The School Age Childcare Director leads the strategic development, coordination, and administration of all school-age childcare programs, including before- and after-school care and summer camp. This position is responsible for ensuring operational excellence, program growth, and high-quality youth experiences that align with the mission of the Capital Area YMCA.
Key responsibilities include managing program budgets to meet fiscal goals, analyzing participation data to evaluate impact, and securing and maintaining appropriate facilities. The Director designs and schedules engaging, age-appropriate activities and ensures accurate maintenance of all program records.
To meet evolving community needs, the Director supervises current offerings, introduces new initiatives, and scales successful programs. This includes supporting marketing efforts and ensuring alignment with all YMCA standards and regulatory requirements, including ADA compliance and state licensing mandates.
A critical leadership function of the role is recruiting, onboarding, and developing a diverse team of staff and volunteers. The Director fosters a collaborative culture, maintains effective schedules, evaluates performance, and ensures a consistent focus on excellence.
Relationship-building is essential. The Director actively engages families, school officials, regulatory agencies, and community partners to strengthen program outcomes. Strong communication and partnership skills are vital to success.
The Director also contributes to YMCA initiatives by participating in committees, special events, and fundraising activities, and performs additional duties as needed to support the mission.
Bachelor's degree in related field or equivalent experience.
• YMCA Team Leader certification preferred and or willingness to achieve certification.
• One to two years related experience (e.g., supervisor or coordinator of childcare programs) preferred.
• Minimum age of 21.
• Ability to relate effectively to diverse groups of people from all social and economic segments of the community.
Program Leadership & Development
Oversees the planning, implementation, and evaluation of before-- and after-school childcare programs and summer camp to ensure high-quality, developmentally appropriate experiences.
Develops and maintains program schedules, curriculum, and activities that align with YMCA core values and meet the interests and needs of participants.
Fiscal and Administrative Management
Develops, monitors, and manages program budgets to ensure alignment with organizational goals and fiscal responsibility.
Maintains accurate and up-to-date records including attendance, incident reports, licensing documentation, and program statistics for continuous evaluation and compliance.
Compliance and Safety
Ensures all programs comply with federal, state, and local licensing regulations, YMCA policies, and accreditation standards.
Implements and enforces safety protocols, emergency procedures, and child protection practices to create a secure environment for all participants.
Staff and Volunteer Supervision
Recruits, hires, trains, and supervises a diverse team of program staff and volunteers.
Provides ongoing professional development, coaching, performance evaluations, and scheduling support to ensure a motivated, effective team.
Community and Stakeholder Engagement
Builds and maintains positive relationships with parents, school personnel, community organizations, and licensing authorities.
Communicates regularly and effectively with all stakeholders to ensure transparency, satisfaction, and program alignment with community needs.
Program Growth and Promotion
Identifies opportunities to expand or enhance services based on community demand and emerging trends.
Collaborates with marketing and outreach teams to promote programs through various channels and increase enrollment and engagement.
Strategic Planning and Innovation
Reviews program outcomes and integrates evidence-based practices to improve quality and impact.
Stays informed about trends in youth development, education, and childcare to bring innovation to program design.
YMCA Mission and Culture
Models and promotes the YMCA’s core values of caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility in all aspects of work.
Participates in YMCA events, fundraising campaigns, and committee activities to support the overall mission and vision of the organization.
Other Duties
Performs other responsibilities and tasks as assigned by leadership to support the operational and strategic goals of the Capital Area YMCA.
Mission Advancement
Values and Purpose Alignment: Demonstrates and promotes the Y’s core values—caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility—in all interactions and decisions.
Community Awareness and Inclusion: Works to understand and meet the diverse needs of the community, ensuring programs are welcoming, inclusive, and accessible to all families.
Volunteerism and Philanthropy: Champions the Y’s cause by supporting volunteer engagement and participating in fundraising efforts and donor stewardship.
Collaboration
Team Leadership: Builds and sustains strong teams by fostering a collaborative culture, empowering staff, and cultivating trust.
Communication and Influence: Clearly communicates program goals, expectations, and outcomes to staff, parents, school officials, and community partners.
Community Engagement: Develops strategic relationships with schools, families, regulatory agencies, and other stakeholders to enhance program quality and visibility.
Operational Effectiveness
Decision Making and Problem Solving: Uses data and experience to make informed decisions that improve program outcomes and ensure safety and quality.
Project Management: Plans and executes multiple programs and events with attention to detail, timeliness, and impact.
Fiscal Management: Oversees program budgets, ensures cost-effective operations, and identifies opportunities for revenue growth or resource optimization.
Personal Growth
Self-Development: Pursues ongoing professional development and encourages a culture of continuous learning among staff.
Emotional Maturity: Demonstrates resilience, empathy, and sound judgment, especially when addressing challenges or resolving conflicts.
Adaptability: Navigates change with flexibility and remains open to new ideas, strategies, and feedback.
Youth Development Expertise
Program Innovation: Designs and delivers youth programs that are engaging, developmentally appropriate, and aligned with best practices.
Health and Safety Stewardship: Maintains a strong commitment to child safety, supervision standards, and regulatory compliance.
Within 30 days of hire, completion of Child Abuse Prevention, Working with Program Volunteers, CPR, First Aid, AED, and Bloodborne Pathogens training.
Fulfillment of state-specific hiring standards and completion of YMCA program-specific training.