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Join our growing team and make an impact on the lives of children and teens through our focus area of Youth Development.
Job Description
As Director of Youth Development, you are building more than programs—you are building experiences that shape lives.
You are the leader who ensures every child feels safe, every family feels welcomed, and every staff member understands the deeper purpose behind the work they do. You create systems that support excellence, but you also create culture—one where staff feel developed, families feel trust, and youth feel they belong.
This role requires someone who can balance strategy and operations, vision, and execution. You must think beyond daily schedules and ratios to see the bigger picture: how youth development programs strengthen the future of our community.
This is about leadership, trust, accountability, and creating meaningful impact through every interaction.
Qualifications
Education: A college degree in Human Services, Education, Recreation, Business Administration, Child Development, or a related field is a plus, but not required. Equivalent combination of education and relevant experience is welcome.
Experience: Four (4) or more years of progressive leadership experience in youth development, childcare, camp, education, recreation, or non-profit program management. Demonstrated experience leading multiple programs, supervising staff, and managing daily operations across diverse program areas. Experience with staff recruitment, training, coaching, and performance management. Proven experience managing department budgets, enrollment growth, and operational planning. Experience working with families, schools, and community partnerships preferred. Previous YMCA experience strongly preferred.
Technical Skills: Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) and Google Workspace. Experience with childcare management systems, scheduling software, registration platforms, and reporting tools preferred. Familiarity with licensing systems, compliance documentation, and program reporting requirements. Ability to analyze data and use metrics to improve program performance.
Communication Skills: Strong verbal and written communication skills with the ability to effectively engage families, staff, volunteers, and community partners. Ability to handle sensitive parent concerns and staff issues with professionalism and sound judgment. Strong presentation and facilitation skills for staff trainings, meetings, and community engagement. Ability to tailor communication style to diverse audiences and situations.
Professional Skills: Strong leadership presence with the ability to inspire trust, accountability, and team engagement. Exceptional organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously. Strategic thinking balanced with strong operational execution. Sound decision-making and problem-solving abilities. Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively across departments. High level of professionalism, flexibility, and adaptability in a fast-paced environment.
Additional Qualifications: Knowledge of state childcare licensing requirements and youth development best practices preferred. Ability to establish and maintain strong community partnerships and collaborative relationships. Ability to work evenings, weekends, and occasional extended hours as needed for programs and events. Ability to travel to schools, meetings, trainings, and community events as required.
Essential Functions
Program Leadership and Operations: Provide strategic oversight for all assigned youth development programs including early childhood education, school-age childcare, preschool, camp, youth enrichment, and teen programs. Develop, implement, and evaluate programs that support enrollment growth, retention, and mission impact. Ensure programs consistently deliver high-quality experiences aligned with YMCA standards and community needs. Monitor daily operations to ensure effective staffing, program execution, and participant satisfaction.
Staff Leadership and Development: Recruit, hire, train, supervise, and develop staff and volunteers across assigned program areas. Create a culture of accountability, growth, and engagement through coaching, recognition, and performance management. Provide leadership development opportunities and succession planning for youth development staff. Model relationship-building skills and maintain strong team communication across all program areas.
Compliance and Risk Management: Ensure full compliance with all YMCA policies, licensing requirements, state regulations, and local safety standards. Maintain program documentation, staff certifications, required trainings, and regulatory reporting. Oversee child safety practices, supervision standards, and emergency procedures across all youth programs. Lead risk management efforts to ensure safe, healthy, and welcoming environments for participants and staff.
Financial Management: Develop, manage, and monitor department budgets to ensure fiscal responsibility and sustainable operations. Analyze enrollment, staffing, and operational trends to improve financial performance. Identify opportunities for program growth, grant support, and funding partnerships. Maintain strong stewardship of resources while balancing mission impact and operational effectiveness.
Family and Community Engagement: Build strong relationships with families, schools, community organizations, and local stakeholders. Address parent concerns with professionalism, empathy, and timely follow-up. Represent the YMCA in community partnerships and collaborative initiatives supporting youth and families. Strengthen program visibility and trust through engagement, outreach, and partnership development.
Fundraising and Volunteer Engagement: Support the YMCA’s annual campaign and fundraising efforts through volunteer leadership and donor engagement. Partner with assigned committees and volunteers to strengthen community support. Assist with special events and initiatives that advance philanthropy and mission awareness. Help connect families and community partners to opportunities for involvement and giving.
Reporting and Continuous Improvement: Maintain accurate program data, enrollment reporting, and operational metrics. Evaluate program effectiveness and implement improvements based on feedback and outcomes. Prepare reports and recommendations for leadership, committees, and board discussions. Use data to drive strategic decisions and strengthen program performance.
Additional Responsibilities: Perform other duties as assigned by the CEO or Director of Operations. Support organizational priorities and cross-functional initiatives as needed. Maintain all required certifications, clearances, and compliance expectations.
Cause-Driven Leadership Competencies
Mission Advancement: Models and teaches the Y’s values while creating meaningful experiences that strengthen youth, families, and communities. Cultivate relationships to support fundraising, volunteerism, and community engagement. Ensures an elevated level of service with a commitment to changing lives.
Collaboration: Champions inclusion activities, strategies, and initiatives. Build relationships that create strong connections among families, staff, schools, and community partners. Empathetically listens and communicates for understanding when negotiating and dealing with conflict. Effectively tailors’ communications to the appropriate audience. Provides staff with feedback, coaching, guidance, and support.
Operational Effectiveness: Provides others with frameworks for making decisions. Conducts prototypes to support the operations of the organization. Develop plans and manage the best practices through engagement of team. Effectively creates and manages budgets. Holds staff accountable for high-quality results using a formal process to measure progress.
Personal Growth: Share new insights. Facilitates change, models adaptability and an awareness of the impact of change. Utilizes non-threatening methods to address sensitive issues and inappropriate behavior or performance. Has the functional and technical knowledge and skills required to perform well; uses best practices and demonstrates up-to-date knowledge and skills in technology.
Required Certifications
CPR, First Aid, Bloodborne Pathogens, Hazard Communications, Sexual Harassment, Duty to Report, Preventing Child Abuse in Youth Serving Organizations.