Associate Director of Youth Development - Boston

Associate Director of Youth Development

More Than Words (MTW) is a nonprofit social enterprise that empowers youth who are in the foster care system, court involved, homeless, or out of school to take charge of their lives by taking charge of a business. By working as a team to manage their own retail and online used book business and community space, youth develop the employment skills, leadership, and self-confidence they need to successfully transition to adulthood.

MTW is an exemplary organization that has continually held up a mirror to identify areas for improvement and accountability; that ethic is part of the culture and fabric of MTW and it extends to our commitment to ensure our staff and board reflect the racial and ethnic diversity and lived experiences of the young adults we are privileged to serve. People of color are highly encouraged to apply.

More Than Words (MTW) is seeking an experienced youth services professional to lead the design, implementation, and management of high-impact youth development programs. This leadership role combines strategic program development with hands-on youth engagement, staff management, and partnership building. The Associate Director will foster a strong, data-driven culture to continuously improve outcomes for young people as they develop academic, workforce, and life skills.

This position reports to the Director of Youth Development and works closely with the Associate Director of Youth Development (Waltham) and Social Enterprise leaders. Responsibilities include supervising youth development staff, interns, and volunteers; leading program development and management; and serving as a positive role model and resource for youth.

Key responsibilities of this position include but are not limited to:

• Case Management & Youth Services:
  Manages a caseload of 8–10 youth, maintaining regular communication with collaterals (e.g., DCF, probation, schools) and internal staff.
• Data & KPI Oversight:
  Tracks departmental and youth KPIs using the Q0 board to ensure staff accountability and youth progress through the MTW model.
• Policy Compliance & Communication:
  Ensures Youth Development staff adhere to policies through timely shift reports, updates, and communication with internal and external partners; provides coaching and feedback as needed.
• Interview Pipeline Management:
  Oversees the Boston-site interview pipeline, monitoring monthly recruitment targets and coordinating schedules to move youth efficiently through the process.
• Youth Progression Oversight:
  Manages the youth performance review, 3-2-1 process, ensuring youth meet required benchmarks as they prepare to transition from MTW.

Youth Program Development & Management:

• Program Design &
  
  Collaboration:
  
  Partners with the Director of Youth Development and the Waltham Associate Director to design and implement high-quality programming across both sites, with a focus on education, employment, and self-efficacy.
• Program Delivery Systems:
  Develops and maintains structured program systems, including staffing schedules and progress-tracking tools, to support consistent delivery and youth advancement.
• Program Execution & Quality Assurance:
  Oversees day-to-day program implementation, providing feedback to staff on curriculum delivery, youth management, and alignment with the MTW program model.
• Coaching & Professional Development:
  Leads ongoing coaching and professional development for Youth Development staff, ensuring trauma-informed practices are consistently applied.
• Staff Recruitment & Management:
  Supports recruitment, onboarding, scheduling, coaching, and evaluation of Youth Development staff and interns in alignment with organizational priorities.
• Supervision & Performance Management:
  Supervises 2–3 team members, conducts weekly one-on-one supervision, and manages performance to support continuous improvement.
• Community Program Oversight:
  Oversees the Community Re-Engagement Program and develops systems to support youth in successfully re-engaging with the MTW program.

Leadership &

Collaboration:

• Leadership & Innovation:
  Takes initiative at the Boston site, applying creative problem-solving to address challenges and advancing…