Youth Services Director - Haverhill YMCA

YMCA of the North Shore; Haverhill (MA); On-site; USD 56,000 - 62,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free YMCA membership

Employee discounts

Paid training & development

Career growth opportunities

12% retirement contribution

Health & dental insurance

Paid vacation, sick, and personal time

Job summary

The YMCA of the North Shore in Haverhill, MA is seeking an experienced Youth Services Director to provide year-round leadership for youth, teen, sports, family, and seasonal camp programming. Salary range is $56,000.00–$62,000.00 with a full-time schedule and varied shifts.

You will develop engaging programs, mentor staff, build community partnerships, and create meaningful experiences where young people learn, grow, and thrive within a welcoming YMCA community.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required or an equivalent combination of education and leadership experience.
• At least 3 years leading youth, teen, camp, recreation, or related programs.
• Experience supervising staff and managing multiple program areas.
• Strong leadership, communication, organizational, and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and deadlines across seasons.
• CPR and First Aid certification or willingness to obtain.
• Valid driver's license and ability to travel between YMCA locations.

Responsibilities

• Lead year-round youth, teen, and family programs with ongoing program development.
• Oversee PASS programming for school-year activities and student support.
• Recruit, hire, train, supervise, and develop staff across full-time, part-time, and seasonal roles.
• Cultivate relationships with families, schools, and community partners to boost participation.
• Support seasonal camp operations and ensure safety and high-quality experiences for campers.

Skills

Youth program leadership

Staff supervision

Program development

Community partnerships

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Recreation, Education, Youth Development, Nonprofit Management, or related field

Job description

Job Details

Job Location: Haverhill YMCA - Haverhill, MA 01830

Position Type: Full Time

Salary Range: $56,000.00 - $62,000.00 Salary

Job Shift: Varied

Youth Services Director

Lead. Inspire. Build Community. Make a Difference.

Are you passionate about youth development and ready to lead programs that make a lasting impact on children, teens, and families?

The YMCA of the North Shore is seeking an experienced and enthusiastic Youth Services Director to provide year-round leadership for youth, teen, sports, family, and seasonal camp programming. This is an exciting opportunity for a strong leader who enjoys developing programs, mentoring staff, building community partnerships, and creating meaningful experiences where young people can learn, grow, and thrive.

In this role, you'll help shape programs that support the social, emotional, physical, and academic development of youth while ensuring they feel connected, supported, and part of the YMCA community.

What You'll Do

Lead & Develop Youth Programs

• Provide leadership for year-round youth, sports, teen, and family programs.
• Develop engaging, inclusive, and age-appropriate programming based on participant and community needs.
• Monitor participation, program quality, and feedback to identify opportunities for growth and improvement.
• Ensure programs operate in accordance with YMCA policies, licensing requirements, and safety standards.
• Collaborate with other YMCA departments to create a strong and consistent member and participant experience.

Support PASS Programming

• Provide leadership and direction for academic, social-emotional, and recreational programming throughout the school year.
• Work closely with program staff to develop individualized programming and support strategies based on participant needs.
• Help students build confidence, develop positive behaviors, and work toward successful transitions back into their school environment.
• Build trusting relationships with participants while providing appropriate behavioral support and responding effectively to challenging or crisis situations.

Lead & Develop Staff

• Recruit, hire, train, supervise, and develop full-time, part-time, and seasonal staff.
• Provide ongoing coaching, guidance, and performance feedback.
• Create a supportive team environment where staff feel valued, connected, and empowered to succeed.
• Help develop future leaders and strengthen the overall quality of the Youth Services team.

Build Relationships with Families & the Community

• Develop strong, positive relationships with children, teens, families, and caregivers.
• Create a welcoming and inclusive environment where participants feel a strong sense of belonging.
• Build partnerships with local schools, community organizations, and other community groups.
• Support outreach and communication efforts that increase program awareness, participation, and community engagement.

Support Seasonal Camp Operations

• Provide leadership and support for seasonal summer camp programming.
• Partner with camp leadership and staff to ensure safe, engaging, and high-quality experiences for campers.
• Help ensure camp programming aligns with YMCA standards and supports positive youth development.

What We're Looking For

• Has experience leading youth, teen, recreation, education, camp, or family programs.
• Enjoys working directly with young people and understands the importance of positive youth development.
• Has experience supervising, coaching, and developing staff.
• Is confident managing multiple programs, priorities, and teams in a fast-paced environment.
• Builds strong relationships with families, schools, community partners and staff.
• Has strong communication, organization, problem-solving, and leadership skills.
• Is comfortable supporting youth with a variety of social-emotional and behavioral needs.
• Is creative, collaborative, and willing to adapt programming to meet changing community needs.
• Is passionate about creating inclusive, welcoming spaces where every young person can thrive.

Why Work for the YMCA of the North Shore?

• FREE YMCA membership
• Employee discounts on YMCA programs, childcare, and camps
• Paid training and professional development
• Opportunities for career growth and advancement across the YMCA of the North Shore
• 12% employer-funded retirement contribution once vested
• Health, dental, and employer-funded life insurance for eligible full-time employees
• Paid vacation, sick, and personal time
• The opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of children, teens, and families every day

Qualifications What You'll Bring

• Bachelor's degree in Recreation, Education, Youth Development, Nonprofit Management, or a related field required. An equivalent combination of education and progressive leadership experience may be considered.
• Must be 21 years of age or older.
• At least three years of experience leading youth, teen, camp, recreation, or related programs.
• Demonstrated experience supervising staff and managing multiple programs or program areas.
• Strong leadership, communication, organizational, and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to manage competing priorities, deadlines, and program needs across multiple seasons.
• Experience with program planning, budgeting, enrollment management, and program evaluation preferred.
• Current CPR and First Aid certification, or willingness to obtain and maintain certification.
• Valid driver's license and reliable transportation, with the ability to travel between YMCA locations as needed.
• Commitment to creating safe, inclusive, and engaging experiences for youth and families.

Work Environment & Physical Requirements

• Ability to lift, carry, bend, twist, reach, push, and pull as needed to support program activities and ensure participant safety.
• Ability to lift and carry up to 25 pounds.
• Ability to work indoors and outdoors and in a variety of weather conditions.
• Ability to remain physically and mentally alert and respond appropriately and promptly to unexpected or emergency situations.
• Ability to actively participate in youth and teen programming and activities as needed.

The YMCA is committed to a nondiscrimination policy and equal opportunity for all employees and qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religious creed, protected genetic information, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, or veteran status.