Youth Development Site Lead - Bethke

Provides direction for the program and staff and implements school-age enrichment program curriculum. Delivers a quality experience to children and parents that focuses on youth development, including the YMCA core values: honesty, respect, responsibility, caring, and faith. Ensures the safety and well-being of children and leads age-appropriate activities while monitoring children’s behavior in care.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the designated Texas Childcare Licensing Site Director, ensuring compliance with all YMCA Houston and state regulations and standards.
• Oversee the daily operations of the afterschool program, ensuring a safe, nurturing, and stimulating environment for all children.
• Maintain the program site and equipment, assist with set-up and breakdown of activity centers, and clean the program area.
• Ensure the safety and security of all children and staff at the site; maintain accurate records, including attendance, incident reports, and compliance documentation.
• Monitor children’s activities to ensure safe and age-appropriate behaviors; supervise staff adherence to policies and redirect as needed.
• Conduct regular headcounts and maintain accurate attendance records; respond promptly to emergencies and incidents following YMCA policies.
• Implement positive behavior management techniques to promote a respectful and inclusive environment; address behavioral issues constructively.
• Conduct regular safety drills and inspections to ensure compliance with licensing requirements and organizational policies.
• Ensure required postings are on display; follow all organizational policies related to health, safety, child protection, and confidentiality.
• Maintain a clean and organized environment, adhering to sanitation and safety standards; report concerns to the Program Director promptly.
• Oversee the implementation of age-appropriate activities, including structured and unstructured activities as outlined in YMCA-approved curriculum.
• Encourage and facilitate positive social interactions among children; adapt activities to meet diverse needs and interests.
• Evaluate program effectiveness and make adjustments as necessary.
• Communicate regularly with parents regarding their child’s progress, behavior, and any concerns; address inquiries professionally.
• Maintain accurate enrollment and attendance records, including sign-in sheets and daily rosters.
• Develop and implement strategies to promote program growth and increase enrollment; create retention plans for participant satisfaction.
• Monitor and analyze enrollment trends and feedback to identify areas for improvement and expansion opportunities.
• Plan and implement lesson/activity plans that include formal and informal play, adhering to Y program model and quality standards.
• Lead Youth Program Quality (YPQ) intervention process; use continuous program monitors to evaluate youth participation and program effectiveness.
• Report suspicious and inappropriate behaviors and policy violations; follow mandated abuse and incident reporting requirements.
• Ensure youth are properly signed in and out; permit only authorized adults in the facility; adhere to child boundary policies.
• Ensure unused rooms and closets remain locked; routinely monitor high-risk locations (e.g., bathrooms).

Qualifications

• At least 21 years of age.
• High school diploma or general education degree (GED).
• Minimum of 70 clock hours of training in child or youth development, recreational leadership, or management (two college courses equivalent to 100 clock hours).
• At least 1 year of experience working with youth at a licensed facility, church, school, or equivalent.
• CPR, First Aid, AED certifications, and Child Abuse prevention trainings.
• Ability to plan, organize, and implement age-appropriate/developmentally appropriate program activities.
• Previous experience with diverse populations; supervisory experience preferred.
• Current record of tuberculosis examination and/or local health department regulations, examinations, and/or immunizations as required.
• Pass a local/state background and FBI fingerprinting check.

Skills

• Ability to read and comprehend simple instructions, correspondence, and memos; write simple correspondence.
• Ability to effectively present information in one-on-one and small group situations.
• Basic mathematical skills: addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division using units of American money, weight, volume, and distance.
• Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out simple one- or two-step instructions; deal with standardized situations with minimal variables.

Physical Demands

• Maintain physical condition necessary for light to moderate lifting (up to 25 lbs, occasionally up to 50 lbs).
• Frequent bending, stooping, kneeling, crawling, climbing, standing, walking, pushing, pulling, reaching, balancing, and crouching.
• Use of hands and fingers to handle or feel; ability to speak and hear; close and distant vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.
• Constant utilization of auditory and sensory abilities on the job site.

Work Environment

• Primarily indoor environment during afterschool programs; some exposure to outdoor conditions.
• Exposure to noise, cleaning supplies, laundry detergent, sweat, spills, and messes within the facility.
• May require prolonged standing, bending, stooping, walking long distances, hiking, climbing, and stretching.
• Requires eye-hand coordination and manual dexterity to manipulate equipment and activities.
• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs; work in a camp setting with irregular hours, limited equipment, and exposure to sun, heat, and animals (e.g., bugs).
• Moderate noise level in the work environment.

Schedule

• Before/After School: Part-time, typically Monday-Friday, morning shift 6:30 am – 8:30 am, afternoon shift 2:30 pm – 6:30 pm (start and end times may vary). Program runs concurrently with ISD calendar. Occasional Saturdays may be required.
• Camp: Typically Monday-Friday, 6:30 am – 6:30 pm with morning, afternoon, and evening shift options (start and end times may vary). Camps run concurrently with ISD calendar breaks. Position defaults to Youth Development Counselor during camp seasons unless an alternative position is applied for. Occasional Saturdays may be required.
• Must be available to attend and participate in family nights, program activities, staff meetings, and staff trainings (details provided in advance).

Travel is primarily to an assigned site or camp; occasional travel to other locations may be required.