Program Director (Astoria, Queens)

Young Womens Christian Association of the City of • Astoria, NY

1d • $68,000 - $75,000 • Onsite

About The Position

The YWCA of the City of New York (YWCA NYC) is a multiracial social justice organization dedicated to addressing issues that emerge at the intersection of race, class, and gender. We reach more than 3,000 New York City youth each year, offering leadership and advocacy training for young women through our high school Girls Initiatives, and providing after-school COMPASS and SONYC programs for elementary and middle school students in culturally diverse communities. Through culturally responsive programming and a strong model of youth development, we create pathways for the next generation of leaders to reach their dreams and drive social change. The Program Director oversees the implementation of all aspects of a YW-NYC school-based OST program to support positive youth development and outcomes; meet the needs of families and the school community; and further YW-NYC’s mission to eliminate racism and empower women and girls. This position will report directly to the Senior Director of Out-of-School Time. A successful Program Director will bring a positive youth development lens to the role; build collaborative relationships with the school principal and staff; use evidence-based practices and data to continuously improve the OST program; ensure compliance with all licensing and funder requirements; hold themselves and others accountable for program results; and demonstrate a commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and anti-racism.

Requirements

• A Bachelor’s degree in a child-related field (e.g., Education, Child Development, Psychology, Social Work) AND at least two years of direct experience working with school-age children; OR A minimum of 2 years of supervisory or program management experience in youth development or educational settings.
• CPR/First Aid certification (or willingness to obtain).
• F-07 & S95 Certification (or willingness to obtain).
• Health & Safety 15 hours Certification (or willingness to obtain).
• Demonstrated knowledge of DYCD COMPASS and SONYC frameworks and NYCPS partnership protocols.
• Proven track record in staff management, budget oversight, and regulatory compliance.
• Exceptional communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Strong commitment to youth development principles, safety, educational equity, and culturally responsive practices.
• Knowledge of telecommuting platforms, SharePoint and Microsoft Office suite products (Outlook, TEAMS, Word, Excel, PowerPoint).

Responsibilities

• Ensure all program activities align with DYCD's COMPASS/SONYC frameworks and organizational goals, as well as the YWCA mission and vision, emphasizing leadership, economic empowerment, social justice, and advocacy.
• Oversee daily operations, maintain a safe, structured, and compliant environment, and implement comprehensive emergency preparedness plans.
• Supervise all data collection and entry, attendance tracking, and documentation in DYCD Connect to meet contractual compliance and reporting requirements.
• Coordinate and participate in all DYCD monitoring visits, audits, and internal leadership meetings.
• Manage special projects and initiatives such as financial literacy, Funny Girls and other specialized and community-based programs.
• Recruit, hire, onboard, train and supervise all program staff.
• Conduct structured observations and evaluations of program activities and provide program staff with feedback, at least twice during the year and once during the summer.
• Act as a task supervisor to MSW intern(s).
• Oversee Inclusion Coordinator’s management of referral service and partnering in the oversight of mental health support services.
• Serve as the primary point of contact with day school personnel to integrate after-school programming with school-day academic goals.
• Coordinate and oversee effective family engagement initiatives and communication strategies.
• Lead and execute recruitment and retention efforts to consistently meet DYCD contractual and attendance goals.
• Establish and maintain relationships with school leadership and external partners; establish and maintain relationships with key stakeholders to enhance program quality.
• Collaborate with the Content Specialist to implement high-quality, sequenced programming across all required DYCD content areas (e.g., Literacy, STEM, Arts, SEL, Civic Engagement).
• Actively support NYC Reads and other academic initiatives to strengthen literacy instruction and enrichment outcomes.
• Co-design and deliver high-quality, project-based programming with the Program Manager using the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework across Literacy, STEM, SEL, and Arts, aligned to the DYCD model.
• Plan, coordinate, and execute three culminating events per fiscal year showcasing youth learning and projects.
• Ensure all activities meet DYCD PMT Rubric quality standards.
• Deliver a minimum of 13 OST Holiday Camp service days each program year.
• Ensure full compliance with funder, SACC/OCFS, and DOHMH Part 414 requirements; maintain active SACC license (ratios, staff clearances via FAMS/CBC, safety drills, staff files, required postings); prepare for and respond to inspections and corrective actions.
• Oversee site budget within the approved plan; track monthly expenditures and orders; follow procurement policies; proactively flag variances and budget concerns during the program year.
• Meet DYCD enrollment deadlines and ROP benchmarks; monitor weekly ADA; implement outreach/retention strategies to sustain participation.
• Plan and deliver annual PD for Assistant Director and line staff; ensure completion of 129 hours covering Mental Health, SEL, Youth Development, DEI, Trauma-Informed Practice, CPR/First Aid/AED, FDNY F-07/S-95, Mandated Reporting/Child Abuse & Maltreatment, Sexual Harassment Prevention, and Health & Safety (minimum 5 hours).
• Work with the Inclusion Coordinator to help participants and families identify and access specialized resources, including support with plan management to provide participants' Individualized Accommodation Plans (IAPs) and maintain Student Behavioral Support Plans and Logs.
• Coordinate direct services (e.g., hiring paraprofessionals, staff with language skills) and/or indirect services (e.g., making referrals or coordinating with NYCPS for screenings/diagnoses).
• Communicate with DYCD regarding needs for specialized support (e.g., nurses, specialized transportation) that require reasonable accommodation beyond the program's capacity.

Benefits

• Health / Dental/ Vision insurance?- employer-funded for the employee
• YWCA Retirement Plan Matching? 403(b) Plan?
• Paid time off?
• Life Insurance?
• UNUM Voluntary insurance (Additional Life, Life AD&D, Dep. Life)?
• FSA and employer-funded HRA dollars to spend towards out-of-pocket health costs?

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager