Program Director, COMPASS (53111)

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day implementation and oversight of a high-quality COMPASS afterschool program.
• Ensure programming provides a safe, supportive, and engaging environment where students grow academically, socially, and personally.
• Deliver enriching programming that balances academic support with physical activity, social-emotional learning, arts, STEM, and leadership development.
• Prioritize inclusive, culturally responsive experiences that reflect students' identities and lived experiences.
• Plan engaging activities that extend learning beyond the classroom and organize community-building experiences such as family nights, Health & Resource Fairs, Family Days, and special events that strengthen family engagement.
• Audit program effectiveness, participant experience, and operational systems using data, observations, stakeholder feedback, and staff reflection.
• Lead continuous improvement efforts that strengthen program quality, participant outcomes, staff effectiveness, and operational excellence.
• Exercise sound judgment, demonstrate initiative, and serve as the primary leader responsible for the overall success, quality, compliance, and sustainability of the program site.
• Oversee consultant and subcontractor agreements related to program services, ensuring all required documentation, approvals, and funder authorizations are secured prior to the commencement of services.
• Complete quarterly RiseBoro Board of Directors reports and other required agency reporting.
• Monitor site expenditures, submit purchase requests with appropriate documentation, track spending against budget allocations, and proactively address or escalate fiscal variances to ensure responsible stewardship of program resources.
• Own site performance by monitoring progress toward enrollment, attendance, participation, quality assurance, and outcome goals, implementing corrective action plans when performance falls below expectations.
• Anticipate challenges, identify opportunities, and proactively implement solutions that strengthen program operations, participant experiences, staff effectiveness, and overall site performance.
• Serve as the Inclusion Coordinator, partnering with participants, families, and staff to identify and access accommodations, resources, and supports, including those provided through DYCD, to address individual needs and promote meaningful participation, equitable access, and belonging.
• Oversee the development, implementation, and monitoring of Individualized Accommodation Plans, Student Behavioral Support Plans, and related documentation to ensure participant needs are addressed consistently and appropriately.
• Coordinate direct and indirect supports, including securing paraprofessional and bilingual staffing, facilitating referrals for assessments and mental health evaluations, and connecting families to community resources as appropriate.
• Communicate with DYCD and relevant stakeholders regarding specialized supports that extend beyond program capacity, including requests related to paraprofessionals, nursing services, transportation, and other accommodations.
• Oversee implementation of Mental Health Supports requirements, ensuring staff complete required trainings related to mental health awareness, engagement and de-escalation strategies, crisis response protocols, and available resources.
• Complete required trainings on mental health spectrum, crisis response and organizational crisis navigation.
• Support eligible staff in accessing professional development opportunities, including the New York State Youth Peer Advocate Credential.
• Collaborate with local mental health and behavioral health providers to establish and maintain an annual referral plan, ensure staff understand referral procedures, coordinate communication with providers, and track de-identified referral data.
• Develop and implement a customized crisis navigation plan in partnership with Social Workers, mental health professionals, and community providers.
• Serve as RiseBoro's primary representative at the school site and liaison to DYCD officials, maintaining strong relationships with school leadership, funders, and community partners to ensure alignment, responsiveness, and shared success.
• Build trusting relationships with caregivers to support student success and maintain regular contact with DYCD officials and school partners throughout the program year.

Competencies

• At least two years of supervisory experience and three years of experience administering youth programs.
• Ability to multi-task, meet set deadlines, and demonstrate strong organization, communication, and writing skills.
• Proficiency in MS Office Suite.
• Demonstrated commitment to high-quality youth development practice, participant success, and continuous improvement.
• Bilingual in English & Spanish is a plus.
• A demonstrated commitment to supporting communities who have experienced systemic oppression and bias (e.g., people of color, LGBTQ+ people, immigrants, justice involved persons, etc.).

Education And Experience

• An associate’s degree in child development, elementary education, physical education, recreation or a related field and two years of direct experience working with children less than 13 years of age, including at least one year in a supervisory capacity in a childcare program or related field of work.
• A New York State Children’s Program Administrator Credential and two years of direct experience working with children less than 13 years of age, including at least one year in a supervisory capacity in a childcare program or related field of work.
• A School-Age Child Care Credential or other Office-recognized credential specific to the school-age developmental period and two years of direct experience working with children less than 13 years of age, including at least one year in a supervisory capacity in a childcare program or related field of work.
• Two years of college with 18 credits in Child Development, Elementary Education, Physical Education, Recreation or a related field; and two years of direct experience working with children less than 13 years of age, including at least one year in a supervisory capacity in a childcare program or related field of work.

Qualifications

RiseBoro makes reasonable accommodations based on religion and/or disability as required by law, and requests for accommodation are to be directed to the Human Resources Department.