Before & After School Care Lead - Boston Location

Job Description

Job Description

POSITION TITLE: Before & After School Care Lead

REPORTS TO: Program Leadership or Designee

SALARY/FLSA: Part Time, Hourly, Non-Exempt

LEADERSHIP LEVEL: Leader

POSITION SUMMARY: The Before & After School Care Lead Supervisor provides day‑to‑day leadership for YMCA school‑age childcare programs while maintaining direct supervision and care of participating children. This role supports the YMCA’s mission by ensuring a safe, high‑quality, and engaging program experience for children and families. The Lead Supervisor serves as a role model and mentor for frontline staff, a primary point of contact for parents and school partners, and a steward of program standards, compliance, and YMCA values. This position balances hands‑on caregiving with on‑site supervision, coordination, and accountability.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

1. Lead daily on-site operations of before and after school care programs, ensuring staff schedules, ratios, and participant groupings are followed, and serving as the primary escalation point for behavior, safety, and parent-related concerns
2. Provide guidance, direction, and support to frontline instructors/caregivers while modeling professionalism, teamwork, and YMCA core values
3. Actively supervise children at all times to ensure their safety, engagement, and inclusion while planning and implementing engaging, culturally relevant, and developmentally appropriate activities
4. Support children’s academic and social development, including homework assistance, and make ongoing observations and assessments of development and behavior
5. Ensure adherence to YMCA policies, procedures, and child safety standards, including monitoring sign-in/sign-out procedures, verifying authorized pick-ups, and maintaining appropriate supervision
6. Complete and maintain required program documentation, including attendance, incident, accident, and disciplinary reports, as well as state and funding requirements (CCDF, CACFP, and third-party documentation)
7. Identify and report unsafe conditions immediately and respond appropriately to emergencies
8. Maintain positive, professional communication with parents, guardians, school personnel, and YMCA leadership, addressing questions and concerns and escalating when appropriate
9. Build strong relationships with children and families to support retention and overall program quality
10. Maintain program materials, equipment, and site organization while ensuring staff follow departmental dress code and expectations
11. Attend and actively participate in staff meetings, trainings, and professional development opportunities
12. Support YMCA initiatives, including annual campaign efforts, and perform additional duties as assigned to support overall program success

YMCA Competencies (Leader):

Mission Advancement: Accepts and demonstrates the Y’s values (Values). Demonstrates a desire to serve others and fulfill community needs (Community). Recruits volunteers and builds effective, supportive, working relationships with them (Volunteerism). Supports fundraising (Philanthropy).

Collaboration: Works effectively with people of different backgrounds, abilities, opinions, and perceptions. (Inclusion). Builds rapport and relates well to others (Relationships). Seeks first to understand the other person’s point of view and remains calm in challenging situations (Influence). Listens for understanding and meaning; speaks and writes effectively (Communication). Takes initiative to assist in developing others (Developing Others).

Operational Effectiveness: Makes sound judgments, and transfers leaning from one situation to another (Decision Making). Embraces new approaches and discovers ideas to create a better member experience (Innovation). Establishes goals, clarifies tasks, plans work, and actively participates in meetings. (Project Management). Follows budgeting policies and procedures and reports all financial irregularities immediately. (Finance). Strives to meet or exceed goals and deliver a high-value experience for members. (Quality Results).

Personal Growth: Pursues self-development that enhances job performance. (Self Development). Demonstrates an openness to change, and seeks opportunities in the change process (Change Capacity). Accurately assesses personal feelings, strengths, and limitations and how they impact relationships (Emotionally Maturity). Has the functional and technical knowledge and skills required to perform well; uses best practices and demonstrates up-to-date knowledge and skills in technology (Functional Expertise).

QUALIFICATIONS:

1. Minimum age: 18 years old
2. High school diploma or equivalent required
3. Minimum one year of childcare or school‑age program experience
4. Previous leadership or supervisory experience preferred
5. Strong communication, organization, and problem‑solving skills
6. Proficiency with basic computer applications (Microsoft Office, Google Workspace)
7. Required Certifications & Training
   1. CPR, First Aid, and AED (within required timeframe)
   2. Child Abuse Prevention Training (initial and annual)
   3. YMCA‑required safety, insurance, and compliance trainings
8. Ability to respond effectively to emergency and safety situations

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.

1. Ability to actively supervise children, including standing, walking, bending, stooping, and lifting up to 50 pounds
2. Sufficient visual, auditory, and verbal ability to communicate effectively with children and adults
3. Ability to remain alert and focused in active, potentially noisy environments
4. Work may involve indoor and outdoor settings and extreme heat during summer months
5. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to loud.

EFFECT ON END RESULT:

This position directly influences the overall quality, safety, and effectiveness of before and after school care programs. Successful performance ensures well-managed daily operations, consistent staff support, and a safe, engaging, and inclusive environment for all participants. By maintaining compliance, strong communication, and high program standards, this role enhances child development outcomes, strengthens family trust, supports staff performance, and contributes to program retention and growth. Ultimately, this position plays a critical role in delivering a high-quality YMCA experience aligned with the organization’s mission and values.