Teen Leadership Programs Director

Ymc; Bellingham (WA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Whatcom Family YMCA seeks a dynamic Teen Programs Director to lead a growing portfolio of teen-focused programs across Whatcom County. You will foster youth leadership, civic engagement, and partnerships with schools and community organizations while guiding program design and staff development.

You will manage budgets, track outcomes, and ensure safety and inclusivity, collaborating with funders and families to expand access and impact for tweens and teens.

Qualifications

• Must be 21 years of age minimum to drive a YMCA-owned vehicle.
• Minimum of 3 years of experience in youth development, teen programming, education, community engagement, or a related field, with demonstrated experience leading programs and partnerships.
• Bachelor’s degree in Youth Development, Education, Recreation, Social Services, or equivalent education and experience.
• Two years or more of supervisory or team-leadership experience, including coaching and developing staff and/or volunteers.
• Demonstrated ability to build authentic relationships with teens, engage them as partners and leaders, and apply positive youth development principles.
• Experience developing and stewarding partnerships with schools, community organizations, funders, or other youth-serving partners is strongly preferred.
• Experience with grant-funded programs, including implementation, tracking requirements, data collection, outcome reporting, and/or grant stewardship preferred.
• Ability to develop and manage budgets, analyze participation and outcome data, and manage multiple projects and deadlines effectively.
• Strong communication, facilitation, presentation, and relationship-building skills with teens and adults are essential.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule, including occasional evenings, weekends, community events, and program activities based on program and partnership needs.
• Ability to relate effectively to diverse groups of people from all social and economic segments of the community; commitment to inclusion and ADA compliance.
• Completion of Child Abuse Prevention upon hire, and within 30 days of hire, CPR, First Aid, AED, and Bloodborne Pathogens training.
• Legal ability to drive in WA State with a good driving history.
• Completion of YMCA program-specific training and Youth & Government training as required.

Responsibilities

• Lead and grow exciting programs for tweens and teens, including Youth & Government, Youth Institute, Teen Drop-In, Teen Late Nights, and summer camps.
• Serve as the primary leader for Youth & Government, helping teens discover their voice through civic engagement, leadership development, and hands-on learning experiences.
• Develop innovative programs that reflect the interests, needs, and strengths of young people in our community.
• Give teens a seat at the table by involving them in program planning, decision-making, and leadership opportunities.
• Evaluate programs and use participant feedback to make experiences even better.
• Develop meaningful relationships with schools, community organizations, youth-serving agencies, civic leaders, and local partners.
• Represent the YMCA throughout Whatcom County, building awareness of our teen programs and creating new opportunities for collaboration.
• Connect with families, funders, and community partners to expand access and remove barriers to participation.
• Identify opportunities for grants, sponsorships, and partnerships that help our programs grow and thrive.
• Lead and Inspire an Amazing Team by recruiting, coaching, mentoring, and supporting staff and volunteers.
• Provide leadership and direction to staff responsible for delivering high-quality programs and experiences.
• Model the YMCA's core values of caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility in everything you do.
• Oversee program budgets, resources, and operations to ensure long-term success.
• Manage grant-funded programs, including tracking outcomes, meeting reporting requirements, and demonstrating community impact.
• Use participation data and feedback to celebrate successes, identify opportunities, and guide future programming.
• Collaborate with YMCA leadership, development staff, and community partners to strengthen and expand teen programming.
• Ensure programs are safe, inclusive, and aligned with YMCA standards, youth protection policies, and applicable regulations.

Skills

Leadership

Relationship building

Communication

Budget management

Program development

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Youth Development, Education, Recreation, Social Services, or equivalent

Job description

Whatcom Family YMCA seeks a dynamic Teen Programs Director to lead a growing portfolio of teen-focused programs across Whatcom County. You will foster youth leadership, civic engagement, and partnerships with schools and community organizations while guiding program design and staff development.

You will manage budgets, track outcomes, and ensure safety and inclusivity, collaborating with funders and families to expand access and impact for tweens and teens.