Program Assistant - Youth Sports

YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles•Los Angeles, CA

5d•$18 - $18•Onsite

About The Position

The Program Assistant supports the YMCA’s work to strengthen the community through youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. The role builds positive, nurturing relationships with children and cooperative relationships with parents and caregivers, staff, and community partners. The Program Assistant promotes youth potential, peer connections, achievement, and belonging while providing a quality program experience for children and families. The position plans and implements classes around specific topics and skill mastery, with a showcase at the end of each session. It maintains close visual supervision of assigned children, follows applicable group ratios, and helps children manage behavior through positive strategies. The role also upholds safety, cleanliness, inclusion, program-record, and YMCA policy expectations, and participates in family events, program activities, meetings, and trainings.

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, organization, and implementation of age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate 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.
Ability to perform the essential job functions with or without reasonable accommodations, including physical, visual, and auditory abilities.
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 supports achievement, belonging, and relationships among youth and within families.
Maintain close visual supervision of assigned children and follow ratios for the applicable program or class; ensure children are not left unsupervised or alone with a staff member.
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 end-of-session exposition or showcase.
Follow program safety and cleanliness standards; maintain the site and equipment and required program records.
Cultivate positive relationships and communicate effectively 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 concerning medical and disciplinary situations, child abuse prevention, emergencies, safety, supervision, mandated reporting, and risk management.
Follow reporting procedures and proactively respond 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; 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.
Develop and demonstrate competencies in mission advancement, collaboration, operational effectiveness, and personal growth.
Perform other duties as assigned by the supervisor.