2026/2027 Afterschool Counselor (located in Hillsborough County Elementary Schools)

Description

Under the direction of the Site Supervisor, the Afterschool Counselor provides safety, well-being and development of participants in the after school program and is instrumental in closing the Achievement Gap and cultivating an environment in which youth have a sense of belonging. This position interacts and serves as a mentor for youth, helping to nurture their self-esteem, confidence and to reflect the Tampa Y core values when interacting with youth. The Afterschool Counselor exhibits behaviors and attitudes that are consistent with the Tampa YMCA mission and policies of the Association.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Program Quality and Growth

• Maintains complete responsibility for a program group of 20-25 students at all
• Maintains face counts and headcounts with staff ratio at all times
• Greets children and maintains a high level of professional courtesy with parents, facility personnel, staff and clients at all times.
• Creates a positive atmosphere, which boosts self-esteem and general self-concept for all
• Ensures quality of supplies, equipment and materials are well maintained. Implements curriculum that is developmentally and culturally

Operations/Leadership

• Adheres to, ensures enforcement of program rules, and communicates them positively and effectively to program participants.
• Supervises and implements activities for a group of children in accordance to both age and developmentally appropriate practices.
• Assists with the set up and cleanup of program
• Accurately completes and turns in all reports by due dates, if
• Ensures the use of the electronic time and attendance software system. All time change requests must be completed and submitted by assigned due date.
• Reports to work on time, as scheduled and must be in approved YMCA uniform.
• Immediately notify your Program Director if you are going to be late or absent. Last minute notification of absence may result in disciplinary action.
• Models, reinforces and abides by the Tampa YMCA core values of Caring, Honesty, Respect, Responsibility and the Tampa YMCA Code of Conduct.
• Reports and documents behavior issues immediately to the Site Supervisor
• Maintains positive relationships with parents and other staff. Models relationship-building skills in all interactions.
• Assists with the Annual Giving
• Suggests ideas and actions to improve the
• Attends all staff meetings and training
• Must have reliable transportation and willing to travel, if
• Performs all other duties as

Safety and Risk Management:

• Ensures all emergency procedures are
• Ensures proper attendance procedures are met (sign in/sign out log daily). Reports discrepancies to the Site Supervisor immediately.
• Ensures that the proper staff to child ratios are maintained at all times and reports discrepancies to the Site Supervisor as needed.
• Provides daily inspections of areas used by the program to ensure both cleanliness and
• Reports any questionable signs of abuse and documents the incident with the Site Supervisor
• Reports incidents and accidents immediately to the Site
• Performs first aid as needed and ensures injury incident forms are completed in a timely Reports injuries immediately to Site Supervisor.
• Identifies and directly reports instances of unusual, disruptive, unsafe or threating behavior, inappropriate language or conduct, or other disciplinary issues.
• Adheres to the Child Abuse & Neglect Reporting requirements, which mandate by law all childcare personnel to report suspicions of child abuse, neglect, or The Tampa YMCA requires employees to follow the internal reporting procedures with the assistance of the Program Director and Director of Quality and Risk Management.
• Conducts thirty-minute face counts to ensure that the proper staff to child ratios are maintained at all times and reports discrepancies to the Site Supervisor immediately.
• Ensures all emergency medication for participants are maintained and accessible at all times during programming.
• Additional medication training may be required, including the implementation of administering medicine such as epi-pens, inhalers, shots, injections for diabetes, etc.

Requirements

Education/Experience:

• 18 years or older, preferred.
• High School Diploma or GED, preferred.
• Must have a minimum of one-year experience in school, community, volunteer or work experience in a role requiring interaction with youth.
• Must be able to work cooperatively with children, parents and peers; demonstrate character, integrity, adaptability and patience in communicating with others.

Certifications/Trainings Required:

• Must obtain within 30 days of employment and maintain current certifications in CPR, AED and First Aid
• Must obtain within 10 days of employment 8 Early Learning Modules or equivalent
• Maintain other required certifications as stated in the training

WORK ENVIRONMENT AND PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job includes, but not limited to:

• The employee needs sufficient strength, agility and mobility to perform essential functions and to supervise program activities in a wide variety of indoor and outdoor locations.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use a computer for extended periods of time and be able to communicate using a computer and authorized work phone/smart device.
• Ability to instruct and observe participants during program activities.
• The employee frequently is required to see, observe, and hear all participants, and make sound judgments and decisions.
• Ability to perform all physical aspects of the position, including, but not limited to, leading class, walking, standing, bending, reaching, and lifting.
• Ability to sit and reach, and must be able to move around the work environment.
• Hear noises and distress signals in the program environment, including in the classroom and anywhere around the zone of responsibility.
• Must have flexibility and the ability to adapt to changing circumstances.
• Ability to lift and move a minimum of 30 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
• Ability to work in a variety of environments, specifically those subject to extreme humidity/dampness, heat and cold.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to high.
• This position requires reliable transportation and willing to travel, if needed.

This position may require availability to work flexible hours including evenings, weekends, and holidays as needed.