The PS 261 Afterschool Program is seeking a Program Director to oversee operations. The program serves approximately 260 students daily and offers diverse enrichment classes, including visual arts, music, theater, sports, and science. As a key figure in our team, you will play a crucial role in shaping the future of our students, providing high-quality enrichment and childcare for students in our racially and economically diverse school community.
The ideal candidate will have experience leading a similar program, a passion for working with children and families, excellent communication skills, and strong organizational abilities. Attention to detail and a proactive approach are key to success in this role.
This is a full-time, in-person position, Monday through Friday from 10:30 AM to 6:30 PM, with occasional late-night and weekend hours.
The anticipated start date for the position is May 1, 2025.
The PS 261 Afterschool Program is a 501(c)(3) organization and an equal-opportunity employer.
POSITION OVERVIEW
Afterschool Program Oversight:
- Manage all aspects of the Afterschool Program, including class scheduling, student enrollment, tuition collection, and financial aid.
- Ensure high-quality programming for students and families.
- Solicit and apply feedback to drive continuous program improvement.
- Collaborate with school leadership to develop engaging programs.
- Organize term showcases for families to view student progress.
- Coordinate with the Afterschool Committee on annual Musical production.
Team Leadership:
- Hire, train, and supervise counselors and staff. Provide ongoing feedback throughout each semester.
- Recruit, manage, and evaluate specialist instructors and external vendors.
- Supervise the Assistant Director and Program Coordinator.
Communication & Collaboration:
- Meet regularly with the school principal and administration on program matters. Prioritize urgent issues accordingly.
- Cultivate strong relationships with school leaders, staff, students, parents, and community partners.
- Foster alignment between school day and afterschool staff.
- Evaluate and balance the individual and collective needs of both students and parents.
- Communicate with parents about enrollment, schedules, tuition, and policies.
- Attend Afterschool Committee meetings, sharing program successes and challenges.
- Lead with perseverance, equity, optimism, and empathy in all aspects of the role.
Financial & Operational Management:
- Oversee payroll, ensuring accurate timesheet reviews.
- Monitor program spending, flag discrepancies, and ensure timely payments with the Afterschool Committee.
- Manage the site budget, including purchases, expenses, and modifications, with support from the Finance Department.
Safety & Compliance:
- Address harmful child behavior with intervention and coordinate a restorative action plan with families, afterschool staff, and school administration.
- Ensure policies are in place to protect children’s safety, including attendance and check-out protocols and staff training in first aid and CPR.
- Maintain compliance with all DOH and DOE regulations.
- Familiarity with Socio-Emotional and Trauma-Informed Practices.
- Plan and manage emergency drills (e.g., Code Blue, fire drills, lockdown drills, etc.)
- Familiarity with the custodial engineer role, understanding their responsibilities and limitations, and ensuring clear communication and coordination when necessary.
QUALIFICATIONS
- 4 years of experience minimum or more in school, after-school, or educational program leadership or administration, including staff management.
- At least two years of experience as a Program Supervisor in a childcare program.
- Strong strategic thinking skills, with the ability to translate plans into action and exercise excellent judgment in decision-making.
- Excellent communication skills across generations: engaging with parents, staff, and students.
- Bachelor’s Degree required; Master’s Degree preferred.
- Proficiency in using one or more of the following types of software is required.
- Class management software (i.e., Jackrabbit)
- Email marketing software (i.e., Constant Contact)
- Online payroll systems (i.e., Paychex Flex)
- Online bookkeeping ledger (i.e., QuickBooks Online)
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
The Afterschool Program Director role offers a competitive salary of $65,000- $80,000. Individual salary offers are determined using an equity lens, considering relevant experience, the scope of responsibilities, and comparable afterschool management positions in the NYC area. In addition to a competitive salary, we offer a comprehensive benefits package, including 20 days of paid time off, health insurance, and a retirement plan.
APPLICATION
To apply for the Afterschool Program Director position, please email a cover letter and resume to afterschool.treasurer@ps261brooklyn.org. In the subject line of your email, please include 'Afterschool Program Director' to ensure your application is properly routed.
