Afterschool Director

Harlem Grown•New York, NY

7h•$70,000 - $80,000•Onsite

About The Position

Harlem Grown is seeking an Afterschool Director to serve as the onsite leader and supervisor of their COMPASS after-school program at Young Diplomats Academy. This role will oversee all program operations, staff supervision, compliance, participant engagement, and program implementation. The Afterschool Director is responsible for ensuring high-quality youth development programming that supports academic achievement, social-emotional learning, enrichment, and community engagement in alignment with Harlem Grown’s mission and NYC Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD) standards. Reporting to the Director of Youth Programs, this position leads the overall management and day-to-day operations of the site, ensuring a safe, engaging, and high-quality environment for youth and families. The Afterschool Director oversees the successful implementation of afterschool, summer camp, and family engagement programming while maintaining compliance with all organizational and funder requirements. As the primary liaison between Harlem Grown and Young Diplomats Academy, this role works closely with school leadership, families, community partners, and Harlem Grown teams to ensure strong collaboration and seamless program implementation. The ideal candidate will possess strong leadership and relationship-building skills, experience managing school-based youth programs, a commitment to food and farm education, and a passion for helping young people learn, grow, and thrive.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Education, Food or Environmental Studies, Child Development, Nonprofit Management, Community Development, or a related field required; Master’s degree a plus.
5–7 years of experience in youth development, education, community-based programming, or nonprofit program management, including at least 3 years in a supervisory or management role.
Must be on the pathway to being OCFS certified site director or already meet the requirements (a bachelor’s degree in a child-related field or a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential).
At least 2–3 years of experience leading and supervising after-school and/or out-of-school-time programs in a school-based or community-based setting.
Demonstrated experience training, coaching, and supervising adult staff, including performance management and professional development.
Excellent organizational, communication, and project management skills, with strong leadership, collaboration, and problem-solving abilities in a fast-paced, multi-program environment.
Must be available to work day times, weekends, and evenings, as needed.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree
Experience managing or supporting multi-generational, community-based programming and/or a multi-use community space, community center, or similar site strongly preferred.
Experience working with public systems or partners such as NYC DOE, DYCD, or similar agencies is a plus.
Strong understanding of youth development principles, trauma-informed and inclusive practices, and family- and community-centered engagement strategies.
Commitment to equity and experience integrating racial and social justice principles into program design and team leadership is a plus.
Background in food education, urban agriculture, environmental education, or related fields is a plus.
Bilingual in Spanish is a plus.

Responsibilities

Lead the planning, implementation, and continuous improvement of Harlem Grown’s COMPASS after-school program at Young Diplomats Academy in partnership with the Director of Youth Programs, ensuring a safe, inclusive, and high-quality environment for youth and families.
Oversee all site-based programming, including after-school, summer camp, family engagement activities, youth leadership initiatives, and special events.
Ensure high-quality program implementation through effective scheduling, staff training, coaching, and alignment with Harlem Grown’s mission, values, curriculum, and program expectations.
Ensure all programming is delivered within established timelines and in compliance with DYCD, organizational, school, licensing, and safety requirements.
Supervise daily program operations, including attendance tracking, activity coordination, student transitions, scheduling, and overall program logistics.
Manage participant recruitment, enrollment, attendance, retention, and engagement strategies, fostering strong relationships with youth and caregivers.
Support the implementation of youth leadership and workforce development opportunities, including Counselor-in-Training (CIT) and other youth development pathways.
Oversee the implementation of Harlem Grown’s food and farm education curriculum and ensure programming is engaging, developmentally appropriate, and outcome-driven.
Work in alignment with organizational calendars and priorities, including evaluations, surveys, professional development, reporting cycles, and special initiatives.
Use program data, observations, and feedback to drive continuous improvement and strengthen participant outcomes.
Perform other duties as assigned in support of Harlem Grown’s mission.
Serve as Harlem Grown’s primary representative at Young Diplomats Academy, building and maintaining strong relationships with school leadership, teachers, families, and community partners.
Partner with caregivers to support student participation, attendance, engagement, and overall program success.
Support family engagement events, school-wide initiatives, and community-building opportunities that strengthen Harlem Grown’s presence within the school community.
Build and manage partnerships with community organizations and enrichment providers to enhance programming and opportunities for youth.
Collaborate with internal teams, including Youth Programs, Operations, Agriculture, and Advancement, to ensure effective program implementation and alignment with organizational goals.
Oversee day-to-day site operations, including program schedules, staffing coverage, space coordination, safety procedures, and resource management.
Obtain and maintain all required licenses and ensure ongoing compliance with OCFS, DYCD, DOE, and organizational requirements.
Monitor and ensure compliance with student registration requirements, attendance policies, staff documentation, staff-to-student ratios, participant records, and all applicable regulatory requirements.
Maintain accurate program records, attendance, incident reports, participant files, and compliance documentation.
Ensure program spaces are organized, safe, welcoming, and conducive to high-quality youth development programming.
Coordinate with school personnel, Harlem Grown’s operations team, and vendors as needed to address site needs and operational challenges.
Track program budgets, expenditures, and purchasing in collaboration with organizational leadership and funding requirements.
Oversee data collection, evaluation, reporting, and documentation in alignment with Harlem Grown and DYCD expectations.
Lead site-level responses to incidents, emergencies, and safety concerns while ensuring compliance with all policies and procedures.
Hire, supervise, mentor, and support site-based staff, including coordinators, educators, specialists, and group leaders.
Manage staff schedules, coverage plans, team meetings, and professional development activities.
Provide regular coaching, feedback, supervision, and performance evaluations to support staff growth, accountability, and professional development.
Build and sustain a positive, collaborative, and youth-centered team culture aligned with Harlem Grown’s values.
Model strong leadership, communication, relationship-building, and youth development practices.
Develop staff capacity by fostering a culture of continuous learning, leadership development, and professional growth.