Senior Program Director

Overview:

Play Rugby is seeking an experienced and mission-driven Senior Program Director to lead the implementation, evaluation, and continued development of our youth rugby programs throughout the Bronx and Harlem.

Reporting to the Chief Program Officer, the Senior Program Director will oversee program staff and operations, strengthen program quality, guide curriculum implementation, and cultivate partnerships that support young people both on and off the field. This role combines strategic leadership with hands-on program support and requires a leader who is equally comfortable developing systems, coaching staff, solving operational challenges, and engaging with community partners.

This is an exciting opportunity to help shape one of New York City’s most distinctive sports-based youth development programs while ensuring that thousands of young people receive a safe, consistent, and meaningful program experience.

Reporting Structures:

• The Senior Program Director reports to the Chief Program Officer
• The Senior Program Director manages the Enrichment Program Director, Training & Development Manager, and Academy Coaches

Core Responsibilities:

Program Leadership

• Oversee the implementation of Play Rugby’s afterschool Enrichment and community-based Academy programs.
• Ensure strong curriculum use, thoughtful session planning, and high-quality program delivery.
• Lead program evaluation, collecting and utilizing participant feedback, and observations to drive continuous improvement.
• Ensure programs consistently deliver meaningful outcomes for youth while maintaining a high-quality participant experience.
• Ensure program data is accurate, complete, and submitted on time.
• Strengthen youth recruitment into the Academy by supporting outreach and creating effective, replicable recruitment systems.
• Work closely with Chief Program Officer to shape the long-term vision for Play Rugby’s programs.

Staff Leadership & Development

• Supervise, coach, and support program staff.
• Recruit, hire, onboard, train, and retain a high-performing program team.
• Conduct performance evaluations and support meaningful professional development.
• Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and mission-driven team culture.

Community Partnerships

• Build and maintain strong relationships with schools, community-based organizations, and other youth-serving partners.
• Identify partnerships that strengthen program delivery and expand opportunities for participants.
• Serve as an ambassador for the organization's mission and values within the community.

The responsibilities above are intended to provide an overview of the role and are not an exhaustive list of duties.

Qualifications:

The strongest candidates will bring:

• A bachelor’s degree.
• Five to seven years of progressively responsible leadership experience in youth development, education, nonprofit management, or a related field.
• Demonstrated success managing teams and supervising staff.
• Strong project management, organizational planning, and problem-solving skills.
• Experience managing program operations and maintaining high standards across multiple programs or locations.
• Experience partnering with schools, community-based organizations, and youth-serving nonprofits.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• A commitment to accountability and the ability to hold oneself and others to high standards.
• Ability to combine strategic thinking with hands-on program support.
• The ability and willingness to travel throughout New York City and work a flexible schedule, including evenings and weekends.

Experience coaching youth sports is strongly preferred but not required. Familiarity with rugby is welcome but is not a prerequisite for the position.

Play Rugby is an equal opportunity employer and encourages candidates of all backgrounds to apply. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

Benefits include employer-supported health insurance (medical, dental, vision), 401k, 12 paid holidays per year, and generous PTO.