Assistant Director (MS 118 - Bronx)

About the role

The Police Athletic League (PAL) of New York City is an independent youth development nonprofit organization founded in 1914. Serving as an effective bridge between police and communities across all five boroughs, PAL operates diverse programs for children as young as 2 years old to young adults. These programs include Head Start, after-school programs and summer day camps for elementary, middle, and high school youth, and summer Playstreets. Additionally, PAL runs evening teen centers and college readiness programs, youth employment, and juvenile justice programs. PAL is committed to empowering communities and building the best places to work, and this commitment extends to its own teams.

Responsibilities

• Foster social and emotional competencies and mental and physical well-being in a safe, welcoming, inclusive, and nurturing environment.
• Aid in the management of all aspects of PAL School Afterschool Programming, including overseeing the implementation of mental health support and inclusion coordination, identifying resources to support youth with special needs.
• Use identified resources to support youth with special needs and/or mental health needs, complete mental health referrals, and/or activate DYCD’s inclusions resources.
• Assist with the recruitment, hiring, and supervision and support to all part-time Group Leaders and Activity Specialists.
• Ensure the program is aligned to strategic objectives of PAL, policies and procedures, agency programming calendar, SACC regulations, and the contractual obligations of government and private funding sources including fire safety certification.
• Develop a strong Youth Development culture within the Center ensuring voice, growth, and advancement for all youth and staff.
• Train, conduct observations, and coach across all programs ensuring SEL, mental health, and inclusion policies are being implemented as designed.
• Coordinate with the Director, Regional Director, SYEP Director, and Headquarters staff to grow creative programming opportunities unique to the Site.
• Collect program data, analyze, and drive PAL forward with data-driven recommendations.
• Celebrate strong reciprocal partnerships with NYPD, NYCPS school partner, DYCD, DOH, and other community partners aligned with PAL’s mission.
• Plan and coordinate various citywide programs, activities, and special events.
• Provide mediation and troubleshooting for on-site issues.
• Respond appropriately when time-sensitive mental health services are needed such as suicide prevention, grief, and loss due to death or incarceration of a family member.

Qualifications

• Prefer an associate's in child development, education, physical education or recreation or related and two years of direct experience working with youth under 13 OR a NYS Children’s Program Administrator Credential and 2 years of experience working with youth under 13 OR a SACC Credential and 2 years of experience working with youth under 13 OR two years in college with 18 credits in child development, education, physical education or recreation or related and two years of direct experience working with youth under 13.
• A minimum of 2 years of demonstrated successful experience in providing services to youth that includes program management and staff supervision with at least three years in a leadership capacity.
• Demonstrated skills in program planning, implementation, or evaluation.
• Open to learning and growing. All staff will be learning mental health, SEL, and special needs inclusion skills and expected to integrate them into programming.
• Knowledge of DYCD Connect preferred.
• Microsoft office skills are required.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills and ability to work collaboratively.
• Bi-lingual in Spanish, French, or Chinese preferred.
• Able to travel to any PAL location in the 5 Boroughs for training.

Benefits

PAL offers a comprehensive benefits package which includes health insurance, flexible spending account options, an employee assistance program, tuition reimbursement, pet insurance, life insurance, retirement savings options, a generous paid time off policy, training and more!

Location

Start Date: September 7th, 2026

Employment with PAL

Employment with PAL is contingent upon successful completion of all the Agency’s lawful pre-employment checks, which may include a background check.