents that focuses on youth development. Helps to ensure a welcoming, inclusive, and supportive learning environment that promotes personal growth, creativity, and confidence among participants.

Essential Functions

1. Plans, prepares, and delivers enrichment lessons or activities.
2. Creates safe, welcoming, and inclusive learning environment for all participants.
3. Adapts instruction to meet diverse learning needs, abilities, and backgrounds.
4. Responsible for setup and cleanup of program areas before and after class.
5. Supervises children under the direct guidance of site leadership.
6. Fosters a safe environment, both indoors and outdoors.
7. Ensures program areas are clean, organized, and prepared for activities.
8. Tracks attendance, maintains accurate records, and submits required reports as directed.
9. Models positive behavior and YMCA core values of caring, honesty, respect, responsibility, and faith.
10. Maintains professional and friendly communication with children, families, and fellow staff.
11. Supports program evaluation efforts by providing feedback and recommending improvements.
12. Follows all YMCA policies and program standards including safety, child abuse prevention, and incident reporting. Addresses and reports concerns immediately.
13. Participates in center related events, meetings, and staff trainings as required.
14. All other duties as assigned or in support of the role.

YMCA Culture & Cause Expectations

Our mission and core values are brought to life by our culture. It's who are, who we aspire to be and how we show up every day. We are cause-driven. We don't just show up, we show up with purpose. As a cause driven leader you are expected to be:

• Welcoming Accept neighbors eagerly, warmly, hospitably, and as equal participants.
• Nurturing To care for, support, and help develop through encouragement.
• Hopeful Take an optimistic or positive view of future outcomes.
• Determined To devote full strength and concentrated attention to the cause.
• Genuine To be honest and open in relationships with others.

YMCA Competencies (Leader)

Mission Advancement

Accepts and demonstrates the Y's values. Demonstrates a desire to serve others and fulfill community needs. Recruits volunteers and builds effective, supportive working relationships with them. Supports fund-raising.

Collaboration

Works effectively with people of different backgrounds, abilities, opinions, and perceptions. Builds rapport and relates well to others. Seeks first to understand the other person's point of view, and remains calm in challenging situations. Listens for understanding and meaning; speaks and writes effectively. Takes initiative to assist in developing others.

Operational Effectiveness

Makes sound judgments, and transfers learning from one situation to another. Embraces new approaches and discovers ideas to create a better member experience.

Establishes goals, clarifies tasks, plans work and actively participates in meetings. Follows budgeting policies and procedures, and reports all financial irregularities immediately. Strives to meet or exceed goals and deliver a high-value experience for members.

Personal Growth

Pursues self-development that enhances job performance. Demonstrates an openness to change, and seeks opportunities in the change process. Accurately assesses personal feelings, strengths and limitations and how they impact relationships. Has the functional and technical knowledge and skills required to perform well; uses best practices and demonstrates up-to-date knowledge and skills in technology.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

1. High School diploma or GED preferred.
2. Minimum age of 18 years.
3. Experience/expertise in an enrichment area; certification may be required.
4. Previous experience working with children or in youth programs preferred.
5. Ability to communicate effectively (written and oral) with children and adults.
6. Ability to plan, organize, and implement age-appropriate program activities.
7. Desire to work with children and families and the ability to relate to them in a positive, patient, sensitive and non-judgmental manner.
8. Ability to connect with people of diverse backgrounds.
9. CPR, First Aid, AED certifications and Child Abuse prevention trainings.

Language Skills

Ability to read, interpret, retain, and teach documents such as safety rules, operating maintenance instructions, and procedure/educational manuals. Ability to write routine reports and correspondence. Ability to speak effectively before groups of children, parents, staff, members of the YMCA, and/or others, as well as in one-on-one situations.

Mathematical Skills

Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.

Reasoning Ability

Ability to apply common sense, understanding, and sound mature judgment to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form, including assisting with curriculum learning. Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations. Ability to maintain confidentiality. Ability to be sensitive and alert to the needs, feelings, and safety of others. Ability to ensure children's safety and maintain YMCA and state standards and guidelines at all times.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, and talk and hear. The employee frequently is required to use hands to finger, handle, and/or feel objects, tools, and/or controls; climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, and/or crawl. The employee is frequently required to reach with hands and arms and taste and smell. The employee must frequently move and/or lift up to 50 pounds and move up to 100 pounds such as furniture, supplies, equipment, children, etc. Possess adequate vision and hearing to safely monitor environment and children. Ability to hear noises, distinguish distress signals and communicate verbally, including projecting voice across distance in normal and loud situations.

Hours

Flexible with scheduling and available to work operational hours of the YMCA, which may include day, evening, weekends, and/or holidays, based on the center needs.

This job description is not all inclusive. The YMCA of Greater Houston reserves the right to amend this job description at any time.

The YMCA of Greater Houston provides Equal Employment Opportunities for employment to all employees and applicants, including disability and protected veteran status.