Senior Director of Youth Development

POSITION SUMMARY:

Under the direction of the Branch Executive Director, the Senior Director of Youth Development is responsible for directing all activities associated with our School Age Child Care, Summer Camp, Early Childhood Education and Enrichment Programs at the Princeton YMCA and Montgomery Township School District to include the administration of these programs and supervising the Princeton Young Achievers & Summer Camp Associate Director, Associate Youth Development & Outreach Director and Montgomery School Age Child Care Director to ensure these programs create opportunities for youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. Primary responsibilities include ensuring the delivery of high quality and safe YMCA youth programming in a nurturing environment. Developing and maintaining yearly budgets and establishing and sustaining positive relationships with program participants, families and prospective members. Hiring, training, and providing continuous support and feedback to program staff. Additional responsibilities include supporting fundraising activities and special events as necessary and responding to member and community inquires in a timely manner. The Senior Director of Youth Development will ensure that the Princeton YMCA’s programs establish and maintain a level of excellence in areas of quality, creativity and visibility, and support the goals and priorities of the Princeton YMCA. The programs will work to benefit participants, and will provide a positive image of the YMCA within the community, in accordance with the mission and philosophy of the Princeton YMCA.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Youth Development & Outreach

• Demonstrate leadership and be a positive influence and role model to colleagues and staff.
• Provides leadership, management and support to the Princeton YMCA’s portfolio of programs that serve underrepresented youth and their families in Princeton focused on building equity in Princeton’s public schools by providing direct services to youth and their families, and strengthening relationships among district administrators, teachers, families, nonprofits, funders, and other community stakeholders.
• Ensures effective communication and strengthen relationships among students, youth, family members, volunteers, organizational partners, resource partners and other stakeholders.
• Ensures the successful delivery of the ACE teen mentoring program (30+ teens in grades 6 - 12), Princeton Young Achievers PYA after school program(60 – 80 children in grades K - 5) and Crimmins Preschool Program(15 three and four year olds) and other activities in accordance with YMCA standards, best practices and mission
• Works closely with Princeton Public Schools’ staff and administrators.
• Safely delivery of youth outreach programs:
• Lead efforts to access resources, provide administrative and program oversight, and manage data collection and outcomes management to satisfy YMCA of the USA, school district and other grant funding requirements.
• Ensure that participant safety requirements are fulfilled according to YMCA expectations
• Supporting all management systems according to YMCA and other licensing standards.
• Ensures that all daily procedures and tasks are carried out in order to deliver planned programs and services.
• Lead and support a staff team including the Associate Director of Youth Outreach, ACE Coaches, and interns (AmeriCorps, Rutgers MSW candidates),
• Manage, track and assess program participants using confidential case management database system.
• Serve as primary program liaison to Princeton Public Schools community/leadership; work with district members collaboratively to serve youth.
• Assists with preparation, analysis and management of program budget with Branch Executive Director for financial reporting and VP of Mission Advancement for grant reporting.
• Support efforts of promotion and publicity for all programs to be delivered.
• Implement health and safety policies that pertain to program participants and staff at all times, including follow through on all incident reports and document filing.
• Ensure that all Emergency Procedures are carried out in accordance with Princeton YMCA procedures.
• Keep Senior Leadership and Community Partners appropriately updated.
• Maintain and implement procedures for accurate record keeping for compliance.
• Develop, train, retain and recognize program volunteers
• Provide a positive image of the YMCA within the community, in accordance with the mission and philosophy of the YMCA.
• Other duties as assigned.

Enrichment: Arts & Humanities, Sports, and Special Needs Programming

• Provide supervision, coaching, and developing to the Associate Program Director.
• Develop, plan, and implement a variety of enrichment programming including STEM, Visual Arts, Performing Arts, and Youth & Government.
• Champion, advocate, and implement programming that enriches the experience of our Special Needs members and their families.
• Promote progressive programming that leads participants through a planned development culminating in a desired outcome.
• Communicate all changes and happenings of youth programs and events through email, newsletters, and social media promotion.
• Maintain a schedule of classes keeping the Welcome Center and Marketing up to date.

Montgomery School Age Child Care, Princeton Young Achievers & Summer Camp Programs

• In conjunction with the Montgomery School Age Child Care Director & Princeton Young Achievers & Summer Camp Director oversees the successful delivery of programs, curriculum and lesson planning of the Princeton YMCA’s Young Achievers and Out-of-School youth development programs for the Montgomery Township school district to include the Kindergarten Wrap-Around Program, Before and After School program services on three school sites, Y Zones and during the summer months, supporting other initiatives to serve youth development and child care needs through the Princeton YMCA’s Day Camp Program.
• Developing curriculum and successfully managing established after school program services, developing and delivering Y Zones, and during the summer months, supporting the summer day camp program onsite at the Princeton YMCA.
• Support operations in areas of state licensing, staff training, and general program delivery.
• Prepares and ensures attainment of program objectives as part of the annual Operations Plan,
• Development and oversight of the budget.
• Helps to promote and markets programs, special initiatives and events.
• Prepares and ensures attainment of program objectives as part of the annual Operations Plan.
• Enforces safety standards and other policies and procedures.
• Participates as member of the Branch Leadership Team.

