Senior Director, Youth Development

YMCA
Salary
$54,000.00
$60,000.00
How to Apply
Apply Online
We are hiring a Senior Director of Youth Development! 
Job Description

Why Your Role Matters 

The Senior Youth Development Director serves as a key strategic leader within the Out-of-School Time department, providing oversight for multiple program portfolios, grant-funded initiatives, special projects, and community partnerships. This position ensures the successful implementation, growth, and sustainability of programs while advancing the YMCA's mission to strengthen youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. The Senior Youth Development Director is responsible for leading a team of licensed childcare directors, ensuring operational excellence across assigned programs, maintaining compliance with grant and regulatory requirements, and serving as the primary liaison for school districts, funding agencies, community partners, and organizational stakeholders. 

Through strong leadership, relationship management, and strategic planning, this role drives program quality, expands community impact, and ensures measurable outcomes for youth and families. 

Qualifications

What You Bring to the Y 

  • Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university required. 
  • Master's Degree in Education, Educational Leadership, Public Administration, Nonprofit Management, Child
  • Development, Youth Development, or a related field preferred. 
  • Minimum of five years of progressively responsible leadership experience in youth development, education, childcare, afterschool programming, or nonprofit management. 
  • Minimum of three years supervising managers or licensed program directors. 
  • Experience managing grant-funded programs and reporting requirements strongly preferred. 
  • Experience working with school districts, government agencies, and community partners preferred. 
  • Financial acumen: Interpreting and applying understanding of key financial indicators to make better business decisions. 
  • Organizational savvy: Maneuver comfortably through complex policy, process, and people-related organizational dynamics. 
  • Ensure Accountability: Hold yourself and others accountable to meet commitments. 
  • Collaborate: Build partnerships and work collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives.  
  • Communicate Effectively: Clearly convey ideas, instructions, and information in both verbal and written forms, adjusting messaging to suit different audiences and ensuring understanding.  
  • Foster Belonging: Recognize the value that different perspectives and cultures bring to an organization. 
  • Problem Solving: Assess situations, solve problems, and take action.  
  • Build Effective & Inclusive Teams: Build strong identity teams that apply their diverse skills and perspectives to achieve common goals.   
  • Plan & Align: Plan and prioritize work to meet commitments aligned with organizational goals. 
     

Certifications 

  • Must meet Texas Health and Human Services Child Care Licensing qualifications for Program Director certification. 
  • CPR and First Aid Certification required or obtained upon hire. 
  • Valid driver's license and reliable transportation required. 
     

Physical Requirements:   

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, stand, walk, bend, talk and occasionally lift and/or move items including equipment, furniture and/or children. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.   

Essential Functions

How You Will Make an Impact  

Performance Achievement & Results  

  • Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing team of Program Directors and Licensed Child Care Directors by fostering accountability, strengthening leadership capacity, supporting succession planning, and ensuring alignment with organizational goals and people practices. 
  • Provide strategic oversight of assigned program portfolios by monitoring enrollment, participation, staffing, quality standards, and performance metrics while implementing improvement strategies that enhance program quality, sustainability, and community impact. 
  • Build and maintain strategic partnerships while ensuring operational excellence through compliance with licensing, grant, and YMCA requirements, effective resource stewardship, financial management, risk mitigation, and continuous quality improvement efforts. 

Leadership & Staff Development 

  • Directly supervise, coach, and develop up to 10 Program Directors and Licensed Child Care Directors. 
  • Build leadership capacity through ongoing coaching, performance management, and professional development. 
  • Conduct regular one-on-one meetings, performance evaluations, and leadership development planning. 
  • Ensure assigned leaders effectively recruit, retain, develop, and supervise program staff. 
  • Foster a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, collaboration, and innovation. 
  • Support succession planning and talent development efforts across the department. 

Program Portfolio Management 

  • Provide strategic oversight of assigned afterschool, summer, grant-funded, and specialty programs. 
  • Ensure consistent implementation of program standards, curriculum, quality initiatives, and participant engagement strategies. 
  • Monitor enrollment, attendance, staffing, participant outcomes, and program performance metrics. 
  • Analyze program data and develop action plans to improve quality, participation, and sustainability. 
  • Collaborate with senior leadership to identify opportunities for program expansion and innovation. 

