Associate Program Director

An exciting opportunity to join the Plainfield leadership team.

Job Description

An exciting opportunity to join the team of a progressive YMCA located in vibrant Somerset County, New Jersey. The YMCA is one of the nation’s leading nonprofit organizations dedicated to strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. With a 150-year-old history, Greater Somerset County YMCA (GSCY) is a pillar of the community and has seven locations across three counties, which collectively serve upwards of 30,000 individuals. GSCY has 100 full-time and 950 part-time employees along with operating revenues to $22+ million.

The Y empowers everyone—no matter who they are or where they are from. To fulfill our purpose of strengthening community for all, GSCY is committed to being an inclusive organization and leveraging our collective impact to address social inequities. To learn more about GSCY, visit our website:

The Associate Program Director supports the day-to-day operations of youth programming at the Plainfield YMCA. This role provides direct program support, staff supervision, and administrative oversight to ensure high-quality, safety, and engaging youth programs. Responsibilities include supporting SACC, summer camp, youth and teen programs, chronic disease programming, Saturday In Motion (SIM), volunteer coordination, and program development, while upholding YMCA policies and core values.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in a related field preferred.

1–3 years of experience in youth development, nonprofit, or community-based programming preferred.

Experience working in a YMCA or similar nonprofit organization preferred.

Bilingual English/Spanish preferred.

Ability to work effectively with diverse populations and build strong, positive relationships.

Strong organizational, communication, and leadership skills.

Essential Functions

Support daily operations of School Age Child Care (SACC), including staff supervision, scheduling, curriculum support, and program quality.

Assist with hiring, training, onboarding, and ongoing coaching of program and camp staff.

Ensure programs meet YMCA safety standards, licensing requirements, and quality expectations.

Manage program administration including registrations, enrollments, attendance, billing follow-up, and parent communication.

Support in youth and teen programs, chronic disease programming, SIM programs, and facilitate classes as needed.

Development and implementation of child development and teen programs.

Support staff leadership in planning and managing program budgets, monitoring payroll, and controlling purchasing expenses in accordance with YMCA financial guidelines.

Assist with purchasing program supplies and snacks within budget and nutrition guidelines.

Build and maintain positive relationships with youth, families, volunteers, and community partners.

Assist with summer camp operations, including staff supervision, activity planning, scheduling, trips, and use of camp management software and parent portals.

Support staff leadership development and ensure consistent supervision, safety procedures, and incident reporting.

Contribute to program growth by supporting new program ideas and community engagement efforts.

Assist with fundraising efforts, including the Annual Campaign and special events.

Promote programs through marketing support, website content, program guides, and social media.

Participate in organization-wide events, trainings, meetings, and other duties as assigned.

Cause-Driven Leadership Competencies

Mission Advancement: Models and teaches the Ys values. Ensures a high level of service with a commitment to changing lives. Provides volunteers with orientation, training, development, and recognition. Cultivates relationships to support fund-raising.

Collaboration: Champions inclusion activities, strategies, and initiatives. Builds relationships to create small communities. Empathetically listens and communicates for understanding when negotiating and dealing with conflict. Effectively tailors' communications to the appropriate audience. Provides staff with feedback, coaching, guidance and support.

Operational Effectiveness: Provides others with frameworks for making decisions. Conducts prototypes to support the launching of programs and activities. Develops plans and manages best practices through engagement of team. Effectively creates and manages budgets. Holds staff accountable for high-quality results using a formal process to measure progress.

Personal Growth: Shares new insights. Facilitates change, models adaptability and an awareness of the impact of change. Utilizes non-threatening methods to address sensitive issues and inappropriate behavior or performance. Has the functional and technical knowledge and skills required to perform well; uses best practices and demonstrates up-to-date knowledge and skills in technology.

WORK ENVIRONMENT & PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Sufficient strength, agility and mobility to perform essential functions of position and to supervise program activities.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use a computer for extended periods of time and be able to communicate using a computer and phone/smart device.

The employee frequently is required to sit and reach and must be able to move around the work environment.

The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds.

Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate, with occasional noise levels associated with working with school-aged children.

This Job is fully on-site with no remote opportunities

Benefits Of Working Full-time At GSC YMCA Include

FREE family membership to Greater Somerset County YMCA, including full access to all of our branch facilities including Bridgewater YMCA, Hillsborough YMCA, Princeton YMCA, Somerset Hills YMCA, and Somerville YMCA.

FREE nationwide membership with access to over 2,500 YMCA locations across the country

Discounted program fees

Paid sick leave and short-term disability insurance

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Generous 12% retirement contribution to the YMCA Retirement Fund after eligibility period (no employee contribution required)

Medical and dental insurance with prescription coverage

Vision insurance

Flexible Spending Account for medical and/or dependent care

100% contribution towards life insurance and long-term disability

Optional additional life insurance and dependent life insurance available at low rates

403(b) Smart Savings Plan

Generous paid time off policy

7 paid holidays

Greater Somerset County YMCA is a drug free work environment. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information who share our values of Caring, Honesty, Respect and Responsibility.