Youth Program Director

JOB TITLE: Youth Program Director
EMPLOYMENT TYPE: Full-Time
REPORTS TO: Senior Director of Strategy
LOCATION: Downtown Brooklyn & Long Island City, Queens
SALARY: $80,000 – $85,000

ABOUT AAFSC:
For over 30 years, the Arab-American Family Support Center (AAFSC) has proudly served immigrants and refugees. We help children stay safe, families remain together, and newcomers navigate life in New York City. While our doors are open to all, AAFSC has expertise in serving Arab, Middle Eastern, North African, Muslim, and South Asian communities. 

JOB SUMMARY:
AAFSC is seeking a visionary and community-centered Youth Program Director to lead and grow our afterschool program.

The Director will oversee AAFSC’s Youth Program, including individual and group-based programming for young people ages 14-24, while helping shape our broader organizational strategy for supporting youth and young adults across our communities. This role is ideal for a youth development leader who is passionate about creating meaningful opportunities for young people, understands the unique experiences of immigrant youth, and is excited to build innovative programs that respond to community needs.

The Director will ensure the excellence of existing programming while identifying opportunities to deepen AAFSC’s impact and expand services for young people across our communities. The ideal candidate has experience developing and leading holistic youth programs that address the diverse needs and aspirations of young people. They bring knowledge of multiple areas of youth development – including leadership development, educational support, workforce readiness, mental health and wellness, civic engagement, and community-building – and can help AAFSC strengthen and integrate a continuum of opportunities that help young people thrive.

Reporting to the Senior Director of Strategy, the Director will supervise youth program staff and work collaboratively across departments to strengthen AAFSC’s youth-serving work organization-wide.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Program Leadership & Strategy

• Provide strategic leadership for AAFSC’s youth programming, ensuring services are responsive to community needs and aligned with organizational priorities.
• Develop and implement a vision for expanding and strengthening youth services across AAFSC.
• Identify opportunities to deepen programming in areas such as leadership development, civic engagement, workforce readiness, educational success, wellness, and community participation.
• Build the systems, structures, and partnerships necessary to translate AAFSC’s vision for youth services into sustainable and impactful programming.

Program Operations & Team Management

• Oversee the day-to-day operations of AAFSC’s youth programs, ensuring effective high-quality implementation, participant engagement, achievement of program goals, and an effective staffing structure to support program delivery.
• Supervise, coach, and develop youth program staff, interns, and volunteers.
• Establish clear program goals, performance metrics, and accountability systems.
• Ensure compliance with grant requirements, contracts, organizational policies, and applicable regulations.
• Oversee program budgets and work closely with finance and operations staff to ensure effective stewardship of resources.

Community Engagement & Partnerships

• Serve as a visible ambassador for AAFSC’s youth programming, promoting services and strengthening the organization’s presence within the communities it serves.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with schools, community-based organizations, government agencies, faith institutions, and other partners that support youth and young adults and expand access to services.
• Identify opportunities to connect youth to programs and resources across AAFSC, helping advance an integrated and holistic approach to serving young people and families.
• Stay informed about emerging trends, challenges, innovations, and opportunities in the youth services sector and ensure AAFSC’s programming remains responsive to community needs.

Program Development & Organizational Leadership

• Collaborate with development and finance staff on grant proposals, reports, budgets, and funding opportunities related to youth programming.
• Support communication efforts that highlight youth achievements, program impact, and community needs.
• Utilize program data and outcomes to demonstrate impact and inform strategic decision-making.
• Contribute to organizational planning and cross-departmental initiatives as a member of program leadership.
• Help position AAFSC as a leading voice on issues affecting immigrant, Arab, Middle Eastern, North African, Muslim, South Asian, and other underserved youth in New York City.

BACKGROUND AND POSITION REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in social work, Psychology, Education, Human Services, Counseling, or a related field preferred; equivalent combination of education and relevant experience will also be considered.
• Five or more years of progressively responsible experience in youth development, education, community-based programming, or related fields.
• At least three years of supervisory or management experience.
• Demonstrated success designing, implementing, and growing youth programs.
• Strong understanding of positive youth development principles and best practices.
• Experience working with immigrant communities and youth from historically marginalized backgrounds strongly preferred.
• Knowledge of the challenges and opportunities facing immigrant youth and young adults.
• Strong project management, organizational, and administrative skills.
• Experience managing grants, budgets, and program performance metrics.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to build strong relationships across diverse stakeholders, including youth, families, schools, community partners, funders, and government agencies.
• Bilingual proficiency in Arabic or Bangla is a plus.
• Job contingent on pre-employment background check and fingerprint clearance.
• U.S. Work Authorization required.

Interested candidates should submit a resume and cover letter outlining their relevant experience and interest in the position. Applications submitted without a cover letter will not be considered.

We are an equal opportunity employer that values diversity at all levels. All individuals, regardless of personal characteristics, are encouraged to apply.