Young Women’s Leadership Program Coordinator, Queens, NY (FT)

South Asian Youth Action (SAYA) is committed to providing its employees opportunities for growth in a supportive community environment. With a flexible schedule and generous benefits package, SAYA provides its employees a healthy work-life balance in a youth development nonprofit.

SAYA: Belong. Grow. Thrive.

Organization Description:

Established in 1996, South Asian Youth Action (SAYA) is a 501(c)3 youth development organization dedicated to providing holistic, impactful programming to underserved New York City students. Our mission is to foster a strong sense of belonging in youth while equipping them with tools to excel academically, professionally, and personally. By championing education equity through our innovative approach, we ensure our youth are prepared to thrive and make meaningful contributions to their communities.

As one of the first South Asian organizations in the United States, we play a critical role in supporting the positive development of youth from immigrant communities. Today, we provide culturally affirming programming at 10 schools and our community center - reaching an ever-growing number of individuals each year. To date, we have made a significant impact on the well-being of our community by fostering resilience and wellness and increasing access to opportunities.

Position Summary:

The Young Women’s Leadership Program Coordinator will be responsible for the planning, implementation, coordination and facilitation of SAYA’s programming at our partner high schools and the Elmhurst Center including but not limited to Young Women’s Leadership and Postsecondary Access. SAYA’s high school programming aims to help youth navigate their complex and layered personal and social identities; practice self-care; develop positive relationships with family members and peers; and receive mentorship. The skills we help our youth build are transferable in other areas of their lives and in the future, including succeeding in high school and post-secondary opportunities. The goal is to raise their critical consciousness so that they will be better equipped to navigate their own lives, offer peer support to others and become advocates for themselves and their communities.

Supervisor: Co-Director of High School and College Programs

Responsibilities:

Program Management

• Oversee the registration and enrollment process for youth.
• Lead the annual Young Women’s Leadership Conference.
• Track and manage attendance and other student data using our web-based database and other customized tools.
• Provide program data for grant reporting as is necessary.
• Conduct periodic evaluation of programming to measure effectiveness of services and maintain documentation of activities and outcomes.
• Attend trainings, professional development workshops and conferences.
• Manage new projects, initiatives, and duties.

Curriculum Development and Facilitation

• Develop lesson plans and curriculum for leadership, college access and enrichment programming.
• Utilize social emotional learning framework and strategies in the development of resources, tools and support for youth.
• Incorporate social justice and advocacy framework for curriculum development.
• Facilitate sessions at the Elmhurst Center and school site(s).
• Collaborate with colleagues around the planning of lessons, curriculum, career exposure and career events, special events, and trips.
• Plan and facilitate enrichment activities such as visual arts, performing arts, and interest-based clubs during the school day and after school.
• Incorporate an equity lens in program development.

Relationship Building and Youth Engagement

• Build positive rapport and mentoring relationships with youth by being enthusiastic, approachable, available and ready to listen.
• Navigate varying group dynamics when facilitating different cohorts of youth and be a strong relationship-builder.
• Provide individual, group advisement, and overall guidance for the personal and academic development of youth participants.
• Participate in youth activities and free time spent outside of formally structured programming.
• Lead events, and recreational and enrichment activities, which will vary throughout the year based on student interest and program scheduling priorities.
• Coordinate and chaperone trips which may be held during the school day, after-school, evenings, weekends and summer.
• Support youth with academic activities by providing assistance with school work and projects.
• Ability to hold space for difficult conversations and formulate a plan of action for individual youth after 1:1 check ins.

Partnership Development and Recruitment

• Cultivate strong partnerships with SAYA colleagues, school teachers/administrators, college representatives, other CBOs and NYC government agencies to provide youth with a range of resources and support.
• Build collaborative relationships with community partners and school leaders, including administration, teachers, parent coordinators, and guidance counselors.
• Strengthen the connection between SAYA school partner sites and SAYA’s Elmhurst Center by collaborating with colleagues and providing information about Center programs and events to school-based youth.
• Participate in youth recruitment efforts with outreach to school and community organization stakeholders.
• Attend occasional evening events at the school site(s), Elmhurst Center, and other community-based organizations throughout the year to represent SAYA programming.

The above is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by this position. Other functions may be assigned, and management retains the right to add or change the duties at any time.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor degree required
• At least 2+ years experience in relevant fields (Education, Social Work, Counseling) preferred
• Experience with workshop facilitation, youth mentorship, classroom management, and curriculum development required
• Experience developing curriculum incorporating social-emotional learning (SEL), social justice and positive youth development
• Previous experience in and knowledge of NYC public schools required
• Highly flexible and openness to feedback, with ability to organize and manage multiple tasks in a fast-paced setting
• Willingness to support larger SAYA team with various tasks as is needed, must be open to and contribute to supportive team culture across programs
• Excels with contingency planning for events, workshops, and flexibility in addressing changing program needs
• Excellent proficiency in Google Suite, including Google Spreadsheet, Google Docs, Google Slides, Google Forms, MS-Excel
• Must be comfortable with public speaking in leading events and initiative

Compensation

• $60,000-$65,000 commensurate with experience
• PTO starting at 25 days
• 10 paid holidays
• 12 weeks (60 days) of fully paid FMLA leave
• Employer sponsored medical benefits with generous employer contributions for employee and dependents
• Optional dental, vision, transit, and FSA benefits
• Retirement plan with 1:1 match of employee’s contribution up to 3% of annual salary (capped at $16,000)

Additional Information

• This position is in-person
• This role may require you to work a Tuesday-Saturday schedule. You must be available to work early morning hours at school-based sites and evening hours when at our Elmhurst Center
• Must be comfortable with periodic commute and occasional transfer of items between school and SAYA central office, and other designated locations as assigned or as is needed

Please provide a cover letter with your application.

SAYA is an Equal Opportunity Employer.