Youth Services Director: Strategic Leadership & Growth

Automatic Data Processing, Inc.; Springfield (MA); On-site; USD 108,000 - 132,000; Full time

Job summary

New North Citizens’ Council (NNCC) is seeking a Director of Youth Services to provide strategic leadership across Workforce & Education, Wellness, and Recreation for a portfolio exceeding $1 million annually. The director will oversee program performance, regulatory compliance, budget oversight, and staff development, reporting to the Executive Director as part of NNCC’s leadership team.

The role demands independent judgment, proactive problem solving, and the ability to build capable program

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Social Work, Human Services, Education, Public Administration, Nonprofit Management, Workforce Development, Public Health, Psychology, Sociology, or a related field.
• Minimum five years of progressively responsible experience in youth development, human services, workforce development, education, community-based programming, or a related field.
• Minimum three years of supervisory, management, or program leadership experience.
• Demonstrated experience overseeing multiple programs, contracts, or funding streams, including publicly funded programs.
• Experience managing program budgets, monitoring expenditures, and meeting contractual performance and compliance requirements.
• Proven ability to supervise, coach, develop, and hold professional staff accountable.
• Strong strategic and analytical thinking, independent judgment, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Ability to manage competing priorities, resolve complex challenges, and consistently meet deadlines.
• Excellent written, verbal, interpersonal, and organizational communication skills.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with diverse staff, participants, families, community partners, and organizational leadership.
• Proficiency with standard office technology and the ability to use program-specific data and reporting systems.

Responsibilities

• Provide overall leadership and direction for Youth Services, establishing clear priorities, performance expectations, and accountability across Workforce & Education, Wellness, and Recreation.
• Develop and implement departmental strategies that align program operations with organizational goals, community needs, and funding requirements.
• Oversee program quality, enrollment, retention, completion, participant outcomes, and contractual performance measures.
• Analyze program data, identify operational and performance gaps, and implement timely corrective actions and continuous improvement strategies.
• Establish consistent systems for program administration, participant documentation, case management, reporting, and service coordination.
• Exercise independent judgment in addressing complex operational challenges and contribute to organizational planning and leadership decisions.
• Directly supervise designated program leaders and provide overall leadership to Youth Services personnel.
• Establish measurable expectations, delegate responsibilities, and hold managers accountable for staff performance, program outcomes, and compliance.
• Conduct regular supervision, provide coaching and professional development, and strengthen managers' leadership and decision-making capabilities.
• Address staffing, workload, performance, and operational concerns in collaboration with Human Resources and senior leadership.
• Foster a professional culture of accountability, collaboration, sound judgment, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Provide programmatic and fiscal oversight of a Youth Services portfolio exceeding $1 million annually.
• Collaborate with Finance to monitor budgets, expenditures, staffing allocations, participant costs, and budget-to-actual performance.
• Ensure program operations and expenditures comply with approved budgets, contracts, organizational policies, and applicable funding requirements.
• Maintain oversight of WIOA, DPH, DCF, and other relevant public and private funding requirements, including reporting, documentation, and performance standards.
• Ensure timely and accurate program reports, supporting documentation, and deliverables for reimbursement, monitoring, and audits.
• Establish effective quality assurance procedures, identify compliance risks, and ensure corrective action plans are implemented and monitored.
• Participate in budget development, funding proposals, and resolution of fiscal or contractual concerns with appropriate departments.
• Identify opportunities to improve, expand, integrate, or develop programs in response to participant needs, emerging trends, and available resources.
• Work with executive leadership and development staff on funding opportunities, grant proposals, program designs, budgets, and implementation plans.
• Lead the planning and successful implementation of new or expanded initiatives, ensuring appropriate staffing, infrastructure, and operational readiness.
• Strengthen pathways to education, employment, career credentials, internships, apprenticeships, postsecondary opportunities, wellness, and recreation.
• Evaluate program effectiveness and promote evidence-informed practices that support long-term sustainability and growth.
• Ensure programs reflect positive youth development principles and provide safe, accessible, culturally responsive, and participant-centered services.
• Promote youth voice, meaningful engagement, and programming responsive to educational, social-emotional, workforce, health, and recreational needs.
• Build and maintain productive relationships with schools, employers, colleges, training providers, government agencies, funders, and community organizations.
• Strengthen community referral networks and collaboration across NNCC departments to expand opportunities for youth and families.
• Represent NNCC professionally at community meetings, collaborative initiatives, and funder engagements.

Education

Bachelor's degree in Social Work, Human Services, Education, Public Administration, Nonprofit Management, Workforce Development, Public Health, Psychology, Sociology, or a related field

Job description

New North Citizens’ Council (NNCC) is seeking a Director of Youth Services to provide strategic leadership across Workforce & Education, Wellness, and Recreation for a portfolio exceeding $1 million annually. The director will oversee program performance, regulatory compliance, budget oversight, and staff development, reporting to the Executive Director as part of NNCC’s leadership team.

The role demands independent judgment, proactive problem solving, and the ability to build capable program