Child & Youth Program Leader

Navy Child and Youth Programs (CYP) offers high-quality early care and youth services in center-based (birth–five), facility-based (age 5–12), and recreational environments (teen; youth sports and fitness). The Youth Director manages and oversees a comprehensive youth program, ensuring compliance, fiscal responsibility, and programming excellence while supervising and developing a team of professionals.

Responsibilities

• Mentor
  • Mentors assigned CY Program Assistant team and works with senior employees to provide instruction and training to lower-level staff.
  • Assists lower-level employees in completing Standardized Module Training.
  • Collaborates with the Training and Curriculum (T&C) Specialist to translate professional development training into practice through mentoring, guiding, and role-modeling.
  • Provides suggestions and recommendations to credential practicum candidates.
  • Assists the T&C Specialist with recording observations and tracking team members' on-the-job skill progress.
  • Consults frequently with the T&C Specialist for guidance on strategies to support team members' professional development.
• Curriculum
  • Plans activities based on observed needs of individual children and youth, continually reviewing for appropriateness.
  • Works with the T&C Specialist, supervisor, and CY Program Assistants to implement activities and special events meeting physical, social, emotional, and cognitive needs.
  • Incorporates special instructions from parents, such as dietary needs, physical needs, or other relevant information.
  • Prepares and implements program options for children and youth with special requirements.
  • Assists with special projects, homework, and life skills.
  • Recommends adjustments to activities and plans to address unusual situations.
  • Sets up displays and bulletin boards.
  • Arranges for and/or serves appropriate snacks or meals where applicable.
• Indoor and Outdoor Environment
  • Works with team members to prepare, arrange, and maintain indoor and outdoor activity areas and materials to accommodate daily schedules.
  • Makes suggestions for improvements to activity areas.
  • Inventories equipment regularly and recommends replenishing damaged, missing, or depleted supplies.
  • Secures supplies, equipment, and facilities.
• Interactions and Relationships
  • Encourages participant interest and promotes positive interactions with other children, youth, and adults.
  • Interacts using approved child guidance and youth development techniques.
• Supervision of Children and Youth
  • Provides care, supervision, oversight, and accountability in compliance with DoD, NAF Component, and local installation policies.
  • Maintains control and accountability for the whereabouts and safety of children and youth.
  • Ensures children and youth depart with authorized persons according to written parental instructions.
  • Oversees arrival and departure of children and youth.
  • Supervises during indoor/outdoor activities and on field trips, outings, and special events.
  • Observes for signs of illness, abuse, or neglect and reports as directed; mandatory reporter to Family Advocacy and Child Protective Services.
• Parent and Employee Communication
  • Interacts professionally with employees, parents, and local installation command personnel.
  • Participates in conferences with parents, employees, school representatives, and command personnel.
  • Plans and conducts activities to encourage parental involvement.
• Assessment
  • Observes children and youth, documents developmental progression or concerns, and uses information for planning.
  • Assists CY Program Assistants with assessment tasks.
  • Participates in program evaluation using designated instruments (e.g., programmatic rating scales, risk assessment tools, self-inspection materials, and national accreditation tools).
• Compliance
  • Ensures assigned area achieves and maintains DoD certification and national accreditation or equivalent standards.
  • Ensures compliance with laws, policies, and regulations applicable to DoD CY programs.
• Additional Responsibilities
  • Collects, maintains, and reports program participation data.
  • Performs other related duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Must satisfactorily complete all background checks for child care positions, including fingerprint checks, a Tier 1 with Child Care check, Tier 3 (if applicable), and a State Criminal History Repository (SCHR) check.
• Must successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check; 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 immunizations.
• Ability to sustain considerable walking, standing, bending, stooping, and lifting up to 40 pounds.
• Must be 18 years of age or older.
• Must successfully obtain and maintain appropriate security clearance as needed.
• Ability to complete required training certificates and maintain certifications or credentials required by Federal, State, and/or national accreditation institutions.
• May be required to work an uncommon tour, including evening and weekend hours.
• May be required to obtain and maintain a valid driver’s license, transport children, and/or attend field trips.
• Must be a U.S. Citizen to obtain and maintain a Secret Security clearance.

Qualifications

Resumes must demonstrate experience and knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) relevant to this position. A qualified candidate possesses:

• Knowledge of child and youth development principles and experience designing and managing complex programs, including safety, security, disease prevention, employee training, developmentally appropriate activities, parent involvement, and facility management.
• Knowledge of DoD, DON, local, and state regulations, instructions, and procedures pertaining to military child care.
• Knowledge of Federal and State laws governing the detection and prevention of child abuse and/or neglect.
• Knowledge of facility design, functional use, and maintenance concepts pertaining to military child care.
• Knowledge of financial management, budgeting, and purchasing as it pertains to child and youth programs.
• Skill in program planning, organizing, and coordinating to devise and carry out a variety of program components.
• Skill working with military families and an understanding of military lifestyles is preferred.
• Skill in interpersonal communication and leadership to facilitate a collaborative and cohesive installation CYP team.
• Ability to identify and respond properly to emergency situations, including evacuations, child and youth illness, and physical and emotional disorders.
• Ability to supervise others, exercise sound business skills, and provide positive personnel management.
• Ability to communicate effectively in English, both orally and in writing, with strong interpersonal communication skills.
• Three (3) years of full-time experience working with children and/or youth (with a 4-year degree or combination of experience and education). OR One (1) year of professional experience working with children and/or youth (with a graduate degree).

Education

Must provide a copy of your H.S. Diploma, GED, or College Transcripts (showing degree awarded/conferred) when you apply.

• Master’s or higher degree in Early Childhood Education (ECE), Child Development, Youth Recreation, Physical Education, Elementary Education, Secondary Education, Youth Development, or another field directly related to Pre-K or Primary Education.
• Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education (ECE), Child Development, Youth Recreation, Physical Education, Elementary Education, Secondary Education, Youth Development, or another field directly related to Pre-K or Primary Education.
• Combination of education and experience (e.g., courses equivalent to a major/24 higher-level semester hours appropriate to the position plus appropriate experience or additional coursework) that provided knowledge comparable to a 4-year degree in the fields listed above.

If your degree has not been awarded and/or you possess certificates of completion for DoD-approved competency-based training courses and/or a valid CDA/MSA credential(s), you must also provide a copy of your HS Diploma or equivalent.