Grant Management & Reporting 

  • Serve as the lead administrator for assigned grants, contracts, and funded initiatives. 
  • Develop systems to monitor grant compliance, deliverables, performance measures, and outcomes. 
  • Coordinate and submit all required grant reports, evaluations, narratives, data submissions, and supporting documentation. 
  • Ensure grant-funded programs meet participation, attendance, budget, and outcome expectations. 
  • Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to support grant implementation and sustainability. 
  • Support grant writing efforts through program design, data collection, budgeting, and outcome reporting. 


Strategic Partnerships & Community Engagement 

  • Serve as the primary relationship manager for assigned school districts, campuses, municipalities, funders, and community partners. 
  • Develop and maintain strong partnerships that support program success and organizational growth. 
  • Represent the YMCA at community meetings, advisory committees, school district meetings, and stakeholder events. 
  • Collaborate with partners to identify opportunities for enhanced services, funding, and community impact. 
  • Support the development and implementation of special projects and strategic initiatives. 


Operational Excellence & Compliance 

  • Ensure programs maintain compliance with: 
    • Texas Child Care Licensing 
    • Youth Camp Licensing 
    • Texas Rising Star 
    • Grant requirements 
    • YMCA standards and policies 
    • School district agreements and MOUs 
    • Monitor program audits, site visits, licensing inspections, and corrective action plans. 
    • Ensure accurate and timely completion of program documentation and reporting requirements. 
    • Support risk management and child safety initiatives. 

Financial & Resource Management 

  • Assist with development and management of program and grant budgets. 
  • Monitor expenditures and ensure responsible stewardship of resources. 
  • Support forecasting, budget planning, and financial sustainability efforts. 
  • Ensure resources are allocated effectively to maximize program impact and efficiency. 
  • Complete other duties as assigned.  

 
About Us

The Greater Austin YMCA is a dynamic force elevating quality of life in Greater Austin by boldly expanding access for all children, adults, families and seniors in our rapidly growing community. For nearly 75 years, the Greater Austin YMCA has evolved to address each community's greatest needs, touching every phase of life and nurturing happier, healthier people, a stronger community and a better world.

We believe everyone deserves access to high-quality programs that keep our community strong. As a proud 501(c)(3) nonprofit, we provide financial assistance to expand access so community members can learn, grow, and thrive through our early learning academies, fitness and wellness centers, youth programs, workforce development, adult programming, mental health counseling, and more.

Each year, the Y serves nearly 140,000 people across Travis and Hays counties through seven fitness and wellness centers, more than 55 licensed campuses in four school districts, two YMCA Tomorrow Academy™ locations, and Camp Moody, our outdoor Adventure camp.

Globally, the YMCA is one of the oldest and largest youth-serving organizations in the world, united by our commitment to a better future -- for all.

Additional Information:

The organization has reviewed this job description to ensure that essential functions and basic duties have been included. It is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all functions, responsibilities, skills, and abilities. Additional functions and requirements may be assigned by supervisors as deemed appropriate.

The Greater Austin YMCA provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, marital status, amnesty, or status as a covered veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. Greater Austin YMCA complies with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment in every location in which we have employees. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

 
We Take Care of Our People

Our mission isn't just a statement--it's a guiding force that shapes our actions every day. Rooted in our unwavering commitment to serving our community and esteemed team members, our mission is a true way of life. We're passionate about fostering health and wellness for all, and we're truly excited to introduce the following comprehensive benefits package that has been thoughtfully designed to prioritize your well-being.

  • Health Insurance: We provide comprehensive health coverage, including medical, dental, and vision plans, to ensure the well-being of our employees.
  • Retirement Savings Plan: We offer a 12% employer-funded retirement plan upon meeting eligibility, empowering employees to plan for their future.
  • Paid Time Off: Work-life integration is important to us, which is why we provide up to 48 days of paid time off over vacation, holidays, and sick leave.
  • Additional Perks: Free household membership to facilities operated by the Greater Austin YMCA, which is worth $1,200+ annually.