Program Director

Children's Aid; New York (NY); On-site; USD 66,000 - 68,000; Full time

Job summary

Children's Aid seeks a Program Director for the Salome Ureña Campus to supervise SONYC, 21st CCLC, I Challenge My?, ExpandED, summer camps, and other programs. The role supports the Community School strategy and strives to remove barriers to youth aspirations through social-emotional, academic, family, and wellness services.

The position manages daily operations, ensures program outcomes, and collaborates with partners to deliver high-quality after-school experiences for middle-school youth in

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work, Education, Public Administration or related field.
• 3-5 Years of experience working with youth and/or families in fast-paced community-based programs; after-school programs preferred.
• Ability to communicate fluently with Spanish speaking children and families
• Demonstrated commitment to working with middle-school-aged youth living in underserved communities

Responsibilities

• Design, plan, and implement quality, innovative programming supporting educational and social-emotional needs.
• Coordinate with education coordinators to align day-school learning with after-school literacy.
• Supervise after-school, holiday and summer camp programs and staff.
• Meet outcomes set by DYCD/DOE/ExpandED/ICM and ensure alignment with program goals.
• Develop recruitment, enrollment, and participation strategies; manage confidential files.

Skills

Youth development

Program management

Stakeholder engagement

Bilingual English/Spanish

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Social Work, Education, Public Administration or related field

Job description

Position Summary

The Program Director role is located at our Salome Ureña Campus site and is responsible for the management and supervision of SONYC, 21st CCLC, I Challenge My? , ExpandED, summer camp, and holiday programs; as well as support the Community School strategy. We are committed to ensuring that there are no boundaries to young people’s aspirations, no limits to their potential. We do this by implementing the agency mission, goals and objectives. We aim to cultivate a strong foundation for success in all of our participants and the community through innovative and effective social-emotional, academic, family, and wellness services.

Salary

$66,300 - $68,000 yearly

Children’s Aid Mission

To help children in poverty to succeed and thrive. We do this by providing comprehensive support to children and their families in targeted high-needs New York City neighborhoods. Children’s Aid annually serves children and their families at over 40 sites in New York, as well as through three national program models. Children’s Aid is concentrating its efforts on creating cradle-through-college pathways in high-need neighborhoods, with a focus on children’s health, family stability, education, and social and emotional development.

Culture and Values

We put children, youth, and families first: We listen to and incorporate the voices of children, youth and families in all that we do.

We seek equity and transformation in our communities: We courageously work within and outside systems to create opportunities for children, youth and families.

We strive for excellence: We hold ourselves to the highest standards and are committed to continuous learning and improvement.

We are powered by collaboration: Our work is stronger when we trust, partner, and respect each other and the communities we serve.

We are driven by compassion: We lead with kindness, care, and empathy and believe in the endless potential of the people we serve and our team.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

Program Management

• Design, plan, and implement quality, innovative programming that employs youth development principles and practices, which supports their educational and social emotional needs, and builds leadership skills.
• Work closely with the program’s education coordinator to ensure that day-school learning aligns with the after-school literacy component.
• Oversees the behavioral management of children to ensure a healthy social-emotional development.
• Responsible for the management and supervision of the after-school, holiday and summer camp, as well as other special programs in collaboration with community school partners.
• Meet all Youth Division outcomes and objectives as well as contractual mandates set by DYCD, DOE, ExpandED Schools, and ICM.
• Ensure that the goals for all program components align with the Division’s extended day program outcomes related to education, STEM, social-emotional learning & executive functioning, nutrition & fitness, arts & enrichment, youth leadership and family engagement.
• Responsible for developing and implementing strategies that will lead to achieving program outcomes, including youth recruitment, enrollment and rate of participation.
• Supervise the day-to-day functions of the program.
• Responsible for the supervision of Summer Youth Employment Program participants.
• Obtain all related licenses required to operate after-school and summer camp programs.
• Create, organize and maintain confidential client & staff files.
• Recruit, interview, hire, supervise and evaluate extended day and summer camp staff.
• Model appropriate child, youth and adult development practices, and address behavior concerns as needed.
• Coordinate and facilitate case conferences as needed.

