Youth Development and Engagement Administrator

City and County of Denver • Denver, CO

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Office of Children’s Affairs (OCA) is seeking a highly skilled and collaborative leader to drive the City and County of Denver’s efforts to strengthen youth development, expand equitable access to out-of-school time opportunities, and elevate youth voice in civic decision-making. The Youth Development & Engagement Administrator will oversee a broad portfolio including programs; like the Denver Afterschool Alliance, the Mayor’s Youth Commission, and My Denver Card expansion, and initiatives like managing citywide strategies, convening partners, cultivating cross-agency collaboration, supervising staff, and stewarding investments in high-quality youth-serving programs. The Administrator works closely with city departments, Denver Public Schools, nonprofit partners, community-based youth organizations, philanthropic partners, and families to implement strategic, equity-centered youth development efforts. Representative program and initiative types overseen by this position include: Out-of-school time (OST) strategy and citywide coordination, Community partnership development and capacity-building, Youth leadership and youth voice initiatives, Mayor’s Youth Commission oversight, Denver Afterschool Alliance (DAA), Cross-agency youth engagement strategy and systems-building, Early childhood-to-young-adult programming alignment. Specifically, as the Youth Development & Engagement Administrator you will: Lead the strategy, implementation, and continuous improvement of Denver’s out-of-school time (OST), youth leadership, and youth engagement initiatives. Provide portfolio leadership, cross-organizational coordination, and responsible stewardship of program budgets. Work collaboratively with staff across the Office of Children’s Affairs, city agencies, Denver Public Schools, and community partners to advance equitable access to high-quality youth opportunities. Build and maintain strong working relationships with schools, nonprofits, youth-led organizations, philanthropic partners, and public agencies. Serve as a connector within the youth serving ecosystem through effective communication, collaborative leadership, and community partnership development. Develop, monitor, and manage program workplans, schedules, and budgets aligned with defined scopes of work. Use data to inform decision-making, identify service gaps, and implement innovations that improve program impact and team efficiency. Co-lead the procurement, contracting, performance management and program compliance of youth-serving providers, consultants, and partner organizations. Oversee competitive funding processes, contract compliance, and outcomes reporting. Provide leadership and guidance to staff supporting youth development and engagement initiatives. Offer coaching, mentorship, and professional support to foster a high-performing, mission aligned team. To enhance impact and ensure equitable access to high-quality youth opportunities, the team is increasing its emphasis on coordinated program delivery and data-driven decision-making. The ideal candidate will bring experience in both program strategy and youth engagement, although experience spanning all areas is not required.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in a related field based on a specific position(s).
• Five (5) years’ experience performing full performance professional level duties within a specialized, functional area. (This does not include clerical experience.)
• Resume
• Cover letter – telling us about your experience with youth engagement and leading programs

Nice To Haves

• Demonstrated experience in: Leading organizations or programs in the social sector, including youth development, education, public health, leadership training, etc.
• Managing budgets and implementing systems-level strategy.
• Leading teams and managing staff.
• Demonstrated leadership skills and thrives in a diverse work environment.
• Establishing and fostering strong relationships with community members and partners.
• Creative problem-solving.
• Navigating issues and problem solving across a wide variety of stakeholders including elected officials.
• Fostering youth voice and leadership.
• Facilitating meaningful and impactful cross-agency/cross-sector coordination.
• Equity-centered leadership and culturally responsive approaches.

Responsibilities

• Lead the strategy, implementation, and continuous improvement of Denver’s out-of-school time (OST), youth leadership, and youth engagement initiatives.
• Provide portfolio leadership, cross-organizational coordination, and responsible stewardship of program budgets.
• Work collaboratively with staff across the Office of Children’s Affairs, city agencies, Denver Public Schools, and community partners to advance equitable access to high-quality youth opportunities.
• Build and maintain strong working relationships with schools, nonprofits, youth-led organizations, philanthropic partners, and public agencies.
• Serve as a connector within the youth serving ecosystem through effective communication, collaborative leadership, and community partnership development.
• Develop, monitor, and manage program workplans, schedules, and budgets aligned with defined scopes of work.
• Use data to inform decision-making, identify service gaps, and implement innovations that improve program impact and team efficiency.
• Co-lead the procurement, contracting, performance management and program compliance of youth-serving providers, consultants, and partner organizations.
• Oversee competitive funding processes, contract compliance, and outcomes reporting.
• Provide leadership and guidance to staff supporting youth development and engagement initiatives.
• Offer coaching, mentorship, and professional support to foster a high-performing, mission aligned team.

Benefits

• A guaranteed life-long monthly pension, once vested after 5 years of service
• 457B Retirement Plan
• 140 hours of PTO earned within first year
• 12 paid holidays, 1 personal holiday, 1 Wellness Day and 1 volunteer day per year
• Competitive medical, dental and vision plans effective within 1 month of start date
• Flexible spending account option specifically for parking
• City-sponsored RTD EcoPass to all City employees

What This Job Offers

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