Director of Youth Development

The Director of Youth Development provides strategic and operational leadership for youth and family programming at the YMCA branch.

This position is responsible for developing, implementing, evaluating, and growing high-quality programs that support children, teens, and families and advance the YMCA's commitment to Youth Development, Healthy Living, and Social Responsibility.

The Director oversees a portfolio that may include school-age childcare, out-of-school-time programming, youth enrichment, teen programming, summer and vacation camps, youth leadership initiatives, STEM literacy, digital literacy, career exploration, family engagement, and other youth-focused programs and partnerships.

The Director is responsible for program quality, staff leadership, enrollment and participation growth, financial performance, regulatory compliance, safety, community partnerships, and the development of new opportunities responsive to community needs.

This position serves as a member of the branch leadership team and works collaboratively across departments to ensure youth and families experience the YMCA as a welcoming, safe, connected, and high-quality community resource.

• Provide leadership, vision, and direction for the branch's youth development portfolio.
• Develop, implement, evaluate, and continuously improve youth programs based on community need, participation trends, family feedback, and measurable outcomes.
• Oversee school-age and out-of-school-time programming, teen initiatives, camps, youth enrichment, STEM literacy, leadership development, and other assigned youth programs.
• Identify opportunities to expand programming for children and teens who are not currently engaged with the YMCA.
• Create intentional pathways that keep youth connected to the YMCA as they progress from elementary school through adolescence and young adulthood.

• Develop and expand age-appropriate STEM programming across school-age, teen, camp, and enrichment programs, and develop pathways that connect STEM literacy with real-world career exploration in all regional career sectors.
• Establish relationships with schools, colleges, universities, employers, workforce organizations, libraries, museums, makerspaces, and STEM-focused community partners. Recruit professionals, college students, educators, and industry partners to serve as mentors, speakers, instructors, and career-exposure partners.
• Incorporate digital citizenship, online safety, responsible technology use, and emerging technology awareness into youth programming, completed projects, demonstrations, and continued engagement.

• Provide leadership and oversight for licensed school-age childcare and other regulated programs assigned to the position.
• Maintain all required background checks, certifications, professional-development requirements, and training applicable to licensed youth programs.
• Hold a current CPR, AED, and First Aid certification is required or must be obtained within the timeframe established by YMCA Southcoast.
• Maintain compliance with Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care requirements, YMCA standards, child protection policies, health and safety requirements, and all applicable regulations.
• Ensure appropriate staff-to-participant ratios, documentation, attendance, licensing records, emergency procedures, and program files are maintained.
• Coordinate preparation for licensing visits, inspections, audits, and corrective actions as necessary.
• Maintain appropriate communication with parents and guardians regarding program expectations, policies, participant progress, safety, and concerns.

• Develop opportunities in leadership, civic engagement, mentoring, STEM, workforce and career exploration, wellness, recreation, academic support, volunteering, entrepreneurship, and community service.
• Establish youth voice and leadership opportunities that allow teens to help shape YMCA programming through mentoring and career-exposure experiences connecting young people with professionals and community leaders.
• Create exposure to postsecondary education, certifications, apprenticeships, skilled trades, emerging industries, and other career pathways.

• Identify participation, enrollment, retention, and program-development goals.
• Develop staff schedules that appropriately…