Sports & Leadership Program Instructor

Gary Comer Youth Center; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 24,000 - 34,000; Full time

Job summary

The Gary Comer Youth Center in Chicago, IL offers an opportunity to coordinate and deliver year-round youth sports and enrichment programs for 11–18 year olds. You will mentor participants, integrate SEL across activities, and ensure inclusive, engaging lessons aligned with PYD principles.

Responsibilities include data entry, grant compliance tasks, coordinating events, and collaborating with staff to achieve attendance and enrollment targets. CPR/First Aid certification is preferred.

Qualifications

• Minimum 2 years of experience in youth development or after-school programming.
• Ability to teach multiple sports and physical activities.
• Strong understanding of Positive Youth Development (PYD) and SEL frameworks.
• Excellent organizational, time management, and follow-through skills.
• CPR/First Aid certification preferred (or willingness to obtain).

Responsibilities

• Plan, implement, and facilitate sports and recreation programming year-round.
• Use sports as a platform to teach leadership, self-regulation, teamwork, communication, accountability, and resilience.
• Integrate social-emotional learning (SEL) and positive youth development principles into all activities.
• Serve as a mentor and positive role model, building strong, trusting relationships with youth ages 11–18.
• Create inclusive, engaging, and age-appropriate lessons that meet youth at varying skill and ability levels.
• Manage groups using strengths-based behavior guidance and conflict resolution strategies.
• Foster consistent youth participation and support recruitment and retention goals (target ADA >= 80%).
• Maintain accurate attendance records, participant documentation, and data entry in required systems for grant and program compliance.
• Draft and submit program reports, statistics, assessments, and narratives as required.
• Support program marketing and communication, including flyers, newsletters, announcements, and outreach materials.
• Maintain sports equipment and supply inventory, ensuring materials are safe, organized, and available.
• Collect, organize, and submit permission slips, waivers, and required compliance paperwork.
• Support operational needs, including room setup, cleanup, supervision transitions, and adherence to schedules.
• Participate in required staff meetings, trainings, and professional development.
• Follow all GCYC policies, procedures, safety guidelines, and employee handbook expectations.

Skills

Youth development

Positive PYD

SEL integration

Coaching

Data entry

Organization

Communication

Mentorship

Tools

Salesforce

Job description

Job Details

Job Location: Chicago , IL 60619 Salary Range: $21.00 - $21.00 Hourly

Program Operations

• Contributes to the organization and implementation of special activities/events and out of school time camps (e.g. winter break)
• Keeps abreast of current best practices, research, and trends in youth development and education to contribute to the development of staff and advancement of organizational practices
• Responsible for managing and executing deliverables and compliance for grants assigned
• Plans and implements programming in accordance with overall organizational goals, methods and objectives (e.g. Quality Program Outline, Daily Program Plan, etc.). Utilizing and creating evidence-based and researched curriculum, lesson plans, and educational materials
• Manages classroom through positive youth development practices
• Ensures the timely and accurate entry of data into internal data systems (e.g. Salesforce)
• Responsible for special projects assigned by direct supervisor, the Center Director, or Executive Director.
• Recruits and retains youth to programs in their program area to ensure 100% enrollment and 80% average daily attendance
• Ensures program delivery is equitable for all members – considering all age groups, genders, races, abilities and sexual orientations feel welcomed, supported, represented, and have access to all programs and services

Essential Functions & Responsibilities

• Plan, implement, and facilitate sports and recreation programming year-round, including but not limited to basketball, football, soccer, volleyball, fitness, conditioning, and teambased activities.
• Use sports as a platform to teach leadership, self-regulation, teamwork, communication, accountability, and resilience.
• Integrate social-emotional learning (SEL) and positive youth development principles into all activities.
• Serve as a mentor and positive role model, building strong, trusting relationships with youth ages 11–18.
• Create inclusive, engaging, and age-appropriate lessons that meet youth at varying skill and ability levels.
• Manage groups using strengths-based behavior guidance and conflict resolution strategies.
• Foster consistent youth participation and support recruitment and retention goals (target ADA >= 80%).

Program Administration, Compliance & Operations

• Maintain accurate attendance records, participant documentation, and data entry in required systems for grant and program compliance.
• Draft and submit program reports, statistics, assessments, and narratives as required.
• Support program marketing and communication, including flyers, newsletters, announcements, and outreach materials.
• Maintain sports equipment and supply inventory, ensuring materials are safe, organized, and available.
• Collect, organize, and submit permission slips, waivers, and required compliance paperwork.
• Support operational needs, including room setup, cleanup, supervision transitions, and adherence to schedules.
• Participate in required staff meetings, trainings, and professional development.
• Follow all GCYC policies, procedures, safety guidelines, and employee handbook expectations.

Collaboration & Community Engagement

• Work collaboratively with all staff and partners
• Support cross-department collaboration for specialty programming, events, and camps.
• Assist with community outreach, school engagement, and family communication as needed.
• Seek out and maintain mission-aligned partnerships that enhance youth sports, leadership, and enrichment opportunities.

Qualifications

• Minimum 2 years of experience in youth development, after-school programming, coaching, or recreation.
• Demonstrated ability to teach and facilitate multiple sports and physical activities.
• Strong understanding of positive youth development (PYD) and SEL frameworks.
• Excellent organizational, time management, and follow-through skills.
• Comfortable balancing direct youth engagement with administrative responsibilities.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment, manage groups independently, and respond to youth needs appropriately.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• CPR/First Aid certification preferred (or willingness to obtain).

Core Competencies

• Youth-centered, culturally responsive, and equity-minded practice
• Strong relationship-building and mentorship skills
• Reliable, detail-oriented, and compliance-focused
• Adaptable, energetic, and solution-oriented
• Comfortable leading while also taking direction
• Data-informed and outcomes-focused

Physical & Work Environment Requirements

• Ability to lift up to 25 pounds.
• Physically capable of running, jumping, and engaging in active play for 3+ hours.
• Ability to work indoors and outdoors in varying weather conditions.
• Ability to stand, walk, and supervise youth during events and field trips.
• Comfort traveling with youth via buses, vans, and public transportation.
• Flexible schedule for evenings, weekends, and school break

Culture/Values:

• Embrace/demonstrate the values of the Comer Education Campus:
  • Youth Power
  • Innovation
  • Wellbeing
  • Community Commitment
  • Equity and Inclusion
  • Joy
• Contribute to and maintain a productive and engaging work environment where employees feel safe, comfortable, engaged, and capable of being successful.
• Believes in continual improvement and has high expectations of themselves and their colleagues
• Intentionally and continuously strives to promote a culture that values and strengthens diversity and inclusion.

Organizational Leadership:

• Seek out partnerships and relationships that will create deeper, more relevant, and more impactful experiences for members

Core Competencies

• Youth-centered, culturally responsive, and equity-minded practice
• Strong relationship-building and mentorship skills
• Reliable, detail-oriented, and compliance-focused
• Adaptable, energetic, and solution-oriented
• Comfortable leading while also taking direction
• Data-informed and outcomes-focused

Physical Work Requirements & Environment:

The GCYC environment is consistently bustling with youth and community members. The Center’s work is fast paced and varied. Our work is done on site where our youth and families are. Therefore, it is required that team members meet the following requirements:

• Have the ability to lift up to 25 pounds.
• Able to complete administrative work in a shared office space within a youth center.