Director of Youth Programs

University of Georgia; Athens (GA); On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Georgia is seeking a Director of Youth Programs to lead the Georgia Center’s youth portfolio. You will oversee 60+ programs, including summer camps and academic competitions, guiding staff and ensuring safety and quality for thousands of youth annually.

The role requires strategic program development, budget oversight, and partnerships with university colleagues and external partners to sustain impactful offerings and compliance with all regulations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related field or equivalent plus 10 years of professional experience, including 3 years supervisory.
• Masters degree preferred.
• Experience leading youth programs and summer camps.
• Strong communication and leadership skills.

Responsibilities

• Oversee year-round youth programs, including scheduling and safety.
• Hire, train, and supervise staff for 60+ programs and 2,000 minors annually.
• Develop budgets and monitor program revenue and costs.
• Foster partnerships with university departments and external organizations.

Skills

Effective communication

Staff supervision

Budget management

Program development

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Bachelor's degree in related field or equivalent plus 10 years experience including 3 supervis

Master's degree

Job description

Posting Details

Working Title: Director of Youth Programs

Department: PSO-Cont Ed-GC Cont Education

About the University of Georgia: Chartered by the state of Georgia in 1785, the University of Georgia is the birthplace of public higher education in America and is the state's flagship university (https://www.uga.edu/). The proof is in our more than 240 years of academic and professional achievements and our continual commitment to higher education. UGA is currently ranked among the top 20 public universities in U.S. News & World Report. The University's main campus is located in Athens, approximately 65 miles northeast of Atlanta, with extended campuses in Atlanta, Griffin, Gwinnett, and Tifton. UGA employs approximately 3,100 faculty and more than 7,700 full-time staff. The University's enrollment exceeds 41,000 students including over 31,000 undergraduates and over 10,000 graduate and professional students. Academic programs reside in 19 schools and colleges, including our newly established School of Medicine.

About the College/Unit/Department: The University of Georgia Center for Continuing Education & Hotel is hiring motivated, dependable, and team-orientated individuals for jobs that advance UGA's mission of Public Service and Outreach. The Georgia Center, located on campus across from Stegeman Coliseum, is the campus hub for the development and administration of non-credit professional and continuing education courses as well as home of the only on-campus hotel.

College/Unit/Department website: www.georgiacenter.uga.edu

Posting Type: External

Retirement Plan: TRS or ORP

Employment Type: Employee

Benefits Eligibility: Benefits Eligible

Full/Part time: Full Time

Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 5:00 pm, with some nights and weekends. May - July - Flexible schedule to include Sundays. Meet the needs of Summer camp which is a 24/7 operation. May - July - On call to support summer camp operations. This is considered an essential worker.

Advertised Salary: Commensurate with Experience

Posting Date: 10/15/2026

Open until filled: Yes

Proposed Starting Date: 12/01/2026

Special Instructions to Applicants: Please note that successful applicants are responsible for ensuring their eligibility to work in the United States (i.e. a citizen or national of the United States, a lawful permanent resident, a foreign national authorized to work in the United States without need of employer sponsorship) on or before the effective date of your appointment, and maintain eligibility without sponsorship throughout your appointment.

Location of Vacancy: Athens Area

EEO Policy Statement: The University of Georgia is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, or veteran status or other protected status. Persons needing accommodations or assistance with the accessibility of materials related to this search are encouraged to contact Central HR ([e-mail]).

USG Core Values Statement: The University System of Georgia is comprised of our 25 institutions of higher education and learning and the System Office. Our USG Statement of Core Values are Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect. These values serve as the foundation for all that we do as an organization, and each USG community member is responsible for demonstrating and upholding these standards. More details on the USG Statement of Core Values and Code of Conduct are available in USG Board Policy 08.02.18.01.02. Additionally, USG supports Freedom of Expression as stated in Board Policy 06.05 Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom.

Position Information

Classification Title: Program Manager

FLSA: Exempt

FTE: 1.00

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related field or equivalent plus 10 years of professional experience to include 3 years of supervisory experience

Preferred Qualifications

• Masters degree
• Overnight camp experience.
• Program development experience

Position Summary

The Director of Youth Programs manages multiple teams within the Continuing Education unit of the Georgia Center, ensuring that established goals and milestones are met across the full youth programming portfolio, which encompasses summer camps, academic competitions, and emerging educational initiatives. Each year, the position recruits, hires, and directs a multidisciplinary workforce of operational and residential employees, plus instructional staff, to support more than 60 unique programs, serving over 2,000 youth learners annually. Annual staffing includes two full-time program managers (the Director of Summer Academy and the Program Manager for the Office of Academic Special Programs) and an estimated 35-45 seasonal student, instructional, and overnight staff hired each summer for Summer Academy.

This position has direct responsibility for personnel actions within assigned teams, including hiring, performance evaluations, and professional development for full-time and youth staff across instructional, program, administrative, and overnight camp functions. The Program Manager exercises senior-level managerial judgment in directing all phases of program delivery, including curriculum development, enrollment management, financial administration, and compliance with university and regulatory standards, and is accountable for sustaining a program portfolio that generates approximately one quarter of the Continuing Education department's annual revenue. Because programs operate continuously and in residential settings, the position carries direct accountability for participant safety of minors, staff conduct, and regulatory compliance in one of the University's highest-liability program areas.

