Program Director- Youth Development Houston ISD

About the Role

The YMCA of Greater Houston Youth Development Director supports the Y’s mission of strengthening community through youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. This position develops, organizes, and implements high‑quality YMCA after‑school and day‑camp programs throughout the Greater Houston area, creating a safe and positive atmosphere that welcomes and respects all individuals while inspiring youth to discover their passions. The Director builds and maintains strong relationships with families, community partners, and YMCA centers through proactive communication, implements curriculum to meet licensing standards, and oversees staff recruitment, hiring, and onboarding.

Responsibilities

• Program Quality: Provide oversight and coordinate high‑quality youth development programs in after‑school and outdoor day‑camp settings, ensuring adherence to the Y program model, curriculum, and quality standards; maintain safe, engaging camp grounds; attend local and national camp standards trainings, seminars, webinars, and conferences.
• Program Compliance: Assure compliance with state and local regulations; ensure YMCA program standards and risk‑management policies are followed.
• Program Planning & Innovation: Assist staff in planning, organizing, and implementing age‑appropriate, developmentally appropriate activities; foster innovation by recognizing and sharing new ideas; demonstrate courageous and intelligent risk‑taking.
• Staff Development: Recruit, hire, and train program staff to meet DFPS licensing standards and Y staffing ratios; review and evaluate staff performance; develop strategies to motivate staff to achieve program goals.
• Fiscal Management: Manage accounts receivable and payable related to site budgets; handle payroll transactions and monitor for accuracy; ensure programs operate within budget and meet fiscal goals through forecasting and budget monitoring.
• Marketing & Promotion: Implement marketing strategies to promote program growth and brand exposure; expand programs within the community in line with strategic and operating plans; assist in marketing and distribution of program information.
• Community Engagement: Build and maintain relationships with families through parent orientations, newsletters, conferences, and engagement events; actively participate in school‑district and center‑based community events to increase YMCA brand awareness.
• Center Engagement: Participate in YMCA center activities, meetings, and staff trainings; collaborate intentionally with center program staff; maintain open communication, positive problem solving, flexibility, and teamwork with directors, staff, parents, and families.
• Relationship Building: Develop and maintain strong relationships with school administration, parent and community groups, and other organizations; respond promptly to agency, parent, and community inquiries and complaints.
• Program Evaluation: Collect qualitative and quantitative data to monitor and measure program effectiveness; lead Youth Program Quality (YPQ) intervention processes; continuously monitor participation and adjust programs as needed.
• Annual Campaign: Participate in the annual fundraising campaign and related committees; support staff participation in the Better Us fundraising campaign.
• Project Teams: Participate in project teams advancing the strategic vision and goals of the youth development department.
• Child Abuse Prevention: Report suspicious or inappropriate behaviors and policy violations; follow mandated abuse and incident reporting requirements; ensure proper sign‑in/sign‑out procedures and that only authorized adults are in the facility; adhere to boundary policies.

Requirements

• 3–5 years of relevant experience, including at least 2 years of supervisory experience in licensed childcare (preferred).
• Bachelor’s degree in a related field or equivalent experience (preferred).
• Must meet Director qualifications as stated in the Minimum Standards (#744.1015) under TDPRS.
• At least 21 years of age.
• Current CPR, First Aid, AED certifications and Child Abuse Prevention training.
• Previous experience working with diverse populations.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Current tuberculosis examination and/or compliance with local health department regulations, examinations, and immunizations as required.
• Availability for occasional weekend and after‑hours trainings.
• Supervisory responsibilities for staff.
• Language skills: ability to read, comprehend, and write simple instructions, correspondence, and memos; present information in one‑on‑one and small‑group settings.
• Reasoning ability: apply common‑sense understanding to simple one‑ or two‑step instructions; handle standardized situations with minimal variables.
• Physical demands: walking, standing, bending, reaching; regular computer use; ability to communicate via computer and smart device; adequate vision and hearing to monitor environment and communicate effectively.
• Work environment: moderate noise level; reasonable accommodations available for disabilities.
• Travel: primarily local between assigned centers during business days; occasional out‑of‑area or overnight travel may be required.
• Hours: flexible scheduling; may include days, evenings, weekends, and holidays based on center needs.

Benefits

• Competitive compensation.
• Generous and flexible paid time off.
• Health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Long‑term disability, basic life insurance, and other voluntary benefits.
• 403(b) retirement plan.
• Free YMCA membership.