Afterschool Director

About Harlem Grown

Harlem Grown is an independent, 501(c)(3) non‑profit organization that inspires youth to lead healthy and ambitious lives through mentorship and hands‑on education in urban farming, sustainability, and nutrition. We operate local urban farms, increase access to healthy food for Harlem residents, and provide farm‑based development programs to youth.

The School‑Based After school Director serves as the onsite leader and supervisor of Harlem Grown’s COMPASS after‑school program at Young Diplomats Academy, overseeing all program operations, staff supervision, compliance, participant engagement, and program implementation. The director is responsible for ensuring high‑quality youth development programming that supports academic achievement, social‑emotional learning, enrichment, and community engagement in alignment with Harlem Grown’s mission and NYC Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD) standards.

With oversight from the Director of Youth Programs, this role leads the overall management and day‑to‑day operations of the site, ensuring a safe, engaging, and high‑quality environment for youth and families. The director oversees the successful implementation of after school, summer camp, and family engagement programming while maintaining compliance with all organizational and funder requirements.

PROGRAM MANAGEMENT – 40%

• Lead the planning, implementation, and continuous improvement of Harlem Grown’s COMPASS after‑school program at Young Diplomats Academy in partnership with the Director of Youth Programs, ensuring a safe, inclusive, and high‑quality environment for youth and families.
• Oversee all site‑based programming, including after‑school, summer camp, family engagement activities, youth leadership initiatives, and special events.
• Ensure high‑quality program implementation through effective scheduling, staff training, coaching, and alignment with Harlem Grown’s mission, values, curriculum, and program expectations.
• Ensure all programming is delivered within established timelines and in compliance with DYCD, organizational, school, licensing, and safety requirements.
• Supervise daily program operations, including attendance tracking, activity coordination, student transitions, scheduling, and overall program logistics.
• Manage participant recruitment, enrollment, attendance, retention, and engagement strategies, fostering strong relationships with youth and caregivers.
• Support the implementation of youth leadership and workforce development opportunities, including Counselor‑in‑Training (CIT) and other youth development pathways.
• Oversee the implementation of Harlem Grown’s food and farm education curriculum and ensure programming is engaging, developmentally appropriate, and outcome‑driven.
• Work in alignment with organizational calendars and priorities, including evaluations, surveys, professional development, reporting cycles, and special initiatives.
• Use program data, observations, and feedback to drive continuous improvement and strengthen participant outcomes.
• Perform other duties as assigned in support of Harlem Grown’s mission.

PARTNERSHIP & FAMILY ENGAGEMENT – 20%

• Serve as Harlem Grown’s primary representative at Young Diplomats Academy, building and maintaining strong relationships with school leadership, teachers, families, and community partners.
• Partner with caregivers to support student participation, attendance, engagement, and overall program success.
• Support family engagement events, school‑wide initiatives, and community‑building opportunities that strengthen Harlem Grown’s presence within the school community.
• Build and manage partnerships with community organizations and enrichment providers to enhance programming and opportunities for youth.
• Collaborate with internal teams, including Youth Programs, Operations, Agriculture, and Advancement, to ensure effective program implementation.

PROGRAM OPERATIONS & COMPLIANCE – 25%

• Oversee day‑to‑day site operations, including program schedules, staffing coverage, space coordination, safety procedures, and resource management.
• Obtain and maintain all required licenses and ensure ongoing…