Associate Executive Director, Youth Services

Queens Community House•Forest Hills, NY

19d•$135,000 - $155,000

About The Position

Queens Community House invites an accomplished, mission-driven leader to join our senior leadership team as Associate Executive Director of Youth Services . In this pivotal role, you will: Lead a $10M+ division with over 200 staff and 18 after-school programs, 3 Beacon Community Centers, and specialized initiatives like Generation Q (LGBTQ+ services), Access for Young Women, and Freedom Schools literacy programs. Shape strategy and impact for one of the largest youth-development portfolios in Queens, ensuring programs remain culturally responsive, evidence-based, and aligned with community needs. Drive innovation and advocacy , influencing policy and funding priorities while strengthening partnerships with DOE, DYCD, and other key stakeholders. Champion equity and inclusion , ensuring every young person has access to opportunities and a voice in shaping their future.

Requirements

Minimum 10 years of progressive leadership experience in youth development, education, or nonprofit management.
Proven success in supervising senior staff and managing large-scale, multi-site programs.
Deep understanding of NYC youth services landscape, including DOE, DYCD, and other regulatory bodies.
Experience in strategic planning, program evaluation, and organizational development.

Nice To Haves

Master s degree in Education, Social Work, Public Administration, or related field preferred.

Responsibilities

Serve as the strategic and operational leader of Queens Community House s Youth Services division-a $10M+, 200+ staff operation that is one of the largest and most recognized youth-development portfolios in Queens.
Engage with the Executive Leadership Team, Board of Directors, and community stakeholders to provide program updates, respond to requests, and connect members to initiatives.
Support more than 8,000 children and youth each year-through 18 afterschool sites, Beacon centers, Generation Q LGBTQ+ services, and Access for Young Women-by fostering high-quality programming that nurtures social-emotional learning (SEL), literacy, STEAM, and family stability.
Continue to integrate youth services into QCH s agency-wide Integrated Services Model (ISM) so that youth programming serves as a gateway for families to connect with housing, food, immigration services, adult education, and other wraparound supports.
Collaborate with Division Directors to set shared priorities and build accountability systems, helping them deliver impactful school-based and community youth programs that reflect organizational goals and community needs.
Contribute as a member of the Executive Team by translating the strategic plan into actionable priorities for Youth Services, encouraging innovation and identifying opportunities to expand reach and strengthen outcomes for youth and families.
Lead and inspire your team by coaching, mentoring, and developing Division Directors and the Youth Services Management Team-helping them grow their leadership skills and strengthen program quality.
Guide weekly individual and team supervision sessions with Division Directors in addition to annual performance evaluations tied to measurable program outcomes, staff engagement, and professional growth.
Strengthen staff retention through clear role expectations, individualized professional development plans, targeted leadership training, and proactive talent engagement strategies.
Foster a collaborative and accountable culture across the Youth Division that empowers teams to consistently deliver high-quality, participant-centered programs and share best practices for continuous improvement.
Develop a supportive leadership pipeline for Division Directors, modeling effective strategies to develop staff for future roles and sustained organizational excellence.
Ensure all Youth Division programs remain culturally responsive, adaptive to evolving community needs, and grounded in evidence-based best practices in positive youth development.
Actively monitor performance and outcomes across all program areas, ensuring program delivery remains responsive to community needs and aligned with best practices.
Oversee and continuously improve systems for data collection, evaluation, and reporting, ensuring accuracy, efficiency, and timely access to information for decision-making.
Use data dashboards and evaluation tools (e.g., Hello Insight) to track key indicators such as attendance, retention, and social-emotional growth, translating findings into actionable improvements.
Regularly review program impact and operational processes to identify opportunities for enhancement, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and participant experience priorities.
Serve as a key representative of the organization in citywide and statewide coalitions, policy roundtables, and advocacy platforms, ensuring the division s expertise informs legislation, funding priorities, and systems-level change in youth services and positive youth development.
Advance the organization s reputation as a trusted thought leader in youth development and foster cross-sector collaborations.
Cultivate and steward strategic alliances with senior leaders across NYC DOE, DYCD, NYSED, and other public and private partners, ensuring QCH s voice shapes priorities and investments in youth development.
Represent QCH as a leader in citywide coalitions, policy forums, and advocacy initiatives, driving systemic change and reinforcing the organization s role as a trusted sector leader.
Collaborate with the Chief Strategy Officer to support resource development for youth development programs.
Oversee the Youth Division s multi-million-dollar budget portfolio, driving strategic resource allocation, fiscal discipline, and long-term financial sustainability while delivering maximum programmatic impact.
Oversee youth division contract management, compliance, and audit readiness for all city, state, and federal funding streams, maintaining financial integrity, mitigating risk, and securing renewal and expansion of high-value contracts.
Partner with Division Directors and senior leadership to allocate resources where they will have the greatest impact, ensuring funds are directed toward priorities, performance goals, and growth objectives while mitigating risk.
Lead the Youth Division in building scalable systems, establishing clear performance measures, and maintaining a culture of continuous improvement that strengthens service delivery and positions the agency for sustained growth and innovation.

Benefits

Medical, dental, and vision insurance with generous employer contributions
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) for health care and dependent care
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Generous Paid Time Off (PTO), including vacation, sick time, and personal days
11 paid holidays annually
Paid parental leave
403(b) retirement plan with employer contribution after eligibility period
Commuter benefits (pre-tax transit program)
Life insurance and long-term disability coverage
Access to agency-wide training and leadership development opportunities
Support for ongoing professional education and sector-related learning
Collaborative, mission-driven environment
Commitment to equity, inclusion, and community-centered leadership
Opportunities to lead sector-wide initiatives and shape citywide youth-development strategy