Youth Director (Large or XL)

Commander, Navy Installations Command•Ventura County, CA

About The Position

The Youth Director administers a developmentally appropriate program for children of eligible patrons. The Large program serves 200–299 children, and the Extra Large program serves 300 or more. Depending on demand and available funding, youth services may include programs for ages 3–18, before- and after-school care, summer and winter camps, open recreation, youth sports and fitness, and teen programs. The director oversees program quality, safety, operations, compliance, budgets, and personnel. The role applies child and youth development principles and Department of Defense and Department of Navy policies, and works with families, employees, volunteers, community organizations, and installation personnel. The director also supports required training, program evaluation, regulatory compliance, and the effective use of program facilities and resources. The position requires a combination of education and full-time experience working with children. Applicants must meet one of the stated education pathways: a relevant bachelor's degree and four years of specialized full-time experience, or qualifying child-related coursework totaling at least 24 higher-level semester hours together with four years of specialized full-time experience. Employment is contingent on required verification, physical and health requirements, background checks, and any applicable security clearance and certifications.

Requirements

A combination of education and full-time experience working with children.
Either a bachelor's degree in a field related to youth programs and four years of specialized full-time experience working with children and/or youth, or child-related education totaling at least 24 higher-level semester hours and four years of specialized full-time experience working with children and/or youth.
Knowledge of child and youth development and designing and managing complex programs involving safety, security, disease prevention, employee training, developmentally appropriate activities, parent involvement, and facility management.
Knowledge of DoD, DoN, local, and state regulations and procedures pertaining to military child care.
Knowledge of federal and state laws governing detection and prevention of child abuse and neglect.
Knowledge of facility design, functional use, and maintenance concepts related to military child care.
Knowledge of financial management, budgeting, and purchasing for child and youth programs.
Program planning, organization, and coordination skills.
Interpersonal communication and leadership skills to support a collaborative installation CYP team.
Ability to identify and respond appropriately to emergencies, including evacuations, illness, and physical or emotional disorders.
Ability to supervise others, exercise sound business skills, and provide positive personnel management.
Ability to communicate effectively in English, orally and in writing, with strong interpersonal communication skills.
Must pass E-Verify employment verification; discrepancies must be resolved as a condition of employment.
Must pass a pre-employment physical, provide evidence of immunization, be free of communicable diseases, and obtain appropriate immunization against communicable diseases.
Must obtain and maintain an appropriate security clearance if needed.
Must complete required training certificates and maintain certifications or credentials required by federal, state, or national accreditation institutions used by DoD Child and Youth Programs.
Must complete the Installation Records Check required for individuals providing child care services in a DON installation or sanctioned program.
Must meet applicable background-check suitability requirements; specified convictions and findings involving child safety are automatic disqualifiers.

Nice To Haves

Experience working with military families and understanding of military lifestyles is preferred.

Responsibilities

Develops and supervises developmentally appropriate School-Age Care (SAC) and Youth Programs (YP), promoting children’s and youths’ social, emotional, physical, and cognitive growth.
Oversees program performance and child safety in accordance with Department of Defense, Department of Navy, and local policies and standards.
Recommends adjustments to program goals and applies child and youth development principles and policies based on patron needs and program evaluation.
Develops, implements, and analyzes staff and patron surveys and needs assessments to guide programming and operating hours.
Maintains current statistical data for planning and reporting, and liaises with community institutions and organizations to identify trends and opportunities.
Works professionally with employees, parents, volunteers, and installation command personnel, and participates in resolving related issues.
Develops budget input, analyzes budget variances, justifies resource requirements, oversees patron-fund accounting and reporting, and ensures compliance with funding and acquisition rules.
Supervises employees and volunteers, initiates personnel actions, supports EEO objectives, establishes performance standards, evaluates performance, and addresses complaints and discipline as appropriate.
Ensures staff compliance with safety, health, nutrition, and risk-management procedures; coordinates staffing schedules, ratios, and group sizes with other CYP Directors.
Collaborates with CYP Training Specialists to identify training needs, arrange competency-based training, assess its application, and encourage continuing education.
Contributes to CYP standard operating procedures and handbooks and ensures procedures are implemented and handbooks distributed.
Works with other CYP Directors on the Parent Involvement Board and helps ensure available program spaces are used and vacancies are filled promptly through coordination with the Central Waiting List point of contact.
Ensures compliance with DoN, DoD, Military Child Care Act, and Council on Accreditation standards, required core program areas, and required programs such as BGCA or 4-H.
Implements policies and procedures for health, fire, safety, facility, and program compliance, including USDA Child and Adult Care Food Program requirements.
Serves as a mandatory reporter to Family Advocacy and Child Protective Services.