Job Description

"We are an Equal Opportunity Employer & a Drug Free Workplace"

Job Title: Director of Youth Programs

Status: Exempt, Full-time, with Full-time leadership benefits

Department: CommunityYouth Programs

Location: Downtown Miami Headquarters

Pay range: 65K to $69K depending on experience

The Director of Youth Programs is a mission-driven leader who brings energy, organization, and heart to YWCA South Florida’s youth and family initiatives. This role leads the implementation and day-to-day success of our K-12 programs, including Afterschool, Summer Camp, and Youth Clubhouse—creating safe, engaging, and empowering spaces where young people can learn, grow, and thrive.

The Director oversees program operations across multiple sites, supervising staff, managing budgets, ensuring licensing and regulatory compliance, and maintaining strong grant performance. Working closely with senior leadership and cross-functional departments, the Director supports strategic goals, contributes to funding efforts, and helps strengthen community partnerships that enhance program quality and sustainability.

Both hands-on and collaborative, the Director mentors and develops staff, fosters positive relationships with families and schools, monitors program quality, and ensures consistent, high-standard service delivery. Above all, this role upholds the mission, vision, and values of YWCA South Florida—promoting equitable access to high-quality youth programming and supporting the success of the children and families we serve.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

• Leads the future growth, improvement, and strategic planning for the Youth Programs department and its team. Demonstrates the ability to integrate Youth Programs' contributions into the larger mission of YWCA South Florida and its programming through effective partnerships and strategic growth.
• Sets the vision for the future of the Youth Programs through their knowledge and expertise of the local education landscape and the securing of funding via grant writing and research. Gains the support of internal departments involved in the grant writing process, such as Finance, Mission Advancement, and YWCA leadership.
• Develops, organizes, implements, and leads programs, supervises staff, monitors funder, state, and local policies and procedures, interacts effectively with staff, parents, and supervisor, and adheres to written budgets to foster individual growth and development of children and youth at the YWCA.
• Manages, directs, and coordinates the daily operations of the Youth Programs, including site and staff supervision, recruitment and training, as well as ensuring all city, state, and funder requirements are consistently met at a high level. Makes recommendations to enhance program and site operations, curriculum, staffing patterns, and professional development, and ensures implementation of approved revisions.
• Prepares, manages and controls budgets related to the position. Ensures program operates within budget and collection of program fees, payment of vendors and consultants, and purchases of appropriate materials. Reviews and reports on financial performance monthly compared to approved budget, recommending corrective action if needed. Monitors all expenses, revenues, and Youth Program staff time to ensure adherence to the annual budget.
• Recruits, supervises, coaches, and trains all Youth Program staff. Consistently motivates, encourages, and provides feedback to staff, mediating any conflicts and modeling teamwork. Sets performance standards and expectations and monitors throughout the year for documentation in performance reviews.
• Manages grants and funding sources for programs and activities, including reporting, monitoring, and other deliverables. Remains current on all requirements and policies applicable to program implementation, making sure all are met and followed by program staff. Prepares periodic reports as required by funders for program compliance, monitorings, internal quality improvement processes, program objectives, and others.
• Ensures Youth Programs, including Afterschool, Summer Camps, and Youth Clubhouses, meet the high-quality standards of the YWCA. Maintains appropriate staffing levels at all sites to provide continuity of services for participants. Ensures that participants receive nutrition and/or appropriate snacks as directed.
• Oversees the licensing of new and renewing sites, ensuring Miami-Dade County Public Schools, Department of Children and Families, and any other licensing requirements are current and active
• Monitors frequently all After School, Summer Camp, and Youth Clubhouse sites to ensure a safe and secure environment for Youth Program participants. Follows all YWCA policies and procedures, including safety procedures, at all times.
• Develops training programs as needed for all Youth Program staff to ensure programs remain compliant with all applicable funder, county and state regulations. Coordinates in-service training to remain compliant with DCF requirements.
• Works with supervisor and Development department to develop key messaging and create and update compelling program communications (including website content, marketing materials, social media, etc.) for program awareness and participant and partner recruitment.
• Encourages family and school engagement in order to promote wrap-around support for student learning and development.
• Oversees the purchase and distribution of all Youth Program supplies.
• Oversees the investigations of incidents and accidents of both staff and clients at all Youth Program sites, and communicates appropriately with all other parties or departments.
• Represents the Youth Programs department at internal and external meetings, trainings and events. Provides administrative oversight to program components.

Requirements

Education/Experience:

Bachelor’s degree (BA or BS) in a related field of study and three (3) to five (5) years of related experience preferably in childcare administration or equivalent combination of education and experience. Must have knowledge of community resources and overall grant monitoring process to include reporting requirements and budget management. Experienced as a facilitator and negotiator with excellent management and supervisory skills.

Language Ability:

Ability to read, write and speak in English; Spanish and Creole helpful. Ability to read, analyze, and interpret documents such as safety rules, procedures manuals and operating and maintenance instructions. Able to speak effectively before groups of providers, school personnel and agency employees. Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from customers, regulatory agencies, or members of the business community. Ability to effectively present information before groups of providers, school personnel and agency employees.

Math Ability:

Ability to work with mathematical concepts such as probability and statistical reference. Able to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios and proportions to practical situations.

Reasoning Ability:

Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral or diagram form. Ability to assess and deal with problems involving people and concepts in complex and standardized situations.

Computer Skills:

To perform this job successfully, an individual should be computer proficient, including knowledge of basic computer maintenance, hardware and software applications that include Microsoft Work, Excel, and PowerPoint.

Certificates and Licenses:

Florida Director’s Credentials. Department of Children and Families requirements: HRS requirements; health-related requirements to work with children; child safety practices.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

Manages two or more subordinate supervisors and staff members. Is responsible for the overall direction, coordination, and evaluation of these units. Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization's policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; and addressing complaints and resolving problems.

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.

Follows DCF, ELC, TCT, MDPS, and OSHA, and public safety guidelines and protocols. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Must be able to work effectively in an unstructured, informal learning environment. May encounter parents/youth with a high degree of anxiety.

The environment supports a culture that is committed to serving and improving the community through quality services that are delivered with high-energy, humor, enjoyment of children and respect for parents.

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.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit and reach with hands and arms. The employee is regularly required to stand and walk, use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move 25 lbs.

Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.