Assistant Director of Youth Development & Socio-Emotional Learning

Red Hook Initiative • Brooklyn, NY

10d • $68,000 - $72,000 • Onsite

About The Position

RHI seeks a dynamic and mission-driven Assistant Director of Youth Development & Socio-Emotional Learning (YD & SEL) to lead high-quality programming that fosters academic success, emotional wellness, and leadership among Red Hook youth ages 11 to 18. Reporting to the Senior Director of YD & SEL, the Assistant Director oversees after-school, summer, and Freedom Schools initiatives and ensures alignment with RHI's broader youth development goals. In this leadership role, the Assistant Director ensures program excellence, staff development, and youth outcomes across all middle and high school initiatives, bridging daily operations with strategic program goals and serving as a key thought partner to the Senior Director.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree required
• At least five (5) years of relevant experience (youth development, social work, education, etc), including at least three (3) years in a supervisory/managerial position.
• Experience developing and supporting staff to develop curriculum and programs.
• English/Spanish/Mandarin, Bilingual preferred.
• Flexibility to attend occasional morning, evening, or weekend meetings and training.
• Commitment to a strength-based and youth development approach.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Successful completion of all required background checks and clearances.
• Strong leadership, management, and supervisory skills; able to lead intergenerational staff, manage change, and motivate teams toward shared goals.
• Deep commitment to the success, development, and well-being of young people, with knowledge of strengths-based and socio-emotional learning approaches.
• Proven ability to design, implement, and evaluate youth programming and curriculum aligned with positive youth development principles.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills; able to build rapport with youth, staff, and partners while modeling transparency, respect, and teamwork.
• Highly organized and detail-oriented, with strong planning, project management, and problem-solving abilities.
• Passionate about community-based work and advocacy, with the ability to work independently and as part of a team to achieve organizational and program goals.

Nice To Haves

• Experience working with middle school and high school youth from diverse backgrounds.
• Knowledge of youth development principles, including Social Emotional Learning (SEL).
• Proven ability to motivate participants in areas such as Academic Support, STEAM, Leadership Development, and Healthy Living.

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily operations of after-school, holiday, and summer programs for up to 150 youth, ensuring responsive and engaging experiences.
• Design, implement, and evaluate curriculum and programming aligned with RHI's mission and funder expectations.
• Lead youth recruitment, intake, and retention strategies to maintain consistent participation.
• Co-develop annual program goals and assessment tools to evaluate outcomes and support continuous improvement.
• Plan and execute trips, events, and family engagement opportunities that expand learning and exposure.
• Promote trauma-informed, healing-centered, and positive youth development practices throughout all programming.
• Serve as Site Coordinator for the Children's Defense Fund Freedom Schools program, overseeing all planning, staffing, and implementation.
• Supervise, coach, and support program staff to ensure performance excellence, professional growth, and alignment with RHI's values.
• Support recruitment, onboarding, goal setting, and performance monitoring for Youth Workers and interns.
• Facilitate regular team meetings and foster a collaborative, accountable work culture.
• Identify staff training needs and coordinate with HR and senior leadership to implement solutions.
• Lead crisis response and conflict resolution using trauma-informed and restorative approaches.
• Ensure accurate and timely attendance, participation, and outcome data; manage reporting and documentation for funders and internal use.
• Oversee staff schedules and timekeeping to ensure payroll accuracy and program coverage.
• Collaborate with the Senior Director on budgeting decisions, program resources, and inventory management.
• Ensure compliance with SACC and Department of Health regulations, including safety drills, training, and reporting requirements.
• Lead policy enforcement to ensure staff and youth adhere to program expectations and protocols.
• Represent RHI in external partnerships and meetings, cultivating relationships that enhance youth opportunities and program visibility.
• Collaborate with counselors and case managers to support youth referrals, behavioral health needs, and case conferencing.
• Participate in professional development and capacity-building opportunities to strengthen program delivery.

Benefits

• RHI provides a comprehensive benefits package which includes medical, dental and vision coverage, an Employee Assistance Program (EAP), which includes 12 counseling sessions per year, 403b retirement plan, flexible spending accounts for out-of-pocket health, dependent and commuter expenses, life insurance, 24 PTO days, "Summer Fridays," when possible and a hybrid work schedule when direct services are not in session.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level