Communications

• Develop and implement a strategic recruitment plan to ensure compliance of enrollment and rate of participation timeframes with SONYC, Office of Community Schools, ExpandED Schools and I Challenge My? (ICM).
• Build, maintain and nurture relationship with school administration, teachers and guidance to create alignment between the school day and afterschool program.
• Establish recruitment efforts to engage, enroll and sustain youth participation in SONYC, 21st CCLC, ExpandED and ICM programs.
• Develop relationships with parents through parent involvement strategies and regular communication.
• Work collaboratively with other agency youth programs and community partners.
• Establish and maintain strategic partnerships between COMPASS program and relevant community groups, school administrators, public officials, funders, parents and other critical stakeholders.
• Represent organization to community boards, other institutions, agencies, and organizations.

Scheduling

• Plan and schedule educational and fun trips to expose youth to new experiences that foster learning and academic success.
• Create a calendar for staff development workshops, orientations, meetings and trainings on educational enrichment initiatives for Children’s Aid After-School programs.
• Organize and implement program calendar, events, workshops, and community service projects based on educational themes and project-based learning activities and events.

Outcomes / Data

• Perform data input, review and analyze data for trends, gaps in services and continuous improvement.
• Participate in weekly and monthly outcomes / data meetings.
• Complete any and all monthly and quarterly reports for the organization, partners, and funders including incident and accident reports.
• Complete and submit weekly schedules, reports and all other required documentation.

Special Projects

• All other duties as required, assigned and necessary to carry out job functions as needed under the direction of the Community School Director.

In addition to the points above, the setting of the Community School brings together many programs, professions, para-professionals, community groups, and families in an effort to integrate services. This creates a highly interactive setting where staff needs to look beyond the scope of their individual programs and recognize their membership in the larger community. All staff must be ready to work collaboratively in partnership with others working to promote the vision and mission of the community school.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work, Education, Public Administration or related field; preferred.
• 3-5 Years of experience working with youth and /or families in in a fast-paced community-based programs; after-school programs preferred.

Key Competencies

• Ability to communicate fluently with Spanish speaking children and families
• Demonstrated commitment to working with middle-school-aged youth living in underserved communities
• Supervisory skills & experience
• Knowledge of youth development principles
• Crisis management skills
• Flexible & able to adapt to emerging changes
• Ability to interface with diverse youth and staff populations
• Excellent communication skills (written & verbal)
• Fluent in English and Spanish preferred
• Working Knowledge of the computer system & data base operations
• Capacity to work as a team member
• Ability to travel
• Ability to work days, evenings, weekends and holidays
• Flexible to working hours
• Enthusiasm to work with middle school youth, creativity, initiative, a sense of humor and a sense of urgency

It is the policy of Children's Aid to provide equal employment opportunity to all employees and applicants for employment and is dedicated to maintaining a work environment that is free from harassment and discrimination. Children's Aid will not tolerate discrimination, harassment, or retaliation on any basis, including race, creed, color, national origin, ethnicity, alienage or citizenship status, gender/sex (including pregnancy), disability, religion, source of income, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, familial status, caregiver status, military status, marital or partnership status, status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual violence or stalking, predisposing genetic characteristics, arrest or conviction record, credit history, unemployment status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. Children’s Aid is committed to complying with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Children’s Aid will conduct a prompt and thorough investigation of all allegations of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or any violation of the Equal Employment Opportunity Policy in a confidential manner and will take appropriate corrective action, if and where warranted. Children’s Aid prohibits retaliation against employees who provide information about, complain about, or assist in the investigation of any complaint of discrimination or violation of the Equal Employment Opportunity Policy.

The incumbent is expected to work a schedule, whether in-person or hybrid, as determined by the department's needs to facilitate effective collaboration with the team. This flexibility is essential for maintaining seamless communication, fostering teamwork, and ensuring the smooth operation of the department's processes. The position's requirements are subject to periodic review and adjustment based on organizational needs and changes in work dynamics.