Senior Director, Youth Development

YMCA; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

The YMCA seeks a Senior Youth Development Director to lead the Out-of-School Time department, overseeing program portfolios, grant initiatives, and community partnerships. You will manage licensed childcare directors, ensure compliance, and drive program quality and measurable outcomes for youth and families.

Applicants should have a relevant master's degree, 5+ years of leadership in youth development or nonprofit settings, and strong collaboration with school districts and agencies.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required.
• Master's Degree in Education or related field preferred.
• Five years of progressively responsible leadership experience in youth development or nonprofit settings.
• Three years supervising managers or licensed program directors.
• Experience managing grant-funded programs and reporting requirements preferred.
• Experience working with school districts, government agencies, and community partners preferred.
• Financial acumen to interpret key financial indicators for business decisions.
• Organizational savvy to navigate policy and people dynamics.
• Ability to hold self and others accountable to commitments.
• Strong collaboration to meet shared objectives.
• Clear communication across audiences in written and verbal form.
• Fosters belonging and inclusive teamwork.
• Problem-solving with proactive action.
• Plan and align work with organizational goals.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for the Out-of-School Time department and oversee multiple program portfolios and partnerships.
• Lead licensed childcare directors and ensure operational excellence and grant/regulatory compliance.
• Serve as primary liaison for school districts, funding agencies, and community partners to expand impact.
• Drive program quality and measurable outcomes for youth and families.
• Manage budgeting, reporting, and accountability across programs.

Skills

Leadership

Grant management

Stakeholder engagement

Communication

Strategic planning

Financial acumen

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Master's Degree in Education/Leadership

Job description

Why Your Role Matters

The Senior Youth Development Director serves as a key strategic leader within the Out-of-School Time department, providing oversight for multiple program portfolios, grant-funded initiatives, special projects, and community partnerships. This position ensures the successful implementation, growth, and sustainability of programs while advancing the YMCA's mission to strengthen youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. The Senior Youth Development Director is responsible for leading a team of licensed childcare directors, ensuring operational excellence across assigned programs, maintaining compliance with grant and regulatory requirements, and serving as the primary liaison for school districts, funding agencies, community partners, and organizational stakeholders.

Through strong leadership, relationship management, and strategic planning, this role drives program quality, expands community impact, and ensures measurable outcomes for youth and families.

What You Bring to the Y

• Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university required.
• Master's Degree in Education, Educational Leadership, Public Administration, Nonprofit Management, Child
• Development, Youth Development, or a related field preferred.
• Minimum of five years of progressively responsible leadership experience in youth development, education, childcare, afterschool programming, or nonprofit management.
• Minimum of three years supervising managers or licensed program directors.
• Experience managing grant-funded programs and reporting requirements strongly preferred.
• Experience working with school districts, government agencies, and community partners preferred.
• Financial acumen: Interpreting and applying understanding of key financial indicators to make better business decisions.
• Organizational savvy: Maneuver comfortably through complex policy, process, and people-related organizational dynamics.
• Ensure Accountability: Hold yourself and others accountable to meet commitments.
• Collaborate: Build partnerships and work collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives.
• Communicate Effectively: Clearly convey ideas, instructions, and information in both verbal and written forms, adjusting messaging to suit different audiences and ensuring understanding.
• Foster Belonging: Recognize the value that different perspectives and cultures bring to an organization.
• Problem Solving:Assess situations, solve problems, andtake action.
• Build Effective & Inclusive Teams: Build strong identity teams that apply their diverse skills and perspectives to achieve common goals.
• Plan & Align: Plan and prioritize work to meet commitments aligned with organizational goals.
  

Certifications

• Must meet Texas Health and Human Services Child Care Licensing qualifications for Program Director certification.
• CPR and First Aid Certification required or obtained upon hire.
• Valid driver's license and reliable transportation required.
  

Physical Requirements:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, stand, walk, bend, talk and occasionally lift and/or move items including equipment, furniture and/or children. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.