Animation Program Leader - After-School

Animation After-School Program Leader
Reports to:  Site Coordinator
Salary Range: $23.52 – $25.02
Status: Part-time, non-exempt
Schedule: 3:30pm – 6:30pm (exact days are flexible)
Location : South Gate, CA

Are you passionate about giving back to your community and making a lasting difference in the lives of young people?

Who We Are:
In 1922, Woodcraft Rangers opened its doors in Los Angeles and began its mission of  guiding young people as they explore pathways to purposeful lives . As a progressive organization, Woodcraft has always been responsive to the evolving needs of the communities served, and is notably inclusive, youth-led, and rooted in the Woodcraft Way, a holistic framework that develops body, mind, spirit, and service. Continuously at the forefront of expanded learning opportunities, Woodcraft Rangers has a rich history of making a significant impact in the greater Los Angeles area, believing that all youth is innately good, deserves the opportunity to realize their full potential, and should be an active participant in defining their own path.  

What We Do:
Woodcraft Rangers provides TK-12 expanded learning programs, including before and after school, specialty enrichment, and summer learning. In the past few years, Woodcraft has expanded its menu of services beyond traditional afterschool programs and summer camps to include early learning, environmental and social justice, college access, and inclusion services for youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Additionally, we offer Lifecraft, a college and career advancement program to support the development of approximately 1,500 staff. Today, Woodcraft Rangers serves more than 30,000 youth ages 4 to 18 each year across 160 plus Title I schools in Los Angeles, San Bernardino, and Riverside counties, and continues to expand its reach.

Job Summary:
Club Leaders are responsible for ensuring a fun and positive learning environment for club participants and will support clubs of approximately 20 children. Club leaders have the opportunity to grow, connect, play and have the greatest impact on each of their club participants. Other members of the team include a site coordinator, who oversees the program and a community liaison who supports the site coordinator. All staff can choose between working in school sites, sleepaway camp, or both.

The Club Leader position is an on-site position, including attending training at the Woodcraft Rangers main office in Little Tokyo and school sites.

Role Overview:

• Create a safe, inclusive, and welcoming environment for all program participants, staff, and families — both physically and emotionally.
• Teach and lead animation and drawing instruction across foundational drawing techniques, character design, storyboarding, and basic animation principles (e.g., flipbooks, stop-motion, or digital animation tools), adapting lessons to varying skill levels. Experience with digital illustration or animation software is a plus.
• Minimum 1 year of experience creating, teaching, or performing in animation, illustration, or a related visual art form required.
• Design and lead fun, age-appropriate program activities aligned with a whole-child approach (social-emotional learning, skill building, self-esteem, leadership), using WR's activity catalog as a resource.
• Track daily attendance and participant engagement, ensuring active involvement in program activities.
• Build positive relationships with participants, colleagues, and stakeholders.
• Partner with colleagues and your supervisor to plan culminating events that showcase participants' work and achievements.
• Request materials ahead of time so the Site Coordinator can keep supplies stocked and on budget.
• Stay current on safety protocols, trainings, and certifications, and follow all emergency procedures.
• Attend off-site field trips and staff development trainings as required (~15 hours across weekends/intersessional days in spring).
• Report to the Site Coordinator and Program Manager on assigned duties.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Why work for Woodcraft Rangers:

• Sick time
• Lifecraft
• Upward Mobility
• Career development
• The opportunity to create a lasting positive impact on youth within your community.

Ideal Candidate:
Ideally, we are looking for someone who is detail-oriented, energetic, ambitious, proactive, and positive, with the ability to work both independently and collaboratively. Multi-tasking and attention to detail must be strengths this individual possesses. Individuals need to be comfortable to present and speak in front of staff and peers during in-person training.

Requirements:

• High School Diploma or equivalent required.  
• 1 year of experience working with High School children in school or recreational settings.
• Experience supporting students with intellectual/development disabilities 
• Understanding of inclusive practices and various disabilities.  
• Valid FBI & DOJ Livescan clearance.  
• Current TB Test clearance.  
• First Aid & CPR certification (can be provided by Woodcraft Rangers). 
• CPI Certification (can be provided by Woodcraft Rangers) 
• Must successfully pass an assessment evaluating skills in math, reading comprehension, and spelling.

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. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to:

• Stand
• Use hands to finger, handle, or feel and use a computer.
• Frequently required to talk, hear, and reach with hands and arms.
• Must occasionally lift and/or move up to 40 pounds.

Work Environment:
We are committed to fostering an inclusive work environment and will actively consider reasonable accommodations to enable individuals to effectively perform their roles. This position operates in environments typical of the following key aspects: 

• Active school site and program settings with indoor/outdoor activities.  
• A collaborative team-based environment working closely with stie staff and students.  
• Interaction with children, families, and partner school personnel.  

Woodcraft Rangers provides equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without discrimination with regard to race, religious belief, color, sex, sex stereotype, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions (including breast feeding), age, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, gender identification and expression, transgender status, transitioning status, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic characteristics, genetic information, family care, marital status, enrollment in any public assistance program, status as military, a veteran or qualified disabled veteran, status as an unpaid intern or volunteer, or any other classification protected by law. We also prohibit discrimination based on the perception that anyone has any of those characteristics or is associated with a person who has or is perceived as having any of those characteristics.