Vice President of Youth Development

About the Role

The Vice President of Youth Development reports directly to the CEO and serves as a key member of the senior leadership team, providing strategic vision and executive leadership for one of the YMCA's largest and most impactful areas of service. This newly created executive position reflects the YMCA's commitment to expanding its impact in youth development—one of the organization's three core pillars—ensuring every child and teen has the opportunity to reach their full potential while responding to critical and evolving community needs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in education, nonprofit management, or a related field; Master's degree preferred.
• Minimum 7–10 years of progressive leadership experience in youth development, education, program development, or a related field.
• Demonstrated success coaching and developing director-level staff.
• Deep knowledge of youth development best practices, positive youth development frameworks, and YMCA national standards.
• Experience with child care licensing and/or day camp operations strongly preferred.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills with the ability to represent the organization externally at a senior level.
• Strong financial acumen, including experience managing budgets, driving revenue, and tracking and analyzing program performance data.
• Working knowledge of Connecticut DCFL licensing requirements and relevant state and federal regulations.
• CPR/AED certified or ability to obtain certification within 30 days of hire.

Responsibilities

Youth Development Strategy & Program Quality

• Own the strategic vision for the YMCA's full youth development portfolio, from early learning and child care to camp, competitive aquatics, and teen leadership, translating that vision into measurable results.
• Establish a unified framework for designing, evaluating, and improving all youth programs, setting standards for access, inclusion, quality, and age-appropriate progression.
• Define programmatic excellence, ensuring all program models reflect national best practices and local mission values while remaining responsive to community needs.
• Set strategic direction for participant pathways across the full youth development continuum, from first program experience to long-term engagement.
• Build organizational systems and accountability infrastructure to drive positive youth development outcomes, ensuring clear metrics and continuous improvement.

Leadership, Alignment & Team Development

• Invest in the growth and effectiveness of direct reports, coaching them to become strong, autonomous leaders who inspire their teams and drive results.
• Foster alignment across youth development, competitive athletics, operations, and finance to deliver seamless program experiences.
• Build a culture of leadership development, establishing clear expectations and growth pathways for emerging leaders.
• Own the financial performance of the youth development portfolio, including budgeting, forecasting, variance analysis, and accountability for revenue and expense targets.
• Serve as a key advisor to the CEO on youth development strategy.

Safety, Compliance, and Risk Management

• Establish and uphold the highest standards of safety and regulatory compliance across all youth development programs, including child care licensing, day camp operations, and child abuse prevention.
• Ensure all programs meet or exceed applicable federal, state, and local regulations, including CT DCFL licensing requirements, OSHA standards, and YMCA of the USA risk management guidelines.
• Champion child abuse prevention, ensuring staff training, policy enforcement, and a culture of vigilance and reporting.

Partnership and Community Presence

• Serve as a visible and credible external representative of the YMCA's youth development mission, engaging with local school districts, private schools, community organizations, and public agencies.
• Represent the YMCA at community events, coalitions, panels, and public forums to elevate the organization's profile as a leader in youth development.
• Cultivate strategic partnerships to strengthen program quality, expand access, and create pathways for under-resourced populations.
• Collaborate with the development team to support funding, grant applications, and long-term sustainability efforts.
• Partner with the marketing department to articulate the YMCA's youth development philosophy and impact through compelling storytelling.