Youth Services Manager

Work, Serve, Thrive. With the City of Durham

Advance in your career while making a real difference in the community you serve. Hiring Range: $98,601.00 - $120,000 Hours/Shift: Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 5:00 pm (some flexibility available) ***This position is primarily in-person and based in the field/community; limited remote work may be available. Occasional evening and weekend work is required to support community meetings, events, and engagement activities.

The City of Durham's Community Partnerships & Engagement Department leads inclusive, coordinated, and data-driven community engagement across all departments. By centralizing efforts, we streamline communication, maximize resources, and ensure consistent, high-quality outreach. Equity is at the core of our mission—centering the voices of historically marginalized communities through integrated Digital Inclusion, Language Access, and ADA programs. We serve as the hub for all engagement initiatives, helping the City connect more effectively with residents and make better, more inclusive decisions.

The Youth Services Manager leads the development, implementation, and evaluation of youth-focused programs and initiatives designed to support underserved, at-risk, and justice-involved youth across the City and County of Durham. This position serves as a key leadership role within a joint City-County partnership and is responsible for managing and advancing youth initiatives aligned with City Council, County, and community priorities through the Interlocal Agreement (ILA). This is a hands-on, community-facing leadership role that requires a strong and consistent presence in neighborhoods, schools, community centers, and youth-serving spaces. The Manager actively engages with youth, families, community organizations, schools, service providers, and stakeholders to strengthen partnerships, increase access to opportunities and resources, and support positive youth outcomes. As part of a growing and evolving department, this position will play a critical role in designing and implementing innovative youth initiatives from the ground up. The Manager will lead programs focused on youth engagement, violence prevention, mentorship, civic participation, workforce readiness, leadership development, and community capacity building, with a strong emphasis on preventative and equity-focused approaches for historically underserved communities. This position is responsible for overseeing the implementation of the City and County's youth-related priorities under the Interlocal Agreement, including coordinating partnerships, monitoring deliverables, managing program performance, and ensuring alignment between City and County youth initiatives and investments. The Manager will also oversee the development and implementation of performance measures, evaluation frameworks, and reporting tools to assess impact and improve outcomes for youth ages 13–24. The ideal candidate brings experience leading community-based youth initiatives and designing programs that create meaningful impact for vulnerable youth populations. This role requires a strong leader who can build trust with young people and community partners, manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment, and translate strategic priorities into actionable and measurable programs. The Manager uses data to monitor program effectiveness, identify gaps and opportunities, guide continuous improvement, and prepare reports, presentations, and recommendations for City and County leadership, elected officials, and community stakeholders.

***As part of the hiring process, candidates will be asked to complete exercises to assess key competencies, including writing skills, presentation development, communication, and program design.

Key Responsibilities

Youth Program Leadership & Implementation

• Lead the design, implementation, and evaluation of youth-focused programs and initiatives aligned with City and County priorities.
• Develop and oversee initiatives focused on underserved, at-risk, and justice-involved youth, including prevention and skill-building programs.
• Translate community needs, youth feedback, and strategic priorities into actionable program plans, deliverables, and outcomes.
• Ensure programs are equitable, youth-centered, trauma-informed, and responsive to community needs.
• Interlocal Agreement (ILA) Coordination & Partnership Management.
• Serve as the lead staff responsible for coordinating and managing the City-County Interlocal Agreement related to youth services and initiatives.
• Coordinate with City and County departments, schools, nonprofits, youth-serving agencies, and community partners to align efforts and maximize impact.
• Review partnership opportunities, collaboration requests, and funding opportunities and provide recommendations to leadership.
• Strengthen coordination across youth-serving systems and organizations to improve service delivery and resource access for youth and families.

Community Engagement & Youth Voices

• Build and maintain strong relationships with youth, families, schools, community organizations, and stakeholders.
• Develop and enhance channels for youth engagement and participation in community and local government initiatives.
• Facilitate youth-centered meetings, trainings, workshops, and community conversations.
• Ensure youth voices are meaningfully incorporated into programs, policies, and decision-making processes.
• Data, Evaluation & Performance Management.
• Develop and implement performance measures and evaluation frameworks for youth initiatives and programs.
• Track program performance, participation, and outcomes using data to guide continuous improvement and inform decision-making.
• Prepare reports, presentations, memos, and recommendations for leadership, elected officials, and stakeholders.
• Maintain accurate documentation and reporting related to the Interlocal Agreement and youth initiatives.

Core Competencies

• Strong leadership and team management skills with the ability to motivate, coach, and develop staff
• Excellent organizational skills and ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including report and memo writing and presentations
• Ability to design and implement programs that are meaningful, inclusive, and impactful
• Experience using data to inform decisions, track performance, and evaluate outcomes
• Strong relationship-building skills and ability to engage effectively with diverse communities

Minimum Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Public Administration, Public Policy, Community Development, Social Work, or a related field.
• Five years of professional program administration and/or analytical experience in area of assignment.
• Two years of supervisory experience.
• A valid North Carolina Class C Driver's License is required, or must be obtained within sixty (60) days of hire.

Additional Preferred Skills

• Master's degree (MPA, MPP, or related).
• Experience leading youth-focused programs, initiatives, or community-based services.
• Experience working with underserved, opportunity youth, or justice-involved youth populations.
• Experience managing partnerships, interagency collaborations, or interlocal agreements preferred.
• Experience developing evaluation frameworks, performance measures, and outcome reporting.
• Strong facilitation, public speaking, and community engagement skills.
• Experience managing programs, projects, or initiatives involving multiple stakeholders and funding sources.
• Ability to create high-quality reports, presentations, and communication materials.
• Experience supervising staff, interns, or program teams preferred.