Program Coordinator - Middle School (Elmhurst)

Job Description

Job Description

Program Coordinator, Middle School Program in Elmhurst (Full-Time Position)

South Asian Youth Action (SAYA)

South Asian Youth Action (SAYA) is committed to providing its employees opportunities for growth in a supportive community environment. With a flexible schedule and generous benefits package, SAYA provides its employees a healthy work-life balance in a fast-growing youth development nonprofit.

SAYA: Belong. Grow. Thrive.

Organization Description

South Asian Youth Action (SAYA) is an inclusive, South Asian-focused 501(c)3 youth development organization. Through our innovative, holistic approach, we work toward educational equity by providing opportunities and resources to less privileged New York City youth, ensuring they are empowered academically, emotionally, and socially to become engaged community members.

Established in 1996, SAYA provides valuable life skills and holistic, impactful programming to underserved New York City youth. As one of the first South Asian organizations created in the United States, SAYA is the only organization of its kind in the NYC metropolitan area providing inclusive and secular comprehensive youth development services while centering our community’s experiences. Today, SAYA provides programming at eleven elementary, middle, and high schools in Queens and Brooklyn, along with our Elmhurst-based community center - serving a growing number of youths across all sites each year.

A key tenet of our work is cultivating vital social and emotional learning (SEL) skills such as belonging, confidence, and self-efficacy through intentionally designed, research-based curricula. Across our organization, services tailored for different age groups include leadership and identity development, academic support that bridges learning gaps, comprehensive college preparation, and activities that nurture creativity and build positive peer connections.

Position Summary

The Program Coordinator will support the Program Director in the day-to-day operations of the middle school after school program. They will play a key role in organizing and planning logistics for daily programming, special events, and trips. They will work collaboratively with school staff, SAYA colleagues and community partners, as well as develop relationships with youth and families. This position plays a key role in ensuring smooth program functioning, maintaining compliance with requirements, and fostering an engaging, safe, and inclusive environment for students.

Reports to: Program Director

Responsibilities:

Program Operations & Administration

• Support the Program Director with daily program operations.

• Oversee recruitment and registration process for new and returning students.

• Update funder’s database (DYCDConnect) weekly to make sure attendance, workscope, participant intake, program schedule, and staffing are current

• Obtain participant intake forms and maintain updated emergency contacts and medical information for all participants

• Complete and submit daily supper/snack count to school administration on a weekly basis

• Ensure all required administrative records and files are kept according to program requirements and applicable regulations

• Maintain inventory of equipment and supplies and assist with ordering as needed.

• Ensure staff files and clearances remain complete and up to date.

Youth & Family Engagement

• Coordinate and schedule logistics for special events including food, materials, and promotion.

• Build positive relationships with students, families, and caregivers.

• Support outreach and recruitment efforts by distributing materials to recruit youth and promote SAYA programs to the school community.

• Establish rapport with youth and provide mentoring, guidance and overall direction for their academic preparation and personal development

• Advocate on behalf of students and families.

• Foster a safe, inclusive, and engaging environment for all participants.

Staff & School Support

• Assist the Program Director in supervising staff and supporting their development.

• Help strengthen and maintain a positive relationship with school administration and staff.

• Work collaboratively with school administration and other CBO programs as needed

• Keep track of and share minutes and attendance during staff meeting

• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree required and two years of significant experience working in relevant field (Elementary and/or middle school Education, Social Work, and/ or Youth Development)

• Strong computer skills, and database management skills, with particular emphasis on Microsoft Office and Google drive applications, and database management

• Must have a commitment to work from a strength-based youth development perspective

• Ability to work independently, taking self-directed initiative, and as part of a team

• Strong leadership, conflict resolution and diplomacy skills

• Excellent oral and written communication skills, with keen attention to grammar and spelling

• Experience in roles with administrative and/or data entry responsibilities

• Detail oriented with excellent organizational skills and time management

• Ability to manage multiple responsibilities simultaneously and prioritize

• A commitment to work from a strengths-based and youth development framework

• High standard of integrity and accountability

• Familiarity with SONYC/COMPASS/ExpandEd program a plus

• Bilingual (Spanish) a plus

The above is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by this position. Other functions may be assigned, and management retains the right to add or change the duties at any time.

Key Competencies

Ideal candidate will excel in the following areas:

• Communication: The candidate will have the ability to effectively build relationships and develop partnership with youth, teachers, school and SAYA staff. They will be comfortable navigating difficult conversations effectively and will be able to work in teams.

• Mentorship: The candidate will enjoy mentoring staff to support them in developing professional skills. They will be able to tailor supervision to different personalities and will be comfortable mediating conflicts among staff as well as between staff and youth, when necessary.

Compensation:

$60k-$65k commensurate with experience

PTO starting at 18 days

Sick Leave: 7 days

10 paid holidays + additional paid week off during winter holidays

Medical benefits with generous employer contributions for employee and dependents

Optional dental, vision, transit, and FSA benefits

Retirement plan with up to 3% match contribution from SAYA

Additional Information

• While we value work/life balance, due to the nature of this position, this role will sometimes require work on evenings and weekends.

SAYA is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Employer.