Child & Youth Program Leader

About the role

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). Youth Director manages and oversees a comprehensive youth program and has overall responsibility of the YP.

Responsibilities

• Mentors assigned CY Program Assistant team. Works with senior employees to provide instruction and training to lower-level employees. Assists lower-level employees in completing the Standardized Module Training.
• Assists the Training and Curriculum (T&C) Specialist in helping lower-level CY Program Assistants translate professional development training into practice by mentoring, guiding and role-modeling.
• Provides suggestions and makes recommendations to credential practicum candidates.
• Assists the T&C Specialist with recording observations and charts progress of team members' on-the-job skills.
• Consults frequently with the T&C Specialist for guidance on strategies to further assist team members' professional development efforts.
• Plans activities for program participants based on observed needs of individual children and youth. Continually reviews activities and plans for appropriateness.
• Works with T&C Specialist, supervisor, and the CY Program Assistants to implement activities and special events that meet the physical, social, emotional, and cognitive needs of children and youth. Incorporates special instructions provided by parents such as special dietary needs, physical needs, or other information that may affect the child or youth's experience in the program.
• Prepares and implements program options for children and youth with special requirements. Assists children and youth with special projects, homework, and life skills.
• Recommends to the T&C Specialist and CY Program Assistants changes and adjustments to activities and plans where necessary to meet unusual situations.
• Sets up displays and bulletin boards.
• Arranges for and/or serves appropriate snacks or meals where applicable.
• Works with team members to prepare, arrange, and maintain indoor and outdoor activity areas and materials to accommodate daily schedules. Makes suggestions about improvements to the activity areas.
• Inventories equipment on a recurring basis and recommends replenishing damaged, missing, and depleted supplies.
• Secures supplies, equipment, and facilities.
• Encourages participant interest and establishes a program setting that promotes positive interactions with other children, youth, and adults.
• Interacts with children and youth using approved child guidance and youth development techniques.
• Provides care and supervision, oversight, and accountability for program participants in compliance with the Department of Defense (DoD), NAF Component, and local installation command policies, guidance, and standards.
• Maintains control of and accounts for the whereabouts and safety of children and youth. Ensures children and youth (as applicable) depart with authorized person according to written parental instructions.
• Oversees arrival and departure of children and youth.
• Supervises children and youth during daily schedule of indoor and outdoor activities and on field trips, outings, and special events.
• Observes program participants for signs that may indicate illness, abuse, or neglect and reports as directed.
• Incumbent is a mandatory reporter to Family Advocacy and Child Protective Services as prescribed by local policy in the case of suspected incidences of child abuse and neglect.
• Interacts professionally with employees, parents, and local installation command personnel.
• Participates in conferences with parents, employees, school representatives, and local installation command personnel.
• Briefs other employees and parents.
• Plans and conducts activities for parents in order to encourage parents to become involved.
• Assesses children and youth and documents developmental progression and/or concerns and uses the information in planning.
• Assists CY Program Assistants with assessment tasks when needed.
• Participates in program evaluation using designated instruments such as programmatic rating scales, risk assessment tools (as required), self-inspection materials, and national accreditation tools.
• Ensures assigned area achieves and maintains standards for DoD certification and national accreditation or equivalent.
• Ensures compliance with law, policies, and regulations applicable to DoD CY programs.
• 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. Any discrepancies must be resolved as a condition of employment.
• Must pass a pre-employment physical, provide evidence of immunization, be free of all communicable diseases, and obtain appropriate immunization against communicable diseases.
• 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 used as part of DoD's Child and Youth Programs.
• 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

• Knowledge of the principles of child and youth development and in designing and managing an exceptionally complex program that includes, but is not limited to 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 a child and youth program.
• 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 and organize 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 and possess strong interpersonal communication skills.
• Three (3) years of full-time experience working with children and/or youth (with 4-year degree or combination of experience and education). OR One (1) year of professional experience working with children and/or youth (with graduate degree).

Skills

• Knowledge of child and youth development principles.
• Ability to manage and oversee a comprehensive youth program.
• Proficiency in child guidance and youth development techniques.
• Experience in program planning, organizing, and coordinating.
• Ability to interact with children and youth.
• Ability to maintain safety and security standards.
• Ability to supervise and develop a team of professionals.
• Ability to communicate effectively with employees, parents, and local installation command personnel.
• Ability to assess children and youth and document developmental progression.
• Ability to ensure compliance with relevant laws and regulations.
• Ability to collect, maintain, and report program participation data.

Benefits

• Salary: $27.18 - $28.52 per hour
• Pay scale & grade: Not specified
• Work schedule: Full-time
• Travel Required: Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
• Appointment type: Permanent
• Drug test: Yes
• Security clearance: Other
• Position sensitivity and risk: Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk

Pay

• Salary range: $27.18 - $28.52 per hour
• Pay scale & grade: Not specified

Schedule

• Work schedule: Full-time

Application Instructions

• Accepting applications
• Posted 05/06/26
• Apply by 07/22/26
• Due by 11:59 p.m. ET on July 22, 2026