Program Coordinator

Youth & Opportunity United, Inc.; Evanston (IL); On-site; USD 42,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

Youth & Opportunity United, Inc. in Evanston is seeking a Program Coordinator to assist the Afterschool Program Manager in managing school sites and ensuring learning outcomes of out-of-school-time standards.

You will help develop and deliver engaging curriculum, coordinate with schools and families, and support youth through project-based learning while fostering positive relationships and collaboration across departments.

Qualifications

• Experience supporting elementary/middle school youth programs.
• Experience coordinating academic, SEL, STEM and arts activities.
• Knowledge of restorative justice in classroom settings.
• Ability to communicate across diverse communities.

Responsibilities

• Assist in developing and delivering high-quality programming.
• Build relationships with schools, families, and community partners.
• Support cross-department collaboration for agency operations.
• Coordinate field trips and youth activities with parental communication.
• Maintain attendance and program data accurately.

Skills

Youth program coordination

Strong communication

Bilingual (preferred)

Restorative practices

Team collaboration

Education

Associate degree

Bachelor's degree preferred

Tools

Google Workspace

Microsoft Office

EdTech tools

Job description

Description

Youth & Opportunity United (Y.O.U.) seeks a Program Coordinator to join a dynamic youth development organization. Reporting to an Afterschool Program Manager, the Program Coordinator assists and collaborates with the Program Manager in the management of the school site and supports the identified learning outcomes of the out-of-school-time standards.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Participates in and assists in the development, implementation, and facilitation of high-quality programming. 50%
• Participates in building and maintaining relationships between learning programs, schools, families, stakeholders, and the wider community. 40%
• Engage in cross-departmental collaboration to support overall agency operation. 10%

Core Functional Responsibilities:

Program Development and Implementation

• Brainstorms, researches, creates, designs, develops, edits curriculum and/or lesson plans or uses off-the-shelf curriculum to implement in programs under the direction of the Program Manager. Modifies or adapts curriculum for differentiation, age appropriateness, inclusivity and aligned to youth interest. Topics can include but are not limited to the areas of social justice, anti-racism, cultural and artistic exploration, health, wellness and physical fitness, STEM/STEAM, Social Emotional learning (including adolescent identity and self-exploration), and academic support.
• Gathers supplies to executive programs including setting up space for readiness
• Facilitates and/or implements lesson plans
• Develop and facilitate small group instruction or tutoring and homework help in a safe and structured environment.
• Engage youth in meaningful project-based learning experiences.
• Build positive relationships with youth that support their success and well-being in and out of school time.
• Provides guidance, suggestions, or recommendations on how youth can build healthy positive relationships with each other, adults, and their families.

Program Coordination

• Assist and support systematic communication by sending information using emails, texts, phonevites as directed by the Program Manager.
• Collaborate with and build positive relationships with school administrators or teachers, caregivers, students, (hosting family nights; participating in caregiver conferences, principal and social worker meetings; attend and participate in community celebrations and student showcases) including but not limited to the support of conversations and discussions with relevant information and data.
• Advocate for youth in programs and make appropriate resource referrals to the Program Manager for families and students.
• Co-create and/or supports the development of visual communications including but not limited to newsletters, multi-media, flyers, etc
• Assists the Program Manager with the recruitment and retention of youth
• Assist in planning and coordinating field trips for youth including but not limited to supervising youth, communication with parents, and gathering waivers and field trip slips
• Develop and maintain professional working relationships with supervisors and colleagues within Y.O.U.
• Engage in one or more Y.O.U. collaborative efforts including but not limited to coordinating Y.O.U.'s annual Martin Luther King Jr. event, Diverse Communities United (DCU), assisting with 5th-6th grade and/or 8th to 9th grade transition curriculum development, coordinating centralized supply operations, volunteering with Community Partner activities, and/or other special interest projects.

Administrative and Data Management

• Maintains accurate, complete, and up-to-date attendance data in AS21 and complete snack data sheets on a weekly basis.
• Enters enrollment information in program databases
• Enters daily attendance numbers in program database
• Ensures timely compliance according to grant funding requirements including but not limited to gathering and submitting documentation, photos, calendars, program schedules, and staffing requirements.
• Participates actively in all organizational, department, and site staff meetings
• Participates either as volunteers or paid attendees at organizational fundraisers or community activities or events.
• Reports harassment or bullying incident reports to the appropriate persons.

Cross Site-Team Responsibilities

• Supervises and facilitates enrichment activities with groups of 15 or more students in a safe, developmentally-appropriate, and structured environment.
• Gathers supplies to execute programs including setting up space for readiness and clean-up space at the end of program
• Facilitates and/or implements lesson plans
• Troubleshoots in real-time during afterschool program including but not limited to receiving feedback and relaying information to the Program Manager and follow up interventions; last minute supplies, space changes, classroom management, classroom behavior, youth conflicts, or youth sickness.
• Submits incident reports to the Program Manager
• Collaborates with the Advancement team regarding Y.O.U.’s annual report.

Requirements

Required Qualifications:

Education

• Associate's degree is required
• Bachelor's degree in education, psychology, sociology, human development or other related fields, preferred.

Experience

• Experience working with elementary or middle school youth in an educational setting, youth development agency, or community-based program.
• Experience supporting and/or coordinating programs or projects including but not limited to academic, social and emotional learning, STEM and art youth enrichment activities. Knowledge and/or experience implementing classroom and behavior management practices such as restorative justice practices
• Knowledge and/or experience with embedding anti-racist framework in program areas like curriculum development, classroom and program culture, and community relationships.
• Strong communication skills with a demonstrated ability to interact with individuals from a wide range of diverse socio-economic and cultural backgrounds.

Preferred Qualifications

• Some familiarity in using technology such as GoogleSuite, Microsoft Office, Apple software,learning tools (Quizzizz, iCivics, EdPuzzle, Khan Academy, FlipGrid, ReadWorks, Kahoot, XtraMath, ST Math, National Geographic Kids, PBS Learning, etc)
• Strong social-emotional intelligence, teamwork, leadership, and technological skills.
• Demonstrated experience using creative and innovative facilitation skills.
• Strong connection to Y.O.U. mission and values.
• Valid Drivers License
• Bilingual, preferably Spanish, Arabic, or Urdu.

Preferred Skills

• Punctuality
• Flexibility
• Self-Reflection
• Time Management
• Problem Solving
• Relationship-Building
• Attention to detail
• Strong Communication (verbal and written)