Director of Teen Center and Youth Development

The Director of Teen Center and Youth Development is responsible for the day-to-day leadership, coordination, and operational management of the YMCA of Yonkers Teen Center and its associated youth development initiatives.

This role oversees a continuum of youth-centered programming designed to provide safe spaces, positive mentorship, leadership development, academic support, workforce readiness, recreation, wellness, prevention-focused services, and community engagement opportunities for adolescents and young adults ages 12–21.

The Teen Center includes multiple program components, including OASAS-funded recovery-support and Clubhouse programming, Y-Achievers, workforce development initiatives, mentoring programs, wellness and prevention activities, leadership development programming, recreational enrichment, and other grant-supported youth services that collectively support positive youth development and long-term success.

This position is responsible for supervising staff, ensuring program quality and compliance, supporting participant engagement and retention, coordinating partnerships, managing daily Teen Center operations, and maintaining a safe, welcoming, structured, and trauma-informed environment for all youth participants.

The Director of Teen Center and Youth Development plays a key leadership role in advancing the YMCA of Yonkers' mission through high-quality youth programming, relationship-building, community collaboration, operational excellence, and youth empowerment.

• Bachelor's degree in Human Services, Social Work, Youth Development, Recreation, Education, Psychology, Public Health, or a related field.
• Minimum of three (3) years of experience working in youth development, community programming, prevention services, behavioral health, recovery-support services, or related fields.
• Strong organizational, communication, and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to effectively engage adolescents, families, community stakeholders, and multidisciplinary teams.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.

• Minimum of one (1) year of supervisory or program leadership experience.
• Experience working with grant-funded, compliance-driven, community-based, OASAS-funded, or recovery-support programming.
• CASAC, CASAC-T, or prior experience working within OASAS-funded prevention or recovery-support programming.
• Candidates without a CASAC credential must be willing to obtain CASAC-T certification within a timeframe established by the YMCA of Yonkers upon hire.
• Knowledge of trauma-informed practices, positive youth development principles, recovery-support models, and youth engagement strategies.
• Bilingual (English/Spanish).
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, and organizational management systems.