Youth Leader & Driver - After School Enrichment

Santa Monica Family YMCA; Santa Monica (CA); On-site; USD 22,041 - 38,572; Part time

Job summary

The Santa Monica Family YMCA is seeking a Youth Leader & Driver to provide safe, engaging after-school programming for elementary students and to transport participants between local schools and the YMCA.

Under the supervision of the Youth Development Coordinator, you will supervise youth, lead STEAM and enrichment activities, and ensure safety and positive behavior while serving as a positive role model aligned with the YMCA values.

Qualifications

• Must be at least 21 years of age.
• High school diploma or equivalent required; coursework in education, child development, recreation, or a related field preferred.
• Requires DOJ Live Scan background check as a condition of employment.
• Valid California Class C Driver License with acceptable driving record required.
• CPR/AED and First Aid certification must be from American Red Cross, American Heart Association, or American Safety & Health Institute within 30 days of hire.

Responsibilities

• Safely operate YMCA vehicles to transport participants and staff between local schools, the YMCA, and approved destinations.
• Follow transportation schedules and ensure participants are safely picked up and transported on time.
• Provide active supervision of participants at all times, ensuring safety and well-being.
• Foster a positive, inclusive environment and serve as a positive role model.
• Assist participants with homework and plan age-appropriate STEAM and enrichment activities.
• Maintain attendance, supervise transitions, and ensure participants arrive at activities.

Skills

Communication skills

Organizational skills

Interpersonal skills

Safety supervision

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

DOJ Live Scan background check

CA Driver License (Class C)

CPR/First Aid/ AED certification

Job description

POSITION SUMMARY

Under the supervision of the Youth Development Coordinator, the Youth Leader & Driver is responsible for providing safe, engaging, and supportive programming for elementary-aged students participating in the YMCA's After School Enrichment (ASE) Program. This position serves a dual role by safely transporting participants and staff between local schools and the YMCA while also leading youth programming, supervising participants, and facilitating educational and recreational activities. The Youth Leader & Driver ensures the safety, accountability, and well-being of every participant from school dismissal through program completion while creating a positive, inclusive, and enriching environment that reflects the YMCA's mission and core values.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Safely operate YMCA vehicles to transport participants and staff between local schools, the YMCA, and approved program destinations while complying with all traffic laws, YMCA transportation policies, and vehicle safety procedures.
• Follow daily transportation schedules, maintain awareness of school dismissal times and route changes, communicate transportation updates as needed, and ensure participants are safely picked up and transported on time.
• Promote safe ridership by enforcing YMCA transportation expectations, conducting vehicle safety checks, ensuring proper loading and unloading procedures, and maintaining participant accountability during transportation.
• Build and maintain positive, professional relationships with school administrators, teachers, office staff, crossing guards, and other school personnel to support smooth daily operations and effective communication.
• Provide active supervision of participants at all times, ensuring their safety, well-being, accountability, and adherence to YMCA policies and procedures.
• Foster a positive, inclusive, and engaging environment by building meaningful relationships with youth and serving as a positive role model consistent with the YMCA's core values.
• Assist participants with homework, plan and facilitate age-appropriate STEAM, enrichment, recreational, and outdoor activities that support academic success, creativity, physical activity, and social-emotional development.
• Support daily program operations by maintaining participant attendance and accountability, supervising transitions, and ensuring children safely arrive at scheduled extracurricular activities and program locations.
• Utilize positive behavior guidance strategies to encourage respectful behavior, conflict resolution, and personal responsibility while creating an emotionally safe environment for all participants.
• Maintain safe, clean, and organized program spaces and YMCA vehicles, assist with daily setup and cleanup, and promptly report accidents, injuries, behavioral concerns, vehicle concerns, safety hazards, or incidents according to YMCA procedures.
• Promote YMCA programs, memberships, camps, and other services while providing excellent customer service and maintaining positive communication with families, school staff, coworkers, and supervisors.
• Adhere to all YMCA Child Abuse Prevention policies and procedures, including maintaining appropriate supervision, professional boundaries, visibility, transportation safety standards, and immediately reporting any suspected abuse or policy violations.
• Attend required trainings, staff meetings, defensive driving or transportation trainings, and professional development opportunities, and perform other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Must be at least 21 years of age.
• High school diploma or equivalent required; coursework in education, child development, recreation, or a related field preferred.
• Previous experience working with children, preferably in a before or after school or day camp setting.
• Experience preferred in one or more of the following areas: mentoring, arts & crafts, homework assistance, songs/music, skits, sports, aquatics, recreational games, etc.
• Must successfully pass a California Department of Justice (DOJ) Live Scan fingerprint background check as a condition of employment.
• Valid California Class C Driver License with an acceptable driving record.
• Clean DMV driving record that meets YMCA insurance eligibility requirements.
• Successful completion of a YMCA driver orientation and behind-the-wheel evaluation.
• Experience driving passenger vans or small buses preferred.
• Ability to safely supervise youth while maintaining excellent judgment and professionalism.
• Strong communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills.
• CPR/AED, and First Aid Certification, must include Adult and Child/Infant, obtained within 30 days of hire and must be from one of the following certifying organizations:
• • American Red Cross
  • American Heart Association
  • American Safety & Health Institute

WORK SCHEDULE

• Seasonal Position: This position ends at the end of the 2026-2027 school year
• Monday-Friday: 12:30-6:00pm
• Schedule may change on Holiday Day Camps and early dismissals