Youth Director

About the role

The Youth Director administers a developmentally appropriate youth program for children of eligible patrons, overseeing either a small (up to 99 children) or medium (100-199 children) School Age Care (SAC) program and/or a Youth Program (YP).

Responsibilities

• Applies professional knowledge of child and youth development to develop and supervise a developmentally appropriate SAC and YP.
• Implements programs promoting social, emotional, physical, and cognitive growth for children and youth in served age categories.
• Provides program oversight and accountability for employee performance and child safety in accordance with DOD, Department of Navy (DoN), and local policies.
• Recommends modifications to higher-level program goals and interprets child and youth development philosophy/principles based on patron needs and program evaluations.
• Ensures development, implementation, and analysis of surveys and needs assessments for staff and patrons to guide programming and hours of operation.
• Collects and maintains statistical data for planning and reporting as required by higher headquarters and statutory requirements.
• Maintains liaison with local institutions and community organizations to stay current on trends and provide additional opportunities for families, children, and youth.
• Interacts professionally with employees, parents, volunteers, and local installation command personnel; resolves issues collaboratively.

Budgeting and Financial Management

• Develops integrated budget input, analyzes budget variances, and prepares justifications for program resource funding.
• Oversees collection, accurate accounting, and reporting of funds received from patrons.
• Ensures compliance with regulations governing appropriated and nonappropriated funds and adheres to authorized acquisition methods.

Personnel Management

• Supervises employees and volunteers, ensuring timely and proper initiation of personnel actions.
• Supports and communicates established EEO objectives and policies in personnel management.
• Ensures adherence to safety, health, nutrition, and risk management policies and procedures.
• Develops staffing schedules in accordance with established ratios and group sizes, coordinating across CYP programs.
• Establishes local performance standards, evaluates performance, and provides clear guidance on compliance and execution of directives.
• Resolves personnel-related complaints and takes disciplinary action as necessary.
• Collaborates with CYP Training Specialists to identify training needs, provide or arrange training, and assess its application.
• Ensures training is competency-based and tied to career progression; encourages continuing higher education.

Program Operations

• Contributes to the development of CYP standard operating procedures (SOPs) for efficient facility and program management and ensures their implementation.
• Collaborates with other CYP Directors to establish and implement a combined Parent Involvement Board (PIB).
• Provides input for CYP employee and parent handbooks and ensures their distribution.
• Ensures full utilization of available program spaces and collaborates to fill vacancies quickly via the Central Waiting List (CWL).

Compliance

• Ensures compliance with standards and criteria from DoN, DoD, Military Child Care Act (MCCA), and Council on Accreditation (COA).
• Develops and provides programs related to core areas outlined in OPNAV and implements DoN-required programs such as Boys and Girls Club of America (BGCA) or 4-H.
• Implements policies and procedures for compliance with health, fire, safety, facility, and program regulatory guidance.
• Ensures compliance with USDA Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP).

Additional Responsibilities

• Serves as a mandatory reporter to Family Advocacy and Child Protective Services.

Requirements

• Must successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check; discrepancies must be resolved as a condition of employment.
• Must pass a pre-employment physical, provide evidence of immunization, be free of communicable diseases, and obtain appropriate immunizations.
• Must successfully obtain and maintain appropriate security clearance as needed.
• Ability to complete required training certificates and maintain certifications or credentials required by Federal, State, and/or national accreditation institutions for DoD's Child and Youth Programs.

Qualifications

Resumes must demonstrate experience and knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) relevant to this position. Applicants should clearly specify their experience level and KSAs.

• A combination of education and full-time experience working with children.
• Knowledge of child and youth development principles and program design for safety, security, disease prevention, employee training, developmentally appropriate activities, parent involvement, and facility management.
• Knowledge of DOD, DON, local, and state regulations, instructions, and procedures pertaining to military child care.
• Knowledge of Federal and State laws governing detection and prevention of child abuse and/or neglect.
• Knowledge of facility design, functional use, and maintenance concepts for military child care.
• Knowledge of financial management, budgeting, and purchasing for child and youth programs.
• Skill in program planning, organizing, and coordinating to devise and implement diverse program components.
• Skill in working with military families and understanding military lifestyles is preferred.
• Skill in interpersonal communication and leadership to facilitate a collaborative and cohesive CYP team.
• Ability to identify and respond to emergencies, including evacuations, child/youth illness, and physical/emotional disorders.
• Ability to supervise others, exercise sound business skills, and provide positive personnel management.
• Ability to communicate effectively in English, both orally and in writing, with strong interpersonal communication skills.

Education

• A bachelor's degree related to youth programs (e.g., youth recreation, physical education, elementary/secondary education, home economics with emphasis in human/youth development) and three years of specialized full-time experience working with children/youth.
• OR a combination of education (minimum 24 higher-level semester hours in a child-related field) and three years of specialized full-time experience working with children/youth.