Teen Programs Director

Job Location:

Whatcom Family YMCA - Bellingham, WA;
Position Type:
Full Time;
Salary Range: $26.15 - $29.42

Hourly

Empower Teens. Build Connections. Inspire the Next Generation of Leaders!

Are you passionate about helping young people discover their potential, find their voice, and make a difference in their community?

At the Whatcom Family YMCA, we believe every young person deserves a place where they feel welcomed, supported, and inspired to grow. We're looking for a creative, relationship-driven, and enthusiastic Teen Programs Director to help us expand opportunities for tweens and teens throughout Whatcom County!

This isn't just a job managing programs. It's an opportunity to shape experiences, build community partnerships, and create spaces where young people can discover who they are and who they want to become.

If you're energized by working with teens, love bringing people together, and have a passion for developing meaningful programs that make a lasting impact, we'd love to meet you!

• Lead and grow exciting programs for tweens and teens, including Youth & Government, Youth Institute, Teen Drop-In, Teen Late Nights, and summer camps.
• Serve as the primary leader for Youth & Government, helping teens discover their voice through civic engagement, leadership development, and hands-on learning experiences.
• Develop innovative programs that reflect the interests, needs, and strengths of young people in our community.
• Give teens a seat at the table by involving them in program planning, decision-making, and leadership opportunities.
• Evaluate programs and use participant feedback to make experiences even better.

• Develop meaningful relationships with schools, community organizations, youth-serving agencies, civic leaders, and local partners.
• Represent the YMCA throughout Whatcom County, building awareness of our teen programs and creating new opportunities for collaboration.
• Connect with families, funders, and community partners to expand access and remove barriers to participation.
• Identify opportunities for grants, sponsor ships, and partnerships that help our programs grow and thrive.

• Recruit, coach, mentor, and support staff and volunteers who share your passion for youth development.
• Create a positive, collaborative team culture where everyone feels valued and empowered to succeed.
• Provide leadership and direction to staff responsible for delivering high-quality programs and experiences.
• Model the YMCA's core values of caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility in everything you do.

• Oversee program budgets, resources, and operations to ensure long-term success.
• Manage grant-funded programs, including tracking outcomes, meeting reporting requirements, and demonstrating community impact.
• Use participation data and feedback to celebrate successes, identify opportunities, and guide future programming.
• Collaborate with YMCA leadership, development staff, and community partners to strengthen and expand teen programming.
• Ensure programs are safe, inclusive, and aligned with YMCA standards, youth protection policies, and applicable regulations.

We're looking for someone who is equally comfortable connecting with a group of teens, collaborating with community leaders, and leading a team toward a shared vision.

• Have a genuine passion for working with tweens and teens and helping them reach their full potential.
• Are a natural relationship builder who enjoys connecting with people from all walks of life.
• Bring creativity, energy, and fresh ideas to youth programming.
• Have experience leading youth development, education, recreation, or community-based programs.
• Enjoy mentoring and developing staff while building a strong, supportive team.
• Are organized and comfortable managing multiple programs, budgets, and priorities.
• Can balance big-picture thinking with the day-to-day details that make programs successful.
• Have strong communication skills and enjoy collaborating with schools, families, community partners, and funders.
• Believe that young people have valuable ideas, perspectives, and leadership abilities worth celebrating.

Experience with grant-funded programs, fundraising, community partnerships, or youth leadership initiatives is a plus!

• Must be 21 year of age minimum to be able to drive a Y owned vehicle as needed.
• Minimum of 3 years of…