Director of Teen Center and Youth Development

About the role

The Director of Teen Center and Youth Development is responsible for the day-to-day leadership, coordination, and operational management of the YMCA of Yonkers Teen Center and its associated youth development initiatives. This role oversees a continuum of youth-centered programming designed to provide safe spaces, positive mentorship, leadership development, academic support, workforce readiness, recreation, wellness, prevention-focused services, and community engagement opportunities for adolescents and young adults ages 12–21.

Key responsibilities

The Teen Center includes multiple program components, including OASAS-funded recovery-support and Clubhouse programming, Y-Achievers, workforce development initiatives, mentoring programs, wellness and prevention activities, leadership development programming, recreational enrichment, and other grant-supported youth services that collectively support positive youth development and long-term success. This position is responsible for supervising staff, ensuring program quality and compliance, supporting participant engagement and retention, coordinating partnerships, managing daily Teen Center operations, and maintaining a safe, welcoming, structured, and trauma-informed environment for all youth participants. The Director of Teen Center and Youth Development plays a key leadership role in advancing the YMCA of Yonkers' mission through high-quality youth programming, relationship-building, community collaboration, operational excellence, and youth empowerment.

Program leadership & operations

• Manage the daily operations of the Teen Center and associated youth development initiatives serving youth ages 12–21.
• Oversee implementation of the OASAS-funded recovery-support and Clubhouse programming and ensure compliance with all applicable programmatic and regulatory requirements.
• Coordinate structured youth programming focused on leadership development, mentoring, workforce readiness, recreation, wellness, prevention, academic support, life skills, and community engagement.
• Support implementation of Teen Center initiatives including Y-Achievers, wellness and prevention programming, mentoring activities, workforce development initiatives, recreational programming, and special events.
• Ensure programming remains engaging, youth-centered, trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and aligned with YMCA values and organizational priorities.
• Monitor participant engagement, attendance, retention, and overall program quality.
• Respond to participant concerns, incidents, behavioral challenges, and operational issues in a timely and professional manner.
• Ensure the Teen Center maintains a safe, clean, organized, structured, and welcoming environment for all participants.
• Assist in planning and coordinating youth trips, enrichment activities, workshops, community events, and recreational programming.
• Support implementation of program schedules, daily activities, and participant engagement strategies consistent with Teen Center operational goals and grant objectives.

Staff leadership & team development

• Supervise Teen Center staff, counselors, interns, volunteers, and program facilitators.
• Provide direct supervision, coaching, scheduling, and performance management for the Teen Center Counselor, Teen Center Academic Career Counselor, and other assigned staff.
• Support onboarding, training, professional development, and operational accountability across Teen Center programming.
• Conduct regular staff meetings, supervision sessions, and performance evaluations.
• Promote professionalism, accountability, collaboration, and a positive team culture.

Compliance, reporting & program administration

• Maintain accurate program documentation, attendance records, incident reports, and participant files.
• Prepare required reports, statistical summaries, grant documentation, and operational updates.
• Ensure compliance with YMCA policies, grant requirements, funder expectations, and organizational procedures.
• Monitor program budgets, inventory, supplies, and operational resources responsibly.

Community engagement & partnership development

• Build and maintain collaborative relationships with schools, families, community organizations, government agencies, and youth-serving partners.
• Support youth recruitment, outreach, engagement, and retention efforts.
• Participate in community meetings, special events, organizational initiatives, and partnership-building activities.
• Represent the YMCA of Yonkers professionally in community-based settings and collaborative efforts.

Organizational support

• Participate in staff meetings, trainings, and organizational initiatives as assigned.
• Support special events, evening programming, and weekend activities as needed.
• Perform all other duties as assigned.

Required qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Human Services, Social Work, Youth Development, Recreation, Education, Psychology, Public Health, or a related field.
• Minimum of three (3) years of experience working in youth development, community programming, prevention services, behavioral health, recovery-support services, or related fields.
• Strong organizational, communication, and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to effectively engage adolescents, families, community stakeholders, and multidisciplinary teams.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.

Preferred qualifications

• Minimum of one (1) year of supervisory or program leadership experience.
• Experience working with grant-funded, compliance-driven, community-based, OASAS-funded, or recovery-support programming.
• CASAC, CASAC-T, or prior experience working within OASAS-funded prevention or recovery-support programming. Candidates without a CASAC credential must be willing to obtain CASAC-T certification within a timeframe established by the YMCA of Yonkers upon hire.
• Knowledge of trauma-informed practices, positive youth development principles, recovery-support models, and youth engagement strategies.
• Bilingual (English/Spanish).
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, and organizational management systems.

Core competencies

• Youth Development & Program Leadership
• Communication & Relationship Building
• Team Leadership & Staff Development
• Community Engagement
• Problem Solving & Decision Making
• Program Operations & Accountability
• Trauma-Informed & Youth-Centered Practice
• Organizational Collaboration