Youth Leader

POSITION SUMMARY Provides direction for the program and staff and implements school-age enrichment program curriculum. Provides a quality experience to children and parents that focuses on youth development, including the YMCA core values: honesty, respect, responsibility, caring, and faith. Responsible for ensuring the safety and well-being of children and leading age‑appropriate activities and appropriately monitoring children's behavior in care. ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS Site Management: Serve as the designated Texas Childcare Licensing Site Director, ensuring compliance with all YMCA Houston and state regulations and standards. Oversee the daily operations of the afterschool program, ensuring a safe, nurturing, and stimulating environment for all children. Maintain the program site and equipment, assist with set‑up and breakdown of activity centers, and clean the program area. Supervision and Safety: Ensure the safety and security of all children and staff at the site. Maintain accurate records, including attendance, incident reports, and compliance documentation. Monitor children’s activities to ensure they engage in safe and age‑appropriate behaviors. Monitor staff adherence to policies and redirect as needed. Conduct regular headcounts and maintain accurate attendance records. Respond to emergencies and incidents promptly, following established YMCA policies. Behavior Management: Implement positive behavior management techniques to promote a respectful and inclusive environment. Address behavioral issues calmly and constructively, following established guidelines. Program & Policy Compliance: Conduct regular safety drills and inspections to ensure compliance with licensing requirements and organizational policies. Ensure required postings are on display. Follow all organizational policies related to health and safety, child protection, and confidentiality. Maintain a clean and organized environment, adhering to sanitation and safety standards. Report any concerns or issues to the Program Director in a timely manner. Program Planning and Implementation: Oversee the implementation of age‑appropriate activities, including structured and unstructured activities as outlined in the YMCA approved curriculum. Encourage and facilitate positive social interactions among children. Adapt activities to meet the diverse needs and interests of all children. Evaluate program effectiveness and make adjustments as necessary. Parent and Community Engagement: Communicate regularly with parents regarding their child’s progress, behavior, and any concerns. Address parent inquiries promptly and professionally. Follow all organizational policies related to health and safety, child protection, and confidentiality. Maintain a clean and organized environment, adhering to sanitation and safety standards. Report any concerns to the Program Director. Administrative Duties: Maintain accurate enrollment and attendance records, including sign‑in sheets and daily rosters. Program Growth and Retention: Develop and implement strategies to promote program growth and increase enrollment. Create and execute retention plans to ensure high levels of participant satisfaction and continuity. Monitor and analyze enrollment trends and feedback to identify areas for improvement and opportunities for expansion. Program Quality: Plan and implement lesson/activity plans that include both formal and informal play within the center and outdoors, adhering to the Y program model, curriculum, and quality standards. Program Evaluation: Lead Youth Program Quality (YPQ) intervention process. Use continuous program monitors to evaluate youth participation and the effectiveness of program and make adjustments as needed. Child Abuse Prevention: Report suspicious and inappropriate behaviors and policy violations. Follow mandated abuse and incident reporting requirements. Ensure youth are properly signed in and signed out, ensure only authorized adults are allowed in the facility, and ensure unused rooms and closets remain locked. Routinely monitor high‑risk locations (bathrooms). YMCA COMPETENCIES (YOUTH DEVELOPMENT LEADER) Collaboration: Creates sustainable relationships within the Y and with other organizations in service to the community. Communication & Influence: Listens and expresses self effectively and in a way that engages, inspires, and builds commitment to the Y’s cause. Developing Self & Others: Develops self and supports others (e.g., staff, volunteers, members, program participants), both formally and informally, to achieve their highest potential. Functional Expertise: Executes superior technical skills for the role. Inclusion: Values all people for their unique talents, and takes an active role in promoting practices that support diversity, inclusion, and global work, as well as cultural competence. Program/Project Management: Ensures program or project goals are met and intended impact occurs. QUALIFICATIONS At least 21 years of age. High school diploma or GED. Minimum of 70 clock hours of training in child or youth development, recreational leadership or management. Two (2) college courses are equivalent to 100 clock hours. Minimum Standard #744.1017. At least 1 year experience working with youth at a licensed facility, church, school or equivalent. CPR, First Aid, AED certifications and Child Abuse prevention trainings. Ability to plan, organize, and implement age‑appropriate/developmentally appropriate program activities. Previous experience with diverse populations. Previous experience supervising others preferred. Current record of tuberculosis examination and/or current local health department regulations, examinations, and or immunization as required by the local or State Department of Health. Pass a local/state background and FBI fingerprinting check. EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE High school diploma or general education degree (GED) with demonstrated interest in the welfare of children; prior childcare or baby‑sitting experience is preferred. LANGUAGE SKILLS Ability to read and comprehend simple instructions, short correspondence, and memos. Ability to write simple correspondence. Ability to effectively present information in one‑on‑one and small group situations to customers, clients, and other employees of the organization. MATHEMATICAL SKILLS Ability to add and subtract two‑digit numbers and to multiply and divide with 10’s and 100’s. Ability to perform these operations using units of American money and weight measurement, volume, and distance. REASONING ABILITY Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out simple one‑ or two‑step instructions. Ability to deal with standardized situations with only occasional or no variables. PHYSICAL DEMANDS While performing the essential and marginal functions the employee may be required to maintain physical condition necessary for adequate physical performance including light to moderate lifting (up to 25 lbs with occasional lifting of up to 50 lbs). Bending, stooping, kneeling, crawling, climbing; standing, walking, pushing, pulling, reaching, balancing, and crouching; use of hands and fingers, handle or feel; reach; speak and hear, use close and distant vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus; must utilize auditory, sensory abilities constantly on the job site. WORK ENVIRONMENT The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Work is performed in a primarily indoor environment during the AfterSchool; some exposure to outdoor environment occurs and may include exposure to weather conditions such as heat or cold during summer or winter events. Exposure to noise, cleaning supplies, laundry detergent, sweat, spills and messes within the facility. Some physical requirements of a day camp position could be endurance including prolonged standing, some bending, stooping, walking long distances, hiking, getting into the pool, climbing, and stretching; requires eye‑hand coordination and manual dexterity to manipulate outdoor equipment and camp activities; requires normal range of hearing and eyesight to record, prepare, and communicate appropriate camper activities/programs and the ability to lift up to 50 lbs; willing to work in a camp setting and work irregular hours with limited or simple equipment and facilities; and with daily exposure to the sun, heat, and animals such as bugs. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. WORK SCHEDULE Before/After School: Part‑time, typically Monday‑Friday, morning shift 6:30 am–8:30 am, afternoon shift 2:30 pm–6:30 pm (start and end time may vary). Program runs concurrently with ISD calendar. May be required to work Saturday’s occasionally. Camp: Typically Monday‑Friday, 6:30 am–6:30 pm with a morning, afternoon and evening shift option (start and end time may vary). Camps run concurrently with ISD calendar breaks. Position will default to a Youth Development Counselor during Camp Seasons unless the employee applies for an alternative position. May be required to work Saturday’s occasionally. Must be available to attend and participate in family nights, program activities, staff meetings, and staff trainings. Details will be provided in advance. TRAVEL Travel is primarily to an assigned site / camp; however, there are occasions when travel to other locations. OTHER DUTIES Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice. EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES The YMCA of Greater Houston provides Equal Employment Opportunities for employment to all employees and applicants, including disability and protected veteran status. #J-18808-Ljbffr