Part Time Assistant Director (PS 136 Roy Wilkins Elementary)

Police Athletic League, Inc.; New York (NY); On-site; USD 35,817 - 38,572; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Flexible spending account

Employee assistance program

Tuition reimbursement

Pet insurance

Life insurance

Retirement savings options

Paid time off

Additional training

Job summary

The Police Athletic League (PAL) of New York City seeks an Assistant Director to elevate out-of-school programming inside NYC public schools and PAL Centers, serving youth from elementary through high school in SEL, STEM, literacy, sports, arts, mental health, and college-career access.

Reporting to the Program Director, you will lead afterschool operations, supervise staff, ensure safety and compliance, and collaborate with partners across the five boroughs to create engaging, inclusive

Qualifications

• Associate’s in child development, education, physical education or recreation (or related) with two years of direct youth work under 13, or NYS Children’s Program Administrator Credential with two years of experience, or SACC Credential with two years of experience, or two years in college with 18 credits in these fields plus current youth experience.
• Minimum of 2 years of demonstrated experience providing youth services, including program management and staff supervision, with at least 3 years in a leadership capacity.
• Demonstrated skills in program planning, implementation, or evaluation.
• Open to learning and growing; all staff will learn mental health, SEL, and special needs inclusion skills and be expected to integrate them.
• Knowledge of DYCD Connect preferred; Microsoft Office skills required.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills; ability to work collaboratively. Bilingual in Spanish, French, or Chinese preferred.
• Ability to travel to any PAL location in the five boroughs for training.
• Work schedule: Monday–Friday, 1:00–6:00 p.m., with weekends and nights as needed.

Responsibilities

• Foster social and emotional competencies and mental and physical well‑being in a safe, welcoming, inclusive, and nurturing environment.
• Manage all aspects of PAL School Afterschool Programming, including mental health support, inclusion coordination, and resources for youth with special or mental health needs.
• Recruit, hire, supervise, and support all part‑time Group Leaders and Activity Specialists.
• Ensure program alignment with PAL strategic objectives, policies, the agency calendar, SACC regulations, and contractual obligations of government and private funding, including fire safety certification.
• Develop a strong youth‑development culture, training, observing, and coaching staff to implement SEL, mental health, and inclusion policies.
• Coordinate with the Director, Regional Director, SYEP Director, and Headquarters staff to create creative programming unique to the site.
• Collect, analyze, and use program data to recommend improvements.
• Maintain strong reciprocal partnerships with NYPD, NYCPS, DYCD, DOH, and other community partners aligned with PAL’s mission.
• Plan and coordinate citywide programs, activities, and special events.
• Provide mediation and troubleshooting for on‑site issues.
• Respond to time‑sensitive mental health needs such as suicide prevention, grief, and loss due to death or incarceration of a family member.

Skills

Staff supervision

Program management

Leadership

Communication

Bilingual preference

Education

Associate degree in child development/education/PE

NYS Children’s Program Administrator Credential or SACC Credential

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Assistant Director

The Police Athletic League (PAL) of New York City is an independent youth development non‑profit organization that has served as a vital bridge between police and communities across all five boroughs since 1914. PAL runs programs for children as young as 2 to young adults, including Head Start, after‑school programs, summer day camps, evening teen centers, college readiness, youth employment, and juvenile justice initiatives. A cornerstone of PAL’s strategy is competitive and recreational sports for all ages.

In its 110th year, PAL is reimagining its leadership structure to remain flexible, strategic, responsive, and efficient. The Assistant Director will elevate our out‑of‑school programming embedded within New York City public schools or PAL Centers, serving elementary through high‑school youth in SEL, STEM, literacy, sports, arts, mental health, and college‑career access programming. This position reports directly to the Program Director.

Responsibilities

• Foster social and emotional competencies and mental and physical well‑being in a safe, welcoming, inclusive, and nurturing environment.
• Manage all aspects of PAL School Afterschool Programming, including mental health support, inclusion coordination, and resources for youth with special or mental health needs.
• Recruit, hire, supervise, and support all part‑time Group Leaders and Activity Specialists.
• Ensure program alignment with PAL strategic objectives, policies, the agency calendar, SACC regulations, and contractual obligations of government and private funding, including fire safety certification.
• Develop a strong youth‑development culture, training, observing, and coaching staff to implement SEL, mental health, and inclusion policies.
• Coordinate with the Director, Regional Director, SYEP Director, and Headquarters staff to create creative programming unique to the site.
• Collect, analyze, and use program data to recommend improvements.
• Maintain strong reciprocal partnerships with NYPD, NYCPS, DYCD, DOH, and other community partners aligned with PAL’s mission.
• Plan and coordinate citywide programs, activities, and special events.
• Provide mediation and troubleshooting for on‑site issues.
• Respond to time‑sensitive mental health needs such as suicide prevention, grief, and loss due to death or incarceration of a family member.

Qualifications

• Associate’s in child development, education, physical education or recreation (or related) with two years of direct youth work under 13, or NYS Children’s Program Administrator Credential with two years of experience, or SACC Credential with two years of experience, or two years in college with 18 credits in these fields plus current youth experience.
• Minimum of 2 years of demonstrated experience providing youth services, including program management and staff supervision, with at least 3 years in a leadership capacity.
• Demonstrated skills in program planning, implementation, or evaluation.
• Open to learning and growing; all staff will learn mental health, SEL, and special needs inclusion skills and be expected to integrate them.
• Knowledge of DYCD Connect preferred; Microsoft Office skills required.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills; ability to work collaboratively. Bilingual in Spanish, French, or Chinese preferred.
• Ability to travel to any PAL location in the five boroughs for training.
• Work schedule: Monday–Friday, 1:00–6:00 p.m., with weekends and nights as needed.

Compensation

$26.37 – $27.47 per hour, commensurate with experience and credentials.

Benefits

PAL offers health insurance, flexible spending account options, an employee assistance program, tuition reimbursement, pet insurance, life insurance, retirement savings options, generous paid time off, and additional training.

Location

PS 136 Roy Wilkins Elementary School – 201‑15 115 Avenue, Queens, NY 11412

Start Date

August 3rd, 2026

EEO Statement

The Police Athletic League is an inclusive equal‑opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment free from discrimination and harassment based on any legally protected characteristic, including sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.

Employment with PAL is contingent upon successful completion of all Agency lawful pre‑employment checks, which may include a background check.