UACS SFH Group Leader

About the role

The UACS SFH Group Leader supports during-school and after-school programming at six University-Assisted Community School (UACS) partner sites in West Philadelphia. UACS uses athletics as a vehicle for youth development, leadership, mentorship, and community engagement.

Responsibilities

• Support implementation of sports-based programming across UACS partner schools.
• Collaborate with Penn student-athletes and coaches to develop age-appropriate practices, drills, games, and skill-building activities.
• Provide guidance on practice structure, skill progression, group management, inclusive coaching, and youth mentorship.
• Support consistent, engaging, and developmentally appropriate programming across sports and school sites.
• Train and coach high school students serving as mentors and coaches for K-8 participants.
• Provide observation, feedback, and ongoing support to Penn student-athletes and high school student leaders.
• Integrate leadership and social-emotional learning into sports programming, including teamwork, communication, resilience, confidence, accountability, and conflict resolution.
• Foster a safe, welcoming, and inclusive environment that promotes sportsmanship, healthy competition, and positive relationships.
• Help students reflect on their experiences and develop their identities as leaders, mentors, and community members.
• Connect athletics to academic and career enrichment when appropriate, including math, data analysis, communication, and critical thinking.
• Introduce students to educational and career pathways related to sports, such as coaching, sports medicine, analytics, athletic administration, business, and media.
• Cookordination with UACS staff, Penn coaches and student-athletes, and high school leaders to support schedules, practice plans, communication, and daily programming.
• Observe programming and provide constructive feedback to strengthen quality and consistency.
• Support additional program activities and responsibilities as needed.

Requirements

• Experience coaching, teaching, mentoring, or working with K-12 students.
• Knowledge of youth sports and age-appropriate coaching practices.
• Experience working with student-athletes, coaches, or youth leadership programs preferred.
• Ability to coach and develop student leaders through modeling, observation, and constructive feedback.
• Strong communication, organization, collaboration, and relationship-building skills.
• Commitment to youth development, educational opportunity, inclusion, and reducing barriers to sports participation.
• Ability to work effectively with students and colleagues from diverse backgrounds and levels of experience.
• Experience with sports analytics, academic enrichment, or career exploration is a plus.
• Education: High school diploma required, College degree preferred in early childhood education, education or social service fields.
• Experience: minimum of 3 years work experience with elementary-aged children and/or high school youth development programming.
• Completion and passing of funder-required compliance documentation and all Federal and State background checks/clearances.
• Experience with working in School District of Philadelphia, urban settings and diverse student populations.
• Able to be flexible and work on a team.
• Excellent interpersonal, organization and communication skills.
• Punctual and regular attendance; availability Monday-Friday 1:00PM - 6:00 PM.
• Compliance Requirements: Act 168 UPENN Misconduct Form, Mandated Reporter Training, Signed Confidentiality Statement, National Sex Offender Registry (NSOR), UACS Staff Health Assessment, Signed Netter Center Media Release, University-Assisted Community Schools (UACS) Disclosure Statement.

Qualifications

• High school diploma required, College degree preferred in early childhood education, education or social service fields.
• Minimum of 3 years work experience with elementary-aged children and/or high school youth development programming.
• Experience with sports analytics, academic enrichment, or career exploration is a plus.

Skills

• Strong communication, organization, and collaboration skills.
• Ability to work effectively with students and colleagues from diverse backgrounds and levels of experience.
• Experience with sports analytics, academic enrichment, or career exploration is a plus.

Benefits

• Health and Life Insurance
• Matching Retirement Plan
• Supplemental Retirement Plan

Pay

$18-22 per hour commensurate with experience

Schedule

Varies - some average of 20-25 hours/week Monday - Friday 1-6PM. Seasonal work appointments are typically made for fall from 8/31/2026 - 12/24/2026; for spring from 1/4/2027 - 6/11/2027 and in the summer from 6/14-2027 - 7/30/2027. Schedules are subject to change.

Special Requirements

• A background check may be required after a conditional job offer is made.
• Consideration of the background check will be tailored to the requirements of the job.

Equal Opportunity Statement

The University of Pennsylvania is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates are considered for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, creed, national origin (including shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics), citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status or any class protected under applicable federal, state or local law.