Program Director- Fort Bend County Youth Development

About the role

The YMCA of Greater Houston Youth Development Director supports the work of the Y, a leading nonprofit committed to strengthening community through youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. This position develops, organizes, and implements high-quality YMCA afterschool and day camp programs throughout Fort Bend County including, but not limited to, programs at Mustang Park, Four Corners, Barbara Jordan, Wessendorff Middle School, Jones Creek, and Camp Cloud. The Youth Development Director will create a safe and positive atmosphere that welcomes and respects all individuals while inspiring youth to discover their passions. This position will enthusiastically represent the Y by displaying a positive attitude, maintaining a high level of energy and commitment to quality throughout all aspects of the job.

The Director must be able to build relationships with schools and community stakeholders, support program startup activities, and assume operational oversight of new afterschool sites as they are established. The Fort Bend Youth Development Director builds and maintains strong relationships with families, schools, community partners and YMCA centers through positive proactive communication. In this role, the Director ensures program quality and compliance by continuous improvement by implementing curriculum to meet licensing standards and improve quality through program evaluation and assessment.

Additionally, the Youth Development Director will recruit, hire, train and onboard YMCA site leads and counselors to deliver high-quality programs while maintaining fiduciary responsibility and oversight.

Responsibilities

• Program Quality: Provides oversight and coordinates high-quality youth development programs in afterschool and outdoor day camp setting for assigned location(s), in adherence to Y program model, curriculum and quality standards. Ensure campgrounds are safe, engaging. Maintains professional and technical knowledge by attending the American Camp Association (ACA) standards training at least once every 2 years.
• Program Compliance: Assures compliance with state and local regulations as they relate to program areas. Ensuring that YMCA program standards are met and risk management policies are followed.
• Program Planning & Innovation: Assist staff in planning, organizing, and implementing age-appropriate/developmentally appropriate program activities for afterschool programs and outdoor day camp. Fosters innovation by recognizing and sharing new and relevant ideas. Demonstrates courageous and intelligent risk taking.
• Program Expansion & Development: Identifies opportunities for growth and expansion of youth development programming in the Fort Bend community. Assists with evaluating community needs, developing partnerships with schools and community organizations, supporting grant and funding objectives, and preparing for the launch and operation of new afterschool program sites as assigned.
• Staff Development: Recruits, hires, trains required program staff required to meet DFPS minimum licensing standards and Y staffing ratios. Reviews and evaluates staff performance and develops strategies to motivate staff to achieve program goals.
• Fiscal Management: Adheres to responsible fiscal stewardship, including managing all accounts receivable and accounts payable related to site budgets. Manage payroll related transactions and monitors for accuracy and completion. Ensures program operates within budget and meets fiscal goals through forecasting and budget monitoring.
• Marketing & Promotion: Implements marketing strategies to promote program growth and brand exposure to the targeted communities and families. Expands program within the community in accordance with strategic and operating plans. Assists in the marketing and distribution of program information.
• Community Engagement: Builds and maintains relationship with families through consistent communication including parent orientations, newsletters, parent conferences and parent engagement events. Actively engages in school district and/or center-based community events to build deeper relationships and YMCA brand awareness.
• Center Engagement: Actively participates in YMCA center activities, meetings, and staff training. Intentionally collaborates with center program staff. Develop and maintain good working relationships with the directors, staff, parents and families by way of open communication, positive problem solving, flexibility, and teamwork.
• Relationship Building: Develops and maintains strong relationships with school administration, parent and community groups and other organizations and agencies related to assigned programs. Responds to all agencies, parents and community inquiries and complaints in a timely manner.
• Program Evaluation: Collects necessary qualitative and quantitative data needed to monitor program evaluation and measure program effectiveness. Lead Youth Program Quality (YPQ) intervention process at assigned locations. Use continuous program monitoring and evaluate the effectiveness of and participation in program and make adjustments to program as needed.
• Annual Campaign: Participates in the annual fundraising campaign and committees as assigned at the center and meets staff campaign goals. Supports direct staff in their participation in the Better Us annual fundraising campaign.
• Project Teams: Participates in project teams related to advancing the strategic vision and goals of youth development department.
• Child Abuse Prevention: Reports suspicious and inappropriate behaviors and policy violations. Follows mandated abuse and incident reporting requirements. Ensures youth are properly signed in and signed out, ensures only authorized adults are allowed in the facility, etc. Adheres to policies related to boundaries with each child.

Requirements

• Minimum of 2 years of experience managing youth programs, afterschool programs, camps, or related services.
• 3–5 years previous experience including 2 years supervisory experience in licensed childcare (preferred).
• Bachelor’s degree in business, education, non-profit management or related field, or equivalent experience required (preferred).
• Must meet Director qualifications as stated in the Minimum Standards (744.1015) under TDPRS.
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain collaborative relationships with schools, community organizations, and other stakeholders to support program goals, grant objectives, and community impact.
• Ability to recruit, hire, train, supervise, and develop staff.
• Proven ability to build and maintain collaborative partnerships with families, schools, community organizations, and other stakeholders.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, maintain accurate records, and meet program compliance requirements.
• Enthusiasm and commitment to youth outdoor education.
• Ability to work in all types of weather conditions.
• At least 21 years of age.
• CPR, First Aid, AED certifications and Child Abuse prevention training.
• Previous experience with diverse populations.
• Strong communication skills (verbal and written).
• Current record of tuberculosis examination and/or current local health department regulations, examinations, and/or immunization as required by the local or State Department of Health.
• Available for training on occasional weekends and after hours.

Skills

• Knowledge of Fort Bend County, including local schools, community organizations, resources, and the needs of youth and families (preferred).

Physical demands

• The employee is regularly required to stand, walk, talk and hear.
• The employee frequently is required to walk.
• The employee frequently is required to use hands to finger, handle, and/or feel objects, tools, and/or controls.
• The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.
• Possess adequate vision and hearing to safely monitor environment and effectively communicate with members.

Work environment

• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Travel

• Travel is primarily local between assigned centers during the business day, although some out-of-area and overnight travel may be expected.