Youth Development Director

greateraustinyexternal; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

YMCA is seeking a Youth Development Director to lead afterschool and camp programs across multiple sites. You will oversee daily operations, staff supervision, curriculum delivery, and participant experience, while building partnerships with schools and families to expand access and improve outcomes.

The role requires a bachelor’s degree in a related field, 3+ years of childcare leadership, and certifications including HHSC Program Director, CPR/First Aid. Bilingual Spanish/English is preferred.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required in recreation management, education, child development, or related field.
• Minimum 3 years of professional childcare experience, including supervision.
• HHSC Program Director certification required or ability to obtain.
• Bilingual (Spanish/English) strongly preferred.
• Current CPR and First Aid certification or ability to obtain upon hire.
• Required online training: Before & After School Program, Child Abuse Prevention, Appropriate Touch, Bloodborne Pathogens, Listen First, Cause and Culture.

Responsibilities

• Oversees daily program operations across multiple childcare sites, ensuring compliance with state and local regulations.
• Evaluate program quality and ensure curriculum delivery while staff development is supported.
• Ensure paperwork related to programs is accurate and submitted timely.
• Lead recruitment, coaching, and management of direct reports; conduct regular check-ins and provide development opportunities.
• Foster relationships with principals, parents, staff, participants, and licensing representatives.

Skills

Staff management

Program oversight

Communication

Bilingual (Spanish/English)

Education

Bachelor's degree in recreation management, education, child development, or related field

Job description

Why Your Role Matters

The Youth Development Director plays a key role in shaping safe, high-quality afterschool and camp experiences that support the growth, confidence, and well-being of youth in our community. This role ensures programs are delivered with excellence while continuously improving outcomes for participants and families. By building strong relationships with school partners, parents, staff, and community stakeholders, this leader creates a foundation of trust and collaboration that drives program success. Operating with a high level of independence, the Youth Development Director oversees daily operations, including staffing, training, curriculum delivery, and participant experience. In partnership with senior leaders, this role helps align efforts across the organization to expand access, strengthen program quality, and deliver meaningful impact in the lives of youth and the broader community.

How You Will Make an Impact

Performance Achievement & Results

• Hold the team accountable for achieving at high levels to meet strategic goals and objectives.
• Model inclusive leadership behaviors and embrace all dimensions of diversit by building strong teams that apply their diverse skills and perspectives to our mission.
• Responsible for hiring, coaching, and managing all direct reports and ensuring alignment with the association's people practices for all positions within their organizational structure.
• Conduct Check-ins with direct reports to ensure progress with strategic goals, provide ongoing coaching and feedback, and discuss development opportunities.
• Implement a goal-based leadership approach and ensure the department is actively working towards supporting organizational objectives, deliverables, and outcomes.

Program Operations & Compliance

• Oversees daily program operations in at least 9 childcare sites, ensuring that staff adhere to and exceed all state, local, and Y health and safety regulations through daily monitoring of programs.
• Continuously evaluates the quality of assigned programs, ensuring consistent curriculum delivery while identifying opportunities to improve programming and support staff development.
• Ensures program operations are in compliance with childcare regulation standards and Texas Rising Star certification.
• Responsible for ensuring that all program-related paperwork is current, accurate, and submitted in a timely fashion.
• Adhere to policies and procedures in a proactive manner, making the safety and care of children your primary focus.

Program Growth & Participant Engagement

• Oversees summer on-site experiences and coordinates field trip logistics, along with campaign and fundraising efforts.
• Leads recruitment and retention of children enrolled in programs.

Staff Leadership & Development

• Ensure new staff have the necessary support, guidance, and mentoring to fulfill their job responsibilities.
• Proactively identify opportunities to enhance employee development and staff retention.
• Participates in the development and delivery of staff training, including classroom and virtual presentations.
• Monitor and approve weekly schedules and payroll in adherence with program budgets.
• Actively participate in all aspects of staff development, including team meetings, pre-service trainings, and at least an additional 15 hours of training during the school year.

Relationship Management & Collaboration

• Serve as a professional and engaging representative of Y by establishing, developing, and maintaining positive relationships with principals, parents, staff, program participants, and licensing representatives.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues to accomplish collective goals by addressing and resolving concerns, providing follow-up, documentation, and training as needed.
• Complete other duties as assigned.

What You Bring to the Y

• A bachelor’s degree from a four-year college or university is required. A focus on recreation management, education, child development, or a related field is preferred.
• 3 years minimum of Professional childcare experience, including experience supervising others.
• P revious YMCA experience strongly preferred.
• Bilingual (Spanish/English) is strongly preferred.
• The position requires Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) (formerly overseen by TDFPS) Program Director certification.
• Must be or have the ability to become certified according to HHSC standards.
• Current CPR and First Aid certificationor become certified upon hire.
• Required to complete the following online training upon hire: Before & After School Program, Child Abuse Prevention, Appropriate Touch, Bloodborne Pathogens, Foundations of Listen First, and Intro to Cause and Culture.

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.