Director of Afterschool Programs

The Dream Program•Philadelphia, PA

1d•$55,000 - $65,000•Hybrid

About The Position

DREAM is seeking a collaborative, strategic, and youth-centered Director of Afterschool Programs to lead and strengthen high-quality afterschool programming across our Philadelphia region. Grounded in the needs of youth and families living in Philadelphia’s affordable housing communities, this role will ensure that local programming reflects DREAM’s mission while responding to the unique strengths and opportunities of the communities we serve. Based in Philadelphia, the Director of Afterschool Programs serves as the regional leader for all afterschool enrichment initiatives, providing vision, oversight, and support to staff, AmeriCorps members, volunteers, and community partners. This position is responsible for cultivating engaging, safe, and impactful programming that promotes academic growth, social-emotional development, and meaningful relationships for youth throughout the school year. Beyond leading the Philadelphia region, this role will serve as a key organizational thought partner in shaping DREAM’s broader afterschool strategy. As one of the organization’s primary afterschool leaders, the Director will help develop, refine, and document best practices, systems, and resources that can be adapted by other DREAM regions as afterschool programming continues to grow. By modeling excellence in Philadelphia, this position will play an instrumental role in establishing a scalable, high-quality afterschool framework that supports consistent program implementation across the organization while remaining responsive to local community needs. The ideal candidate is a collaborative leader, systems thinker, and coach who thrives in building relationships, developing teams, and translating innovative ideas into sustainable, high-quality programming that advances DREAM’s mission and impact.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience preferred.
2–7 years of experience in youth development, education, mentoring, afterschool programs, or nonprofit leadership.
Experience supervising employees, volunteers, and teams.
Demonstrated ability to lead strategic initiatives and execute program goals.
Strong communication, facilitation, and relationship-building skills.
Experience developing systems, processes, or program models preferred.
Familiarity with AmeriCorps requirements and youth-serving programs preferred.
Experience working across multiple teams or locations is a plus.
Strong organizational and project management skills.
Ability to manage competing priorities while maintaining attention to detail.
Creativity, flexibility, and an entrepreneurial spirit.
A contagious energy for DREAM's mission and youth development.

Responsibilities

Provide strategic leadership and oversight for DREAM’s afterschool programming across the Philadelphia region, ensuring programming reflects the needs, strengths, and aspirations of youth and families living in local affordable housing communities.
Ensure consistent implementation of DREAM’s youth development philosophy, curriculum, and program quality standards across all Philadelphia sites.
Foster a culture of safety, belonging, literacy, academic enrichment, and social-emotional-development where every young person can thrive.
Regularly assess program quality through observations, data analysis, and stakeholder feedback, using insights to drive continuous improvement and innovation.
Build authentic relationships with youth, families, schools, housing partners, and community organizations to strengthen engagement and deepen community impact.
Serve as a regional leader whose work helps shape and refine DREAM’s organizational approach to afterschool programming.
Partner with national and regional leaders to develop and document best practices, systems, and resources that support consistent, high-quality implementation across regions.
Pilot innovative strategies and evaluate program effectiveness to inform future expansion and organizational learning.
Contribute to the development of scalable tools, training resources, and operational frameworks that strengthen DREAM’s growing afterschool portfolio.
Recruit, supervise, coach, and develop Philadelphia-based program staff, AmeriCorps members, interns, and volunteers.
Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and mission-driven team culture grounded in accountability, continuous learning, and shared ownership.
Provide regular supervision, performance feedback, and professional development that empowers staff to deliver exceptional youth experiences.
Model DREAM’s values through coaching, relationship-building, and responsive leadership.
Cultivate and maintain strong partnerships with schools, housing communities, community-based organizations, and local stakeholders throughout Philadelphia.
Oversee regional program operations, including enrollment, scheduling, staffing, resource management, and communication to ensure efficient and responsive program delivery.
Collaborate across departments to align regional operations with organizational priorities and support seamless implementation of programming.
Ensure compliance with organizational policies, funder requirements, risk management protocols, and youth safety standards.
Represent the Philadelphia region as a strategic thought partner in organizational planning, cross-regional collaboration, and continuous improvement initiatives.
Participate in organizational trainings, retreats, leadership meetings, and special projects that strengthen DREAM’s overall impact.
Share successes, challenges, and lessons learned from Philadelphia to inform decision-making and support emerging afterschool programs in other DREAM regions.
Champion a culture of innovation, equity, collaboration, and continuous improvement that advances DREAM’s mission and long-term vision.