Program Director -Middle School; South Ozone Park

If you are unable to complete this application due to a disability, contact this employer to ask for an accommodation or an alternative application process.

Full Time Elmhurst, NY, US

Requisition

Salary Range: $70,000.00 To $75,000.00 Annually

Program Director, Middle School Program at PS 124

Job Description

Program Director, Middle School Program (South Ozone Park)

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.

The Program Director is responsible for the overall day‑to‑day management, success, and quality of the middle school after‑school program. This includes ensuring a safe, supportive, and enriching environment for students, supervising a team of 1 full‑time Program Coordinator and 15–18 part‑time staff, and serving as the primary liaison between the school, SAYA and funding agencies. The Program Director will ensure that all programmatic, contractual, and compliance goals are met while maintaining a high standard of care and innovation in youth development.

Reports to:

Senior Director of Elementary and Middle School Programs

Supervises:
Program Coordinator, Mentors and Activity Specialists

• Oversee day‑to‑day operations of the after‑school program
• Ensure a safe, inclusive and structured environment that promotes youth engagement and learning
• Lead the planning and implementation of high‑quality activities that are nurturing, physically and emotionally safe and aligned with the school's curriculum and SAYA’s primary focus areas and initiatives
• Establish rapport with youth and provide mentoring, guidance and overall direction for their personal development
• Advocate on behalf of students and families and make appropriate referrals to families for outside support services when needed
• Initiate and organize special events such as performances, parent engagement events, field trips, etc.

• Build a team of youth development professionals, including Mentors and Activity Specialists
• Supervise, coach and support a team of one Program Coordinator and 15–20 part‑time staff including Mentors and Activity Specialists
• Lead regularly scheduled team meetings and individual supervisory meetings with staff
• Foster a positive staff culture that values collaboration, accountability and continuous improvement
• Provide ongoing professional development and performance evaluations to…