The role requires demonstrated expertise in program management, stakeholder engagement, and data-driven decision-making to ensure all programs reflect best practices in youth development, advance the University's educational mission, and maintain the highest standards of safety and quality.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and/or Competencies

• Ability to communicate effectively (verbal and written).
• Ability to meet deadlines.
• Ability to build and sustain collaborative relationships with a broad range of stakeholders, including university faculty, staff, parents, students, and community members.
• Ability to recruit, hire, train, and supervise large multi-disciplinary teams, including instructional, program, administrative, and residential staff, on a recurring annual hiring cycle.
• Ability to direct continuous (24-hour) residential operations, including staff coverage planning, scheduling, on-call response, and crisis management.
• Knowledge of employment practices, background screening requirements, minor protection, and mandated reporting standards applicable to programs serving youth.
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills to interpret program data, evaluate outcomes, and develop evidence-based recommendations for program improvement.
• Ability to exercise sound independent judgment and discretion in program planning, personnel decisions, and financial management.
• Demonstrated experience in budget development, revenue management, and fiscal oversight for programs of significant financial scope.
• Knowledge of best practices in youth development, youth safety regulations, and experiential education program design.
• Ability to provide and receive constructive feedback, model professional conduct, and foster a culture of continuous improvement.

Physical Demands

• Withstand the stresses of summer outdoor environments.
• Stand and walk for extended periods of time.
• Driving to perform job-related duties.
• Lift 30 lbs.
• Availability for extended and irregular work hours, including evenings, overnight, and weekends, during the approximately 10-week continuous operating season.

Credit and P-Card Policy

Be advised a credit check will be required for all positions with financial responsibilities. For additional information about the credit check criteria, visit the UGA Credit Background Check website.

Background Investigation Policy

Offers of employment are contingent upon completion of a background investigation including, a criminal background check demonstrating your eligibility for employment with the University of Georgia; confirmation of the credentials and employment history reflected in your application materials (including reference checks) as they relate to the job-based requirements of the position applied for; and, if applicable, a satisfactory credit check. You may also be subject to a pre-employment drug test for positions with high-risk responsibilities, if applicable. Please visit the UGA Background Check website.

Duties / Responsibilities – 45%

• Administer and continuously develop the year-round youth programming portfolio (in excess of 60 individual programs) offered by the Georgia Center for Continuing Education, including summer camps, academic competitions, and new program initiatives. Exercise independent judgment to plan, execute, and evaluate all aspects of program delivery to ensure consistent quality, financial sustainability, and alignment with the University's mission.
• Direct year-round operational management of youth programs in partnership with the youth program coordinator, setting priorities, managing timelines, and ensuring program-wide standards for enrollment, logistics, compliance, and participant experience are met and exceeded.
• Proactively identify, cultivate, and formalize strategic partnerships, sponsored works, grants, and collaborative agreements with University colleges, departments, and external organizations to expand program offerings, diversify funding streams, and strengthen the impact of youth programming initiatives.
• Develop, manage, and monitor an annual program revenue budget exceeding $900,000, including projecting enrollment targets, setting program pricing, controlling expenditures, and producing financial reports to inform strategic planning and ensure the long-term viability of the youth programs portfolio.

Duties / Responsibilities – 40%

• Recruit, hire, onboard, supervise, and evaluate the full staffing structure required to deliver the youth programs portfolio. Recruiting is conducted year-round to build multiple distinct teams: instructional staff, program staff, administrative staff, overnight camp staff, and full-time program managers, each hired against different qualification standards and deployed across separate programs and disciplines.
• Provide direct supervision, performance evaluation, and professional development for full-time youth program staff and part-time staff (as needed), and exercise hiring and oversight authority over multiple distinct teams of seasonal instructors, temporary employees, and contract staff hired to support program execution.
• Direct the full staffing complement for approximately six months of each year, including staff supervision across continuous 24-hour, six-day-per-week operations during the approximately 10-week peak operating season. Establish coverage plans, staffing ratios, on-call and escalation procedures, and response protocols for incidents occurring outside standard business hours.
• Manage all aspects of the employee lifecycle, including recruitment, hiring, onboarding, training, scheduling, goal-setting, performance management, and corrective action as needed.
• Oversee the staffing complement required to deliver the portfolio, which includes two full-time program managers (the Director of Summer Academy and the Program Manager for the Office of Academic Special Programs) and an estimated 35-45 seasonal student, instructional, and overnight staff hired each summer for Summer Academy, including approximately 15 overnight counselors, two head counselors, and a residential supervisor. Staffing needs scale with program size, from a minimum of two staff members for each of the more than 60 summer camps serving more than 1,300 Summer Academy participants, to the full 20+ person Continuing Education division mobilized to support the Georgia Science and Engineering Fair, which serves more than 700 students.
• Approve time and attendance records and pay requests for all youth program staff, and manage staff scheduling to control labor costs and overtime. Build schedules that balance 24-hour residential coverage and required staffing ratios with efficient use of staff hours, monitor hours worked against program budgets, and coordinate with Georgia Center business and human resources staff to ensure accurate and timely payment of seasonal and part-time employees, an estimated 35-45 of whom are hired each summer for Summer Academy.
• Develop and deliver staff training and hold all staff accountable for youth safety, child protection, mandated reporting, and University policy standards for programs serving approximately 2,000 minors annually.

Duties / Responsibilities – 10%

Design and implement a comprehensive program evaluation framework to measure youth program effectiveness, participant outcomes, and organizational impact. Actively identify opportunities to disseminate findings through scholarship, conference presentations, and university publications to elevate the visibility and credibility of the Georgia Center's youth programs.

Duties / Responsibilities – 5%

Contribute to and advance the strategic planning and institutional initiatives of the Georgia Center for Continuing Education and the University of Georgia, representing youth programs in cross-departmental planning efforts, serving on relevant committees, and aligning program development with the broader mission and priorities of the institution.