School Site Director

Boys and Girls Club of Garfield; Garfield (NJ); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

The Blue Door Academy site Director is the chief mission officer of an assigned site, owning site performance by driving youth enrollment, shaping culture, and serving as the primary relationship holder with school partners and families.

This owner-operator role is accountable for results, the community's trust, and building a site that reflects the highest standards of Blue Door Academy. It demands entrepreneurial leadership, urgency, and professional execution with personal stake in success.

Qualifications

• Associates or Bachelor's Degree in Education or related field or licensing requirements for program lead.
• 2-3 years of professional experience in youth development, education, or human services.
• At least 1 year of supervisory experience managing a professional team.
• Experience managing program budgets and operational compliance.
• Preferred: prior BGCA or similar youth-serving organization experience.

Responsibilities

• Direct daily site operations in line with Blue Door Academy standards and BGCA programs.
• Maintain a safe, structured environment supporting positive youth development.
• Track attendance and outcomes; use data to drive improvements.
• Ensure compliance with licensing, regulatory, and organizational standards.
• Recruit, hire, supervise, coach, and evaluate site staff.
• Lead staff meetings and provide ongoing training and development.
• Manage site budget, expenditures, and financial reporting.
• Grow enrollment and actively engage families and schools.
• Build relationships with families, principals, and teachers; represent the site in the community.
• Maintain safety protocols, incident reporting, and records.

Skills

Verbal communication

Written communication

Stakeholder engagement

MS Office Suite

Data management

Multitasking / prioritization

Cultural competence / equity

Education

Associate or Bachelor's Degree in Education, Human Services, Nonprofit Management, Youth Development

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Program data management tools

Job description

Job Summary:

The Club/Site Director is the chief mission officer of an assigned Blue Door Academy sites. This leader owns the full performance of the sites — driving youth enrollment, building the culture, and serving as the primary relationship holder with school partners and families. This is not a manager who executes someone else\'s vision. The Club/Site Director is an owner-operator: accountable for results, responsible for the community\'s trust, and empowered to build a site that reflects the highest standards of Blue Door Academy.

While this role carries all the operational responsibilities of a Club Director, the Blue Door Academy model holds this position to a higher standard of entrepreneurial leadership, community presence, and growth accountability. The Club/Site Director is expected to treat this site as their own — with the professionalism, urgency, and pride of someone who has a personal stake in its success.

Key Responsibilities

Program Operations

• Direct daily site operations in alignment with Blue Door Academy standards and BGCA\'s core program areas.
• Maintain a safe, structured, and engaging environment that supports positive youth development outcomes.
• Track attendance, program participation, and member outcome data; use data to drive continuous improvement.
• Ensure full compliance with all applicable licensing, regulatory, and organizational standards.

Staff Leadership & Development

• Recruit, hire, supervise, coach, and evaluate all site-level staff.
• Set clear performance expectations; hold staff accountable through regular feedback and formal evaluations.
• Facilitate weekly staff meetings and provide ongoing training and professional development.
• Maintain staff schedules that meet required staff-to-member ratios at all times.

Operations & Fiscal Management

• Manage site budget; monitor expenditures and submit accurate financial reports on schedule.
• Maintain facility safety, cleanliness, and operability; complete daily safety checks.
• Submit all required operational reports including attendance, incidents, and grant documentation.

Membership Growth, School & Family Engagement

• Own the site\'s membership targets — actively recruit youth, monitor daily attendance trends, and implement strategies to grow and retain enrollment.
• Serve as the primary, personal relationship holder with school principals, administrators, and teachers; maintain a visible, consistent presence within the school community.
• Build trusted relationships with families — ensuring parents and caregivers know the Director by name, feel welcomed, and are actively engaged as partners in their child\'s experience.
• Lead parent engagement events, school partnership meetings, and community outreach initiatives.
• Represent Blue Door Academy in the broader community; position the site as a recognized and valued neighborhood institution.

Safety & Compliance

• Implement and enforce all organizational policies, safety protocols, and emergency procedures.
• Serve as a Mandated Reporter; report suspected abuse or maltreatment as required by law.
• Maintain accurate and confidential staff and member records.

Qualifications

Education

• Required: Associates or Bachelor\'s Degree in Education, Human Services, Nonprofit Management, Youth Development, or a related field or completion of state licensing requirements for program lead preferred.

Experience

• Minimum 2-3 years of professional experience in youth development, education, or human services.
• Minimum 1 year of supervisory experience managing a professional team.
• Experience managing program budgets and operational compliance requirements.
• Preferred: Prior experience with Boys & Girls Clubs of America or a comparable youth-serving organization.

Required Certifications & Clearances

• CPR/First Aid certification (required within 30 to 60 days of hire; see Site Addendum).
• Mandated Reporter training completion prior to or within 30 days of hire.
• Successful completion of all required background checks, fingerprinting, and state clearances.
• Valid driver\'s license where applicable. Additional site-specific requirements listed in the Localization Addendum.

Skills & Abilities

• Strong verbal and written communication skills; ability to engage diverse stakeholders.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and program data management tools.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities with accuracy and follow-through.
• Cultural competence and demonstrated commitment to equity, inclusion, and belonging.