Education and Youth Development Program Manager

Friends of the High Line•New York, NY

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The Education and Youth Development Program Manager leads the High Line Fellows Program, a multi-year, paid youth development, career exploration, and leadership program for New York City high school students. The Fellows Program provides young people with progressive learning and employment experiences rooted in civic engagement and leadership, arts & culture, horticulture & sustainability, and the work of the High Line. The Fellows Program is structured as a three-year experience designed to deepen learning and responsibility over time—from building foundational knowledge and skills, to applying those skills through hands-on experiences, to developing leadership and preparing Fellows for future academic and career opportunities. The program consists of pathway learning (Jan - June) summer employment opportunities through internal and external residencies and Fellow-led park tours, and extra opportunity hours throughout the year supporting on and off the High Line programs and activities. It also focuses on sustaining vibrant and ongoing alumni engagement, and external learning opportunities with community partners. The Education and Youth Development Manager will serve as lead facilitator and curriculum developer for the Civic Engagement and Horticulture learning pathways, designing progressive, engaging, hands-on learning experiences that support Fellows at different stages of the three-year program. The Manager will ensure youth-centered, culturally responsive, and equity-centered programming that supports Fellows’ learning, leadership development, career exploration, and individual growth. They will also support the evaluation and impact of the Fellows Program as well as summer employment opportunities including internal and external residencies and Fellow-led park tours. The Manager will use evaluation, participant feedback, and emerging best practices in youth development and experiential education to continuously strengthen program quality and outcomes. This position will report to the Director of Education and work closely with the Youth and Career Development Program Manager and Coordinator to ensure a cohesive Fellows experience, while partnering across High Line departments to support interdisciplinary learning and career development. The Education and Youth Development Manager is a full-time, year-round exempt position.

Requirements

4+ years’ experience working with high school-aged young people in an education and/or youth development, including experience designing and facilitating engaging learning experiences.
3+ years’ supervisory experience, including hiring and/or supervising high school-aged staff in accordance with youth labor laws.
Experience in facilitating learning sessions for youth exploring the content areas of urban ecology, civic engagement, leadership, financial empowerment, career development, identity, and related topics.
Experience facilitating learning sessions with young people utilizing experiential learning practices
Experience and interest in with horticulture and civic engagement, green spaces, and/or non-traditional education
Demonstrated commitment to creating inclusive learning environments that promote agency, leadership, belonging, and self-actualization among young people from diverse backgrounds
Strong interpersonal skills, communication, organizational, and project-management skills, with the ability to prioritize multiple projects and work both independently and collaboratively
Proficiency with Google Suite and comfort learning and using technology to support program administration
Enthusiasm for the High Line’s mission and for youth development, civic engagement, arts & culture, and horticulture & sustainability
Willing to complete required safety screenings and certifications for working with NYC youth

Nice To Haves

Experience in curriculum development, program design, and/or designing multi-year learning experiences.
Experience facilitating with culturally sustainable education practices, inquiry-based learning, experiential learning, Social and Emotional Learning, and/or other pedagogical models
Experience with horticulture, urban ecology, and/or participatory budgeting a plus
Experience with career-connected learning, workforce development, internships, mentorship, or youth employment programs.
Degree or certificate in Youth Development, Education, or a related field; program/case management experience is a plus
Multilingual and/or experience developing youth-focused digital or social media communications.

Responsibilities

Support the management and administration of the High Line’s Fellows Program, including hiring, payroll, scheduling, attendance and budget management
Support the Fellows Program’s three-year differentiated model, advancing progressive learning, skill development, and leadership opportunities
Develop internal and external mentorship and career development opportunities
Ensure compliance with funding requirements as related to Fellows and support grant reporting, as needed
Develop and maintain systems and evaluation metrics to measure program outcomes, impact, and continuous improvement
Manage outreach, recruitment, attendance and supervision of Fellows and engagement with Fellows alumni
Partner across Education to strengthen content connections and curriculum coordination
Lead the design, development, and facilitation of the Civic Engagement and Horticulture learning pathways in partnership with High Line Education colleagues and external partners
Develop culturally sustaining, interdisciplinary curriculum, the three-year Fellows model, progressing from foundational learning to application and leadership
Create an inclusive and empowering learning environment that supports Fellows’ academic, career, and personal development through skill-building, mentorship, and career exposure
Support Fellows alumni engagement and expand mentorship, summer residency, and employment opportunities
Plan and execute the Fellows Program’s annual culminating event and other key learning experiences.
Collaborate with the High Line’s Horticulture team and outside Horticulture, public space, and urban ecology experts to incorporate experiential learning opportunities for the High Line Fellows program.
Collaborate internally on High Line Education and Program team initiatives.
Collaborate with City Council and external partners on Participatory Budgeting, People’s Money, and other civic engagement initiatives
Establish and cultivate mission-aligned partnerships across community, educational, cultural, green-space, and industry organizations to expand career exploration, mentorship, residency, internship, and professional development opportunities for Fellows and alumni
Strengthen connections with the NYC youth development community through Fellows and alumni engagement, conferences, partnerships, and resource sharing
Partner across High Line departments to connect Fellows with staff expertise, organizational work, and meaningful career pathways.

Benefits

Medical, dental, and vision insurance
20 Vacation days, 7 sick days, and 10 paid holidays with 2 floating holidays (prorated based on start date).
Contribution in a 403(b) retirement plan
Commuter benefits
Flexible Spending Accounts
Employee Assistance Program
Paid primary and secondary caregiver leave
Supplemental short-term disability insurance and paid life insurance
Winter Fridays
Growth and Development career opportunities
Discounted Citi Bike Membership
Discounts with vendors on the High Line & around the Meatpacking neighborhood
Free entrance to Whitney Museum