Director of Youth Development and Community Engagement

SMYAL•Washington, DC

3d•$85,000 - $95,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Director of Youth Development & Community Engagement (YDCE) leads the development and implementation of YDCE programs. This individual supports and oversees the YDCE team’s staff, as well as adult and youth volunteers in executing top-notch programming that enhance the lives of the area’s queer and trans youth. Current program offerings include weekly and monthly programs (both in person and virtual) as well as community-based programs and a robust roster of special events throughout the year. The Director of Youth Development and Community Engagement manages and cultivates the team’s talents, and strategically designs and implements programming to further the organization’s mission and strategic plan, as well as youth needs. This position will include evening and weekend hours and will require flexibility in schedule. This position includes a combination of both remote and in person work.

Requirements

Previous experience supervising 3 or more team members
At least 5 years experience developing and implementing youth programming
Ability to relate to all communities served (queer and trans youth and straight allies, particularly youth of color, low-income youth, and youth who have experienced trauma)
Must be sensitive to and conscious of diverse identities and marginalization of groups including those based on age, race, class, disability, sexual orientation, and gender identity
Demonstrated commitment to social justice, anti-oppression work, and queer and trans rights
Excellent verbal and written communication and public speaking skills
Strong strategic planning and organizational skills
Experience with and knowledge of social media tools
Proficiency in Google Suite and computer literacy
Ability to manage multiple tasks and responsibilities well and excel in a fast-paced environment
Available to work regular nights and weekends

Nice To Haves

Background in nonprofit personnel management is strongly preferred
Experience in implementing youth leadership development programs is strongly preferred
Volunteer training and management experience are strongly preferred
A driver’s license with a good driving record is a plus
Bilingual (Spanish and English) is a plus

Responsibilities

Manage the day to day work of the Youth Engagement Manager, the Little SMYALs Program Managers (two positions with this title), the Community Engagement Manager, and the Training Coordinator
Provide ongoing coaching to all YDCE staff on an ongoing and as needed basis, either personally or by connecting them with the appropriate coaches or mentors
Plan and oversee tailored professional development opportunities for each full time staff member, based on individual goals and programmatic need
Provide structured and ongoing support to YDCE staff managing part time youth interns
Provide and receive regular and structured feedback for YDCE staff and youth interns to support their growth within the organization
Lead the growth, development, and oversight of SMYAL’s Youth Development and Community Engagement (YDCE) youth programs including, but not limited to: Teen and Young Adult programs (13-24 year olds), SMYAL Scholarships, Little SMYALs (6-12 year olds), community engagement, volunteer programs, and newly developed initiatives
Direct and lead YDCE outreach, recruitment, and communications in partnership with the Communications team (online and in-person)
Oversee the production of annual community events, like Youth Pride, Family Camping Day, and the Winter Holiday Party, to name a few.
Coach and develop working relationships with youth leaders to ensure youth-led programming meets the needs of queer and trans youth in the region
Oversee, in partnership with the Training Coordinator, the development of workshops and trainings for youth serving professionals and community allies
Work with the Training Coordinator to schedule and facilitate school & non-school based adult training
Represent SMYAL in the community through tabling events, community-based meetings, panels, and other requests as made
Elevate and amplify youth voices and issues in relevant community spaces and events
Lead the development and maintenance of relationships with community partners and organizations, including but not limited to public, private and charter schools in the DC metro region, local and national youth and LGBTQ+ youth serving organizations, and youth-led campaign partners
Keep up to date on current landscape of and threats to queer and trans youth on a local and national landscape
Keep up with best practices in youth and camp work, including safe schools and other relevant issues related to queer and trans youth and queer and trans youth of color, including the school-to-prison pipeline and other educational justice issues
Oversee collection and reporting of all YDCE programs’ impact and reach
Complete grant reports related to the work within the Department
Develop and maintain organizational systems for the team, including tracking program and attendance data for YDCE programs
Provide coordination as needed across departments to ensure ongoing collaboration and synergy
Develop systems and policies to support the balance between virtual and in-person work.
All other relevant duties as assigned.