Assistant Director of Youth Development & Socio-Emotional Learning

ABOUT RED HOOK INITIATIVE(RHI)

Red Hook Initiative (RHI) is a community-based nonprofit organization working to improve the lives of the more than 6,500 residents of Red Hook Houses, Brooklyn's largest public housing complex. RHI believes that the social change to overcome systemic inequities begins with empowered youth, and that change in communities should come from within. In partnership with community adults, we nurture young people in Red Hook to be inspired, resilient, and healthy, and to envision themselves as co‑creators of their lives, community, and society.

Youth development, community building, and community hiring are at the core of RHI's approach to strengthen Red Hook's future. Our model gives young people and residents the tools, resources, and opportunities they need to interrupt the systems and barriers that perpetuate historic inequities for the community. Residents lead the way toward a more equitable, hopeful future.

Over our 22-year history, RHI's model and dedicated team have been nationally recognized for our innovative, place‑based approach to social change. RHI was recently awarded an unrestricted gift of $1M from Mac Kenzie Scott through her philanthropic open call venture, Yield Giving.

• Youth Development: RHI engages over 450 adolescents each year, from middle school through young adulthood, endeavoring to interrupt cycles of injustice and to build hope.
• Building Community: Working with Red Hook youth and adults to organize, exercise leadership to drive positive change for the community, and increase social cohesion to build a more resilient neighborhood.
• Investing in Residents: RHI hires locally and invests in residents who will improve their lives and the community in which they live. More than $1.1M was earned in the last year by people from Red Hook.
• Red Hook Farms: A youth-centered urban agriculture and food justice program operating one of Brooklyn's original and largest farms. Red Hook Farms cultivates affordable, fresh produce and provides STEM and nutrition education, leadership development, and employment opportunities for local youth and residents.

RHI seeks a dynamic and mission-driven Assistant Director of Youth Development & Socio-Emotional Learning (YD & SEL) to lead high-quality programming that fosters academic success, emotional wellness, and leadership among Red Hook youth ages 11 to 18. Reporting to the Senior Director of YD & SEL, the Assistant Director oversees after-school, summer, and Freedom Schools initiatives and ensures alignment with RHI's broader youth development goals.

In this leadership role, the Assistant Director ensures program excellence, staff development, and youth outcomes across all middle and high school initiatives, bridging daily operations with strategic program goals and serving as a key thought partner to the Senior Director.

Youth Workers, Summer Interns, Activity Specialists

College & Workforce Success Team, Clinical Counselors, Community Building Team, Director and Assistant Director of Red Hook Farms, Director of HR & Operations, RHI Operations Team

40 hours/week, exempt, Monday - Thursday 10:00 am - 6:00 pm (In person), Friday 9 am - 5 pm (In Person as needed) Summer

Hours:

Monday - Friday 8:30 am - 4:30 pm (In Person)

• Oversee daily operations of after-school, holiday, and summer programs for up to 150 youth, ensuring responsive and engaging experiences.
• Design, implement, and evaluate curriculum and programming aligned with RHI's mission and funder expectations.
• Lead youth recruitment, intake, and retention strategies to maintain consistent participation.
• Co-develop annual program goals and assessment tools to evaluate outcomes and support continuous improvement.
• Plan and execute trips, events, and family engagement opportunities that expand learning and exposure.
• Promote trauma-informed, healing-centered, and positive youth development practices throughout all programming.
• Serve as Site Coordinator for the Children's Defense Fund Freedom Schools program, overseeing all planning, staffing, and implementation.

• Supervise, coach, and support program staff to ensure performance excellence, professional growth, and alignment with RHI's values.
• Support recruitment, onboarding, goal setting, and performance monitoring for Youth Workers and interns.
• Facilitate regular team meetings and foster a collaborative, accountable work culture.
• Identify staff training needs and coordinate with HR and senior leadership to implement solutions.
• Lead crisis response and conflict resolution using trauma-informed and restorative approaches.

• Ensure accurate and timely attendance, participation, and outcome data; manage reporting and documentation for funders and internal use.
• Oversee staff schedules and timekeeping to ensure payroll accuracy and…