Teen Programs Director

Whatcom Family YMCA • Bellingham, WA

3d • $26 - $29 • Onsite

About The Position

Empower Teens. Build Connections. Inspire the Next Generation of Leaders! Are you passionate about helping young people discover their potential, find their voice, and make a difference in their community? At the Whatcom Family YMCA, we believe every young person deserves a place where they feel welcomed, supported, and inspired to grow. We're looking for a creative, relationship-driven, and enthusiastic Teen Programs Director to help us expand opportunities for tweens and teens throughout Whatcom County! This isn't just a job managing programs. It's an opportunity to shape experiences, build community partnerships, and create spaces where young people can discover who they are and who they want to become. If you're energized by working with teens, love bringing people together, and have a passion for developing meaningful programs that make a lasting impact, we'd love to meet you!

Requirements

• Must be 21 year of age minimum to be able to drive a Y owned vehicle as needed.
• Minimum of 3 years of experience in youth development, teen programming, education, community engagement, or a related field, with demonstrated experience leading programs and partnerships.
• Bachelor’s degree in Youth Development, Education, Recreation, Social Services, or equivalent education and experience.
• Two years or more of supervisory or team-leadership experience, including experience coaching and developing staff and/or volunteers.
• Demonstrated ability to build authentic relationships with teens, engage young people as partners and leaders, and apply positive youth development principles.
• Ability to develop and manage budgets, analyze participation and outcome data, and manage multiple projects and deadlines effectively.
• Strong communication, facilitation, presentation, and relationship-building skills with teens and adults are essential.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule, including occasional evenings, weekends, community events, and program activities based on program and partnership needs.
• Ability to relate effectively to diverse groups of people from all social and economic segments of the community; commitment to inclusion and ADA compliance.
• Completion of Child Abuse Prevention upon hire, and Within 30 days of hire, CPR, First Aid, AED, and Bloodborne Pathogens training.
• Required to be legally able to drive in WA State with a good driving history.
• Completion of YMCA program-specific training and Youth & Government training as required.

Nice To Haves

• Experience developing and stewarding partnerships with schools, community organizations, funders, or other youth-serving partners strongly preferred.
• Experience with grant-funded programs, including implementation, tracking requirements, data collection, outcome reporting, and/or grant stewardship preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead and grow exciting programs for tweens and teens, including Youth & Government, Youth Institute, Teen Drop-In, Teen Late Nights, and summer camps.
• Serve as the primary leader for Youth & Government, helping teens discover their voice through civic engagement, leadership development, and hands-on learning experiences.
• Develop innovative programs that reflect the interests, needs, and strengths of young people in our community.
• Give teens a seat at the table by involving them in program planning, decision-making, and leadership opportunities.
• Evaluate programs and use participant feedback to make experiences even better.
• Develop meaningful relationships with schools, community organizations, youth-serving agencies, civic leaders, and local partners.
• Represent the YMCA throughout Whatcom County, building awareness of our teen programs and creating new opportunities for collaboration.
• Connect with families, funders, and community partners to expand access and remove barriers to participation.
• Identify opportunities for grants, sponsorships, and partnerships that help our programs grow and thrive.
• Recruit, coach, mentor, and support staff and volunteers who share your passion for youth development.
• Create a positive, collaborative team culture where everyone feels valued and empowered to succeed.
• Provide leadership and direction to staff responsible for delivering high-quality programs and experiences.
• Model the YMCA's core values of caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility in everything you do.
• Oversee program budgets, resources, and operations to ensure long-term success.
• Manage grant-funded programs, including tracking outcomes, meeting reporting requirements, and demonstrating community impact.
• Use participation data and feedback to celebrate successes, identify opportunities, and guide future programming.
• Collaborate with YMCA leadership, development staff, and community partners to strengthen and expand teen programming.
• Ensure programs are safe, inclusive, and aligned with YMCA standards, youth protection policies, and applicable regulations.

Benefits

• Make a lasting impact on the lives of tweens and teens.
• Build and grow programs that respond to real community needs.
• Develop partnerships that create new opportunities for young people.
• Lead a passionate team committed to helping youth succeed.
• Be part of an organization that believes everyone deserves the opportunity to belong, grow, and thrive.

What This Job Offers

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