Associate Director - The Garden

St. Luke's United Methodist Church•Houston, TX

13d•Onsite

About The Position

The Garden is a 53,000-square-foot youth center in Sharpstown/Gulfton in Houston, TX. The facility is owned by St. Luke's United Methodist Church and is located on the St. Luke's Gethsemane campus. The Garden opened in June 2024 and is dedicated to fostering curiosity, growth, and well-being among young people. The Garden offers workshops, events, and programming for youth ages 12-24. Programming primarily focuses on health and wholeness, knowledge and skills, and art and expression. The Associate Director is a hands-on, relationship-centered role responsible for designing, coordinating, and facilitating programming for youth ages 12-24. Reporting to the Director of Programs and Operations (DPO), this position is a daily presence at The Garden — building trust with young people, delivering high-quality programming, and ensuring every member experiences a safe, inclusive, and engaging environment. This role carries both a daytime component, supporting the operational functions that keep The Garden running, and an evening component, serving as a staff lead during programming hours when member attendance is highest.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in education, social work, youth development, nonprofit management, or a related field preferred; equivalent lived and professional experience will be considered
Teaching certification or formal classroom experience is welcomed and highly relevant to this role
Minimum 2 years of experience working directly with youth, particularly in urban or underserved communities
Demonstrated ability to engage effectively across a wide age range, from early adolescents to young adults
Demonstrated experience designing and facilitating programming for diverse youth audiences
Experience as a classroom teacher or school-based educator is strongly welcomed
Experience with volunteer coordination and community partnership development
Familiarity with Google Workspace, Salesforce or a similar data tracking platform, and social media tools used for youth engagement preferred
Genuine passion for youth development and a deep commitment to equity, inclusion, and community empowerment
Strong relationship-building skills — able to earn the trust of young people, families, and community partners
Highly organized with the ability to manage multiple programs and priorities simultaneously
Self-starter who takes initiative, follows through, and works well independently and as part of a team
Creative problem-solver with strong attention to detail and a calm, adaptable presence
Bilingual or multilingual candidates strongly preferred; language skills in Spanish, Farsi, Pashto, or other languages spoken in the Sharpstown/Gulfton community are a significant asset
Energetic and mission-driven, with a genuine joy for showing up for young people every day

Nice To Haves

Teaching certification or formal classroom experience is welcomed and highly relevant to this role
Experience as a classroom teacher or school-based educator is strongly welcomed
Familiarity with Google Workspace, Salesforce or a similar data tracking platform, and social media tools used for youth engagement preferred
Bilingual or multilingual candidates strongly preferred; language skills in Spanish, Farsi, Pashto, or other languages spoken in the Sharpstown/Gulfton community are a significant asset

Responsibilities

Design and facilitate age-appropriate, culturally responsive workshops and activities across The Garden's three focus areas: health and wholeness, knowledge and skills, and art and expression
Coordinate with external facilitators, instructors, and community partners to deliver diverse, enriching programming
Continuously assess program content and adapt based on member feedback, attendance trends, and emerging community needs
Maintain a consistent program schedule and ensure all sessions are well-prepared, well-run, and aligned with organizational goals
Serve as a consistent, trusted presence for members — staying connected to their lives and progress, and fostering belonging, accountability, and growth
Support family engagement and communicate regularly with parents and guardians as appropriate
Conduct ongoing outreach to recruit new members and re-engage youth who have lapsed in attendance
Maintain enough awareness of each member's circumstances to connect them to resources when needed
Recruit, orient, and support volunteers engaged in youth programming
Coordinate with community partners to facilitate collaborative programming and service delivery
Serve as a consistent point of contact for partner organizations, maintaining strong working relationships
Support the DPO in identifying and cultivating new partnership opportunities that expand The Garden's programmatic reach and resources
Maintain accurate, up-to-date program attendance records and member data using Salesforce
Work closely with the DPO to track outcomes, document observations, and contribute to program evaluations
Collect member feedback and surface insights that inform programming decisions and continuous improvement
Support the DPO in preparing reports for leadership, funders, and board presentations
Co-plan and support The Garden's signature events, including open houses, showcases, and community activations
Represent The Garden at community events, school visits, and partner convenings
Coordinate volunteers and staff during events to ensure a high-quality experience for all attendees
Assist with daytime operational functions and prepare The Garden for evening programming
Serve as a staff lead during evening programming hours
Work closely with the DPO on scheduling, logistics, program files, supply inventory, and operations