Youth Program Engagement Specialist

(NYRR) New York Road Runners, Inc.; New York (NY); On-site; USD 72,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading community organization seeks a Youth Program Engagement Specialist to oversee special projects within the Rising New York Road Runners program. Responsibilities include managing communications, handling logistics, and leading engagement initiatives to inspire youth participation in fitness activities. The role requires strong organizational skills, effective communication, and a passion for youth development. Candidates should have at least 3 years of experience, preferably in youth programs, and be proficient in Microsoft Office. The position involves event planning and collaboration with diverse populations.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 3 years of relevant professional experience.
• Background in working with youth and/or families preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead planning and execution of youth program special projects and events.
• Increase in-person engagement opportunities for NYC schools.
• Support data collection and reporting processes.

Skills

Organizational Skills

Communication

Event Planning

Collaboration

Process Improvement

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

About NYRR

New York Road Runners (NYRR) was founded in 1958 when a small group of passionate runners vowed to bring running to the people and has grown from a local running club into the world’s premier community running organization.NYRR’s mission is to help and inspire through running, aiming to empower people of all ages and abilities to improve their health and well-being through the power of running and fitness.

NYRR’s year-round offerings of races, community events, programs, and training resources provide hundreds of thousands of people with the motivation, know-how, and opportunities to start running and keep running for life. NYRR’s premier event, the famed TCS New York City Marathon, attracts the world’s top professional runners and committed amateurs alike, while also raising millions of dollars annually for charity and driving economic impact for New York City.NYRR is equally committed to the runners of tomorrow, passionately providing youth fitness programs that educate and inspire children in underserved communities in New York City, nationwide, and around the world.

Headquartered in New York City, NYRR is a 501(c)(3) organization.To learn more, please visit www.nyrr.org.

At New York Road Runners, we are committed to building an inclusive, diverse workplace by finding the best candidate for the job. We understand that skills come from a variety of different backgrounds. Checking off every single requirement on our job description is not necessary to apply. If you think you are a good fit and have a passion for the work we do, please submit your application. We are eager to learn about your experience and skills! You may be the right candidate for this or other open positions.

New York Road Runners is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

About the Department

The Community Impact Department encompasses our Youth Programs, Community Programs and Youth Events. NYRR is one of the largest non-profit providers of youth and community fitness programming in New York City (with a growing national/international footprint). The Youth Program team develops, administers, and supports an evolving portfolio of youth running programs and resources used by schools, community centers, and families throughout New York City and nationwide. NYRR's flagship youth program, Rising New York Road Runners, brings the benefits of physical activity to various sites to help children develop the ability, confidence, and desire to be physically active for life.

The Community Program team develops, administers, and supports a comprehensive portfolio of programs including our renowned NYRR Striders walking/fitness program for older adults, our NYRR Open Run platform that provides free running and walking racing, and community-building opportunities in parks across the city, and bespoke programs such as NYRR Run for the Future and Youth Ambassadors that provide deep engagement and lifelong skills such as running techniques and public speaking.

The Youth Events team oversees the development and execution of over 35 Rising NYRR events per year, including events associated with our Five-Borough Series and the TCS New York City Marathon, each serving 100-1000 or more participants, and the support of other youth and community-based efforts.

Position Overview

The Youth Program Engagement Specialist will oversee special projects within the Rising New York Road Runners program. Responsibilities include managing internal and external communications, handling logistics, supporting customer needs, and leading engagement initiatives. Key projects include the Shoe Distributions, Thank You Card Initiatives, program participation in the Millrose Games, Youth Awards Night and Indoor Armory Series, and other program-based events designed to engage and inspire participating Rising NYRR sites and Rising NYRR Program Leads.

Key Responsibilities

Special Projects & Event Management

• Lead planning and execution of youth program special projects and events, including registration, materials preparation, transportation coordination, and on-site operations for participating sites.
• Ensure all participants have timely and accurate information related to registration, transportation, and race-day expectations.
• Develop and maintain an internal event calendar with deadlines and collaborate with the broader program team to schedule and create content for event announcements, reminders, and instructions.
• Coordinate logistical details and event capacity with the Youth Events Team (ED&P) and other internal or external stakeholders.
• Represent the program at events by managing on-site check-in registration, addressing customer service issues, and ensuring compliance with event-day procedures.

Program Engagement Enhancement

• Work to increase in-person engagement opportunities for NYC schools and Program Leads to ensure Rising NYRR sites have high levels of engagement and participation.
• Co-lead shoe distribution events with Program Engagement Director.
• Design and manage initiatives such as the “Thank You Card” campaign in collaboration with Team for Kids (TFK) and other stakeholders.
• Draft detailed project briefs and plans outlining deliverables, responsibilities, and timelines.

Administrative Support & Process Improvement

• Oversee planning and execution of special projects in collaboration with external partners as needed.
• Support data collection and reporting processes to track participation and event success, including maintaining accurate attendance records.
• Identify opportunities for operational improvements and contribute to ongoing process enhancements.
• Assist with testing new systems and tools to optimize program implementation and service delivery.
• Assist with other duties and department projects, as assigned.

Job Requirements

Experience

• Minimum of 3 years of relevant professional experience.
• A background in working with youth and/or families is strongly preferred.

Skills & Attributes

• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).
• Excellent attention to detail and strong organizational skills.
• Clear, effective written and verbal communication.
• Ability to engage and collaborate with diverse populations.
• Skilled in prioritizing tasks, multi-tasking, and meeting deadlines.
• Creative and capable of developing engaging content and initiatives for youth and educators.
• Proactive in identifying opportunities for process improvement.
• Able to analyze, report, and interpret program results and data.
• Exceptionally organized, dependable, and proactive, with strong communication skills.
• Able to manage multiple projects and meet tight deadlines with efficiency.
• Passionate about youth development, community engagement, and event planning.
• Thrives in a collaborative, fast-paced environment and approaches challenges with a solutions-focused mindset.
• Fluency in Spanish or other non-English languages is a plus.

Additional Requirements

• Willing and able to travel throughout NYC.
• Comfortable representing NYRR at schools, community events, and professional meetings.
• Familiarity with NYC neighborhoods NYC Public School system is preferred.
• Must be available to support Rising NYRR events year-round, including major NYRR races.

Salary: 72k

NYRR requires all employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19 unless approved for a medical or religious exemption.