OTHER DUTIES:

• Assist in fundraising by meeting annual campaign goals and organizing volunteers to lead the annual campaign community to include supporting fundraising activities and special events as necessary.
• Responsible for complying with all Greater Somerset County YMCA Policies and Procedures.
• Adheres and incorporates the YMCA values of caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility and educates members about the YMCA mission and goals.
• Responsible for promoting programs, including developing program information for YMCA website, programming guide, social media, etc.
• Actively participate in trainings, seminars, special events, and meetings as required.
• Perform all other duties as assigned.

YMCA COMPETENCIES (Multi Team Leader):

• Advancing Mission and Cause: Stewards the Y cause, promoting and protecting the brand and reputation as a global, inclusive organization within the community. Maintains diverse advisory councils that actively support the Y’s goals and strategic plans. Engages staff, volunteers, and members in fundraising activities and strategies. Initiates changes to improve the Y, meet community needs, and maximize impact.
• Building Relationships: Leads efforts that deepen the Y’s connections to underserved communities and the global Y movement. Uses effective and persuasive communication skills to represent the Y as a thought leader in the community. Builds strong, strategic relationships with current and prospective partners inside and outside the Y.
• Leading Operations: Challenges conventional thinking to improve processes or experiences. Designs practices, processes, and procedures for strong project management (e.g., project charter, risk mitigation). Demonstrates courageous and intelligent risk taking with awareness of societal, economic, and political issues and their impact on the strategic direction of the organization. Manages the budgeting process so that resources are devoted to top priorities and strategic objectives.
• Developing and Inspiring People: Creates an environment of trust and respect by empowering others and sharing authority. Holds others accountable for equitable staff hiring, promotion, and development.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master’s Degree in Education, Social Work (MSW) Recreational Programming or a combination of a bachelor's degree with years of equivalent experience ideally working with youth is required.
• Bilingual preferred; at a minimum, the ability to understand and to make one’s self understood to all Spanish-speaking individuals.
• Excellent personal and written communication skills; command of English and Spanish grammar, spelling and punctuation preferred.
• Must be able to manipulate data, create reports, and import/extract information from companion software.
• Sound judgment, ability to prioritize and be self-directed, and work independently.
• Ability to work flexibly with a collaborative team of staff members and volunteers.
• Ability to work within procedures efficiently and handle several tasks concurrently to meet deadlines.
• Ability to maintain systems for accurate record keeping; ability to enter data and/or word process.
• Must have current CPR & First Aid Certification.
• Must be willing to work with all persons without regard to race, religion, ethnic origin, socioeconomic status or disability.
• Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends for special events as needed.
• Maintain a “can do” attitude that demonstrates a willingness to pitch in and help wherever needed, as well as an ability to anticipate what is needed.
• Must be committed to the goals and objectives of the YMCA.
• Must be willing to fulfill responsibilities in accordance with YMCA standards and best practices.
• Current CPR/AED and First Aid certification, or obtain within 30 days of hire.
• Blood borne Pathogens, Child Abuse Prevention, Sexual Harassment and other program specific courses within 30 days of hire.
• Ability to complete successfully fingerprinting (CHRI) and child abuse prevention check (CARI) as mandated by the state of New Jersey.

WORK ENVIRONMENT & PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use a computer for extended periods of time and be able to communicate using a computer and phone/smart device. The employee frequently is required to sit and reach and must be able to move around the work environment.
• The employee may occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
• Sufficient strength, agility, and mobility to perform essential functions of position and to safely supervise children’s activities.

Benefits of working full-time at GSCY include:

• FREE family membership to Greater Somerset County YMCA, including full access to all of our branch facilities including Bridgewater YMCA, Hillsborough YMCA, Princeton YMCA, Somerset Hills YMCA, and Somerville YMCA.
• FREE nationwide membership with access to over 2,500 YMCA locations across the country
• Discounted program fees
• Paid sick leave and short-term disability insurance
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Generous 12% retirement contribution to the YMCA Retirement Fund after eligibility period (no employee contribution required)
• Medical and dental insurance with prescription coverage
• Vision insurance
• Flexible Spending Account for medical and/or dependent care
• 100% contribution towards life insurance and long-term disability
• Optional life insurance and dependent life insurance available at low rates
• 403(b) Smart Savings Plan
• Generous paid time off policy
• 7 paid holidays

Greater Somerset County YMCA is a drug free work environment. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information who share our values of Caring, Honesty, Respect and Responsibility.