Program Assistant

YOUNG MENS CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION OF METROPOLITAN LOS ANGELES•Torrance, CA

4d•$18 - $18•Onsite

About The Position

The Program Assistant supports the YMCA’s youth development work by creating positive, nurturing relationships with children and cooperative relationships with parents and caregivers, staff, and partners. The role promotes the potential of all youth, facilitates peer connections, and provides a quality program experience focused on children’s achievement, belonging, and relationships with peers and families. The position plans and implements classes around a specific topic and skill mastery, culminating in an end-of-session exposition or showcase. It maintains close visual supervision of assigned children, follows program-specific ratios, and helps children manage behavior through positive strategies. The Program Assistant maintains safe, clean program spaces and equipment, required records, and compliance with YMCA policies and applicable regulations. The role also communicates with and engages parents, attends program and family activities, meetings, and trainings, and follows safety, reporting, child-abuse-prevention, medical, disciplinary, and emergency procedures.

Requirements

Must be at least 16 years old.
High school diploma or equivalent.
Employees under 18 must have a school-issued work permit.
Ability to assist with planning, organizing, and implementing age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate program activities around a specific focus area.
Ability to develop positive, authentic relationships with people from different backgrounds.
Strong character values, including respect, responsibility, honesty, and caring.
Strong communication skills and emotional maturity.
Current approved First Aid certification.
Adult, Infant, and Child CPR certifications.
Complete child abuse prevention training before the first day in the program.
Physical, visual, and auditory ability to perform the essential job functions, with or without reasonable accommodations.
Ability to plan, lead, and participate in activities.
Ability to lift 30–35 pounds.

Nice To Haves

Previous experience working with school-age children in a group setting.
Previous experience with diverse populations.
Completed semester units in child development, human services, or a related field.

Responsibilities

Nurture children through purposeful programming that builds achievement, belonging, and relationships among youth and within families.
Maintain close visual supervision of assigned children and follow ratios for the specific program or class; ensure no child is left unsupervised or staff alone with a child.
Help children manage behavior using proactive strategies, redirection, and constructive discipline with natural and logical consequences.
Support inclusion and compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act where appropriate.
Plan and implement classes around a specific topic and skill mastery, culminating in an exposition or showcase at the end of the session.
Follow program safety and cleanliness standards, maintain the site and equipment, and maintain required program records.
Cultivate positive relationships and effective communication with parents; engage parents as volunteers and connect them to the YMCA.
Attend and participate in family events, program activities, staff meetings, and trainings as needed.
Follow YMCA policies and procedures, including those for medical and disciplinary situations, child abuse prevention, emergencies, safety, supervision, mandated reporting, and risk management.
Follow reporting procedures and respond proactively to situations to help ensure a safe environment.
Comply with current federal, state, and local regulations and YMCA policies and procedures.
Maintain positive relationships with parents, YMCA team members, and community partners, and model relationship-building skills, including Listen First.
Demonstrate the Six Pillars of Character and YMCA Core Values in dealings with members, guests, volunteers, and fellow staff.
Demonstrate competencies and willingness to develop in mission advancement, collaboration, operational effectiveness, and personal growth.
Perform other duties as assigned by the supervisor.