Group leader

Group Leader

Salary Range $17.00–$19.75 per hour

Employment Type: Part-Time

Schedule: Up to 18 hours per week, Monday–Friday; schedule based on assigned program needs

Location: 220 E 106th St, New York, NY 10029

Responsibilities

• Maintain active supervision of participants at all times during assigned program periods.
• Maintain awareness of participant locations, activities, and needs throughout the program day.
• Ensure participants are appropriately accounted for during arrival, dismissal, transitions, activities, meals, trips, and other program components.
• Follow established sign-in, attendance, transition, and dismissal procedures.
• Maintain appropriate staff-to-participant ratios in accordance with program requirements.
• Reinforce program expectations, safety procedures, and appropriate behavior.
• Immediately report accidents, injuries, safety concerns, suspected abuse or neglect, behavioral incidents, or other concerns to the Program Director or designated site leadership in accordance with RTS procedures.
• Follow all emergency, incident response, and participant safety protocols.
• Never leave participants unsupervised or transfer supervisory responsibility without appropriate staff communication and coverage.
• Build positive, supportive, and professional relationships with program participants.
• Create an environment where young people feel safe, welcomed, respected, included, and valued.
• Support the implementation of the Circle of Courage principles of Belonging, Independence, Mastery, and Generosity.
• Serve as a positive and consistent role model for participants.
• Encourage youth voice, choice, leadership, teamwork, and positive peer relationships.
• Support participants in developing social-emotional skills, confidence, responsibility, and healthy decision-making.
• Recognize participant strengths and provide appropriate encouragement and positive reinforcement.
• Maintain appropriate professional boundaries with participants at all times.
• Establish and reinforce clear group expectations, routines, and behavioral standards.
• Use positive behavior management, restorative practices, redirection, and developmentally appropriate interventions.
• Address conflicts between participants calmly, fairly, and consistently.
• Work proactively to prevent behavioral concerns by maintaining participant engagement and structured routines.
• Seek assistance from program leadership when behavioral concerns require additional intervention.
• Document behavioral incidents or participant concerns when required.
• Support an inclusive environment that respects the individual needs, identities, backgrounds, and abilities of all participants.
• Lead and support age-appropriate recreational, enrichment, community-building, and youth development activities.
• Assist Activity Specialists and other instructional staff with activity implementation and group management.
• Facilitate activities assigned by program leadership using established lesson plans or program materials.
• Prepare activity spaces and materials before programming and support cleanup following activities.
• Encourage active participation while appropriately supporting youth who may require additional assistance.
• Adapt facilitation approaches based on participant needs and direction from program leadership.
• Support special events, showcases, field trips, community activities, and other program initiatives.
• Support participants during homework help, tutoring, literacy, or academic enrichment periods as assigned.
• Encourage participants to remain focused, organized, and engaged during academic activities.
• Provide age-appropriate assistance while encouraging participants to develop independence and problem-solving skills.
• Communicate academic concerns or patterns observed during programming to site leadership when appropriate.
• Take and maintain accurate participant attendance as assigned.
• Conduct headcounts and participant checks during transitions and throughout the program day.
• Support safe and orderly participant arrival and dismissal.
• Follow all authorized pickup and dismissal procedures.
• Immediately communicate attendance discrepancies or dismissal concerns to program leadership.
• Ensure participants transition safely and efficiently between activities and program spaces.
• Work collaboratively with the Program Director, Assistant Director, Activity Specialists, fellow Group Leaders, school personnel, and other program staff.
• Communicate relevant participant information and program concerns to appropriate site leadership.
• Participate in staff meetings, supervision, professional development, orientation, and required training.
• Arrive prepared and ready to support the program at the scheduled start of each shift.
• Receive and apply feedback and coaching provided by supervisors.
• Assist colleagues as needed to maintain effective program operations and participant supervision.
• Contribute to a positive, respectful, accountable, and team-oriented workplace culture.
• Maintain accurate attendance records, incident documentation, activity materials, and other assigned program records.
• Follow established program schedules and operating procedures.
• Support participant surveys, assessments, program observations, and other quality improvement activities as assigned.
• Participate in coaching, observations, and performance feedback processes.
• Maintain confidentiality regarding participants, families, staff, and organizational information.
• Follow RTS, school, funder, and regulatory requirements applicable to the assigned program.
• Demonstrate reliability, punctuality, professionalism, and consistency.
• Maintain professional communication with participants, families, colleagues, school personnel, and partners.
• Maintain appropriate dress and conduct consistent with the program environment and organizational expectations.
• Use organizational technology, communications systems, and program resources appropriately.
• Follow all RTS policies, procedures, codes of conduct, and employee expectations.
• Immediately elevate concerns that could affect participant safety, program quality, compliance, or organizational operations.
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned by the Program Director or designated program leadership in support of program and organizational priorities.

Qualifications

• Education: High school diploma or equivalent preferred, or currently pursuing a high school diploma where permitted by applicable program and regulatory requirements.
• Youth Development Experience: Previous experience working with children or adolescents in after-school programs, summer camps, schools, recreation programs, community organizations, mentoring programs, childcare, or similar settings preferred.
• Youth Engagement: Ability to engage young people in structured activities while maintaining appropriate expectations and boundaries.
• Supervision: Ability to actively supervise groups of children and maintain awareness of participant safety and needs.
• Behavior Management: Ability to use positive and developmentally appropriate approaches to participant behavior and conflict.
• Communication: Strong interpersonal and verbal communication skills.
• Teamwork: Ability to work collaboratively with program staff and follow the direction of site leadership.
• Professionalism: Demonstrated reliability, punctuality, good judgment, and willingness to learn.
• Adaptability: Ability to work effectively in an active and changing youth program environment.
• Ability to complete all required background checks, clearances, trainings, certifications, and documentation required by RTS, school partners, funders, and applicable regulatory agencies.

Working Conditions

• This position is classified as Class A: Onsite Essential (Program Staff) and requires onsite attendance five days per week at the assigned program site during scheduled working hours.
• Work is primarily performed in NYC public schools and/or community-based program locations.
• The role requires regular and sustained interaction with children and adolescents.
• Employees must remain attentive and actively engaged while supervising participants.
• The position may involve standing, walking, bending, sitting, moving between classrooms or program areas, and participating in recreational activities for extended periods.
• Must be able to navigate stairs and lift or carry program materials weighing up to approximately 25 pounds, with or without reasonable accommodation.
• May require participation in field trips, outdoor programming, special events, school holiday programming, or occasional evening or weekend activities based on program needs.

Core Competencies

Active Supervision & Safety

• Maintains consistent awareness of participants and the program environment.
• Follows established safety, attendance, transition, and dismissal procedures.
• Recognizes and appropriately escalates safety or participant concerns.

Youth-Centered Practice

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