Director of SYEP Initiatives

At Commonpoint, community is at the heart of everything we do. With more than 90 program sites and flagship locations in Little Neck, Bayside, Forest Hills, East Elmhurst, and Jamaica, we proudly serve over 125,000 individuals each year. From early childhood to older adulthood, we support people from all walks of life on their journeys from crisis to stability and empowerment.

Our wide range of programs, spanning social services, education, and recreation, reflects our mission to build a more connected, inclusive, and thriving community for all.

To continue advancing the impact we have across the communities we serve, Commonpoint is hiring a Director of SYEP Initiatives situated within the Youth Employment Department. The Youth Employment department plays a vital role within Commonpoint’s Youth Workforce Department, serving individuals predominantly between the ages of 14–24. SYEP provides New York City youth with summer employment and educational experiences that build on their strengths and incorporate youth development principles, including engaging their talents and interests, developing skills and competencies, and providing positive adult role models.

The Director of SYEP Initiatives will provide leadership and oversight of Commonpoint’s Community-Based, Career Ready, Emerging Leaders SYEP, and Work, Learn & Grow (WLG) programs, ensuring high-quality implementation, achievement of program goals, and compliance with DYCD requirements. This role reports directly to the Senior Director of Youth Employment Programs.

Across the agency, Program Directors provide programmatic and operational leadership, support and develop staff, and ensure high-quality programs and outcomes for the communities Commonpoint serves.

• Provide overall programmatic and operational oversight of Community-Based, Career Ready, and Emerging Leaders SYEP, as well as Work, Learn & Grow (WLG), ensuring effective implementation across the summer and fall program cycles.
• Provide oversight, guidance, and support to the Assistant Directors assigned to each contract, ensuring program requirements, deliverables, and performance expectations are clearly understood and achieved.
• Maintain oversight of all Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD) contractual obligations and ensure program targets are met on a weekly, monthly, and seasonal basis.
• Monitor performance across contracts, identify areas of concern, and work with Assistant Directors to develop and implement strategies for improvement.
• Ensure consistent systems and practices across contracts while supporting Assistant Directors in addressing the specific needs and requirements of their respective programs.
• Oversee YEPS management and ensure appropriate systems are in place for accurate documentation, payroll committal, user access, and data integrity.

• Supervise, coach, and evaluate Assistant Directors assigned to each SYEP/WLG contract, establishing clear expectations and accountability for program performance.
• Provide Assistant Directors with ongoing guidance, problem-solving support, and professional development to strengthen their leadership and management of program teams.
• Facilitate regular meetings with Assistant Directors to review performance, upcoming deliverables, staffing needs, program challenges, and priorities across contracts.
• Support Assistant Directors in developing effective work plans, staffing structures, and day-to-day operating practices.
• Promote collaboration and best-practice sharing across contracts while building a cohesive SYEP/WLG leadership team.

• Provide oversight and…