Beacon Program Director

EL PUENTE DE WILLIAMSBURG INC•New York, NY

150d•$65,000 - $75,000•Onsite

About The Position

El Puente is seeking a thoughtful, relationship-centered, and strategic Program Director to lead the El Puente Beacon Leadership Center at MS 50 in Brooklyn. The Program Director is responsible for the program’s overall vision, management, and success, overseeing daily operations and ensuring programming reflects El Puente’s mission, contractual expectations, and commitment to youth and community development. Working closely with the Deputy Director for Programs, school leadership, staff, youth, families, and community partners, the Director oversees program quality, staff supervision, compliance, partnerships, member engagement, and long-term growth. This is a strategic and hands-on leadership role focused on building strong teams, fostering meaningful relationships, and creating a welcoming, engaging, high-quality environment where young people and communities can thrive. The position is full-time and in person at MS 50 in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. The salary is $65,000–$75,000 annually. The role oversees compliance with Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD) Beacon requirements and New York City Department of Health School-Aged Child Care (SACC) regulations.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Education, Youth Development, Human Services, Social Work, Public Administration, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
At least three years of supervisory or management experience in youth development, education, after-school programming, community-based organizations, or related fields.
Strong relationship-building skills with youth, families, staff, school partners, and community stakeholders.
Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
Experience overseeing program operations, compliance requirements, and administrative systems.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Demonstrated connection to El Puente’s mission and values and commitment to community-centered, justice-rooted work.

Nice To Haves

Bilingual English/Spanish proficiency, with the ability to communicate effectively with youth, families, community members, and stakeholders in both languages.
Prior experience managing a DYCD-funded program, Beacon, Cornerstone, COMPASS, or Community School initiative.
Knowledge of DYCD contract management and reporting requirements.
Knowledge of NYC Department of Health School-Aged Child Care (SACC) regulations.

Responsibilities

Lead the overall vision, implementation, and continuous improvement of the Beacon program.
Develop and oversee structured, age-appropriate programming aligned with El Puente’s mission, Membership Model, and 12 Principles.
Ensure programming supports youth development, leadership development, academic enrichment, wellness, arts education, and community engagement.
Create systems for measuring program outcomes, participation, and quality, and use data, feedback, and observation to improve program effectiveness and member experience.
Lead, supervise, coach, and support the Beacon Leadership Team and other program staff, including Group Leaders, Activity Specialists, Facilitators, seasonal staff, and community partners.
Conduct supervision meetings, performance evaluations, professional development planning, and ongoing coaching; support staff recruitment, onboarding, retention, and professional growth.
Cultivate a positive, collaborative, and accountable team culture rooted in El Puente’s values.
Support participant recruitment, enrollment, retention, and engagement, and ensure youth and families experience a welcoming, inclusive, and affirming environment.
Strengthen relationships with members, caregivers, community partners, and stakeholders; support the Membership Model and leadership development framework; and promote youth voice and community participation.
Ensure compliance with DYCD Beacon contractual requirements, reporting expectations, and performance standards, as well as NYC Department of Health SACC regulations and health and safety requirements.
Maintain appropriate staff-to-participant ratios, supervision practices, emergency preparedness procedures, and incident reporting protocols.
Monitor attendance, enrollment, participation, and outcome tracking systems, and serve as Administrator on Duty (AOD) as needed.
Oversee enrollment, attendance, and participant data collection and reporting, and ensure timely completion of required reports, documentation, and compliance records.
Collaborate with fiscal and administrative teams on program budgets and expenditures, monitor resources, steward funding and materials responsibly, and support grant compliance and contract deliverables.
Collaborate with MS 50 leadership and the El Puente Community School team to align programming and support student success.
Maintain relationships with school personnel, community organizations, service providers, and external partners; represent El Puente in meetings, events, and community spaces as needed.
Work collaboratively across departments to support organizational goals and initiatives.