Senior Director of Youth Programs

POSITION DESCRIPTION

Position: Senior Director of Youth Programs

Location: Philadelphia, PA Status: Exempt, Full-Time Employee

Location: Hybrid work environment/Philadelphia, PA.

Salary Range: $65,000 - $70,000

POSITION SUMMARY

The Senior Director of Youth Programs sets the strategic direction, program structure, and performance framework for the World Affairs Council of Philadelphia’s youth programs. This role is responsible for building a consistent, scalable program model that strengthens educational quality, grow capacity, and supports long-term sustainability and impact.

The Senior Director of Youth Programs partners closely with senior leadership to translate the organization’s educational vision into standardized program frameworks, operating models, and clear priorities. The role is accountable for the financial performance and key program metrics of youth education programs, establishes standards for curriculum design, evaluation, and delivery, and ensures that systems and processes support consistent, high-quality implementation. This role may have one or more direct reports.

PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic Leadership & Program Frameworks – 60%

• Set the strategic vision and long-term direction for all youth programs in partnership with senior leadership
• Design and maintain universal program frameworks, logic models, curriculum standards, and learning models to guide all youth education programs
• Ensure programs are designed for scalability, consistency, and accessibility, with alignment across all youth programs while maintaining educational quality
• Translate organizational strategy into clear annual priorities and goals for youth programs
• Assess all youth programs and make strategic recommendations related to growth and refinement of programs
• Establish and implement standardized operating models and expectations across all youth programs
• Oversee program-level compliance with external and third-party policies, requirements, and protocols

Budgets, Metrics & Performance Management – 20%

• Develop and oversee youth programs budgets and overall financial performance, including revenue and expenses
• Establish and monitor program goals and KPIs to measure impact, reach, and cost effectiveness
• Partner cross-functionally to align youth programs budget, grant opportunities, and fundraising priorities with organizational strategy
• Oversee financial and program performance data to inform decision-making and resource allocation
• Ensure consistent evaluation practices and data collection across education programs
• Oversee data integrity, analysis and program reporting for internal leadership, fundraising and board-facing materials

Systems, Resource Allocation & Oversight – 10%

• Design and enhance systems, processes, and tools that support efficient youth program planning, delivery, and evaluation
• Ensure clarity of roles, workflows, and decision-making authority across all youth programs
• Allocate resources across youth programs in alignment with strategic priorities
• Establish standards and expectations for facilitators and external partners supporting youth programs
• Maintain onsite presence for all youth programs to support quality assurance and strategic alignment
• Supervise and support collaborators including any direct reports, interns, volunteers and partners to ensure quality and alignment between strategy and execution of programming

Special projects as assigned – 10%

QUALIFICATIONS

Education / Experience

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience required
• 7–10+ years of experience in education, youth development, or program leadership roles
• Demonstrated experience leading strategy, program frameworks, or project management initiatives
• Familiarity with school curriculum standards (Pennsylvania standards preferred)
• Experience developing and managing budgets and performance metrics
• Experience with supervising and mentoring others
• Experience with program evaluation, data collection and analysis, and systems development
• Experience supporting fundraising, grants, or board reporting preferred
• PA Clearances are required

REQUIRED SKILLS & COMPETENCIES

• Strong strategic and program design skills
• Ability to translate vision into clear frameworks and priorities
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret program and financial data
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including executive and board facing communication
• Strong cross-functional collaboration skills
• Proficiency with Salesforce, Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, and other data/reporting tools
• Strong interest in world affairs and open to civil discourse on international issues from multiple perspectives

. COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

• The salary range for this position is $65,000 - $70,000 commensurate with experience.
• The World Affairs Council offers a competitive benefits package that includes:
  • Health Insurance, dental and vision
  • 403b Retirement Plan
  • Generous paid time off
  • Transit and commuter benefits
  • High-flex hybrid work environment including a Center City office and remote work capabilities
  • Supportive work and family benefits
  • Professional development opportunities
  • Occasional fully paid domestic and international travel
  • Participation in and access to world class speakers including authors, heads of state, elected officials, activists and leaders is a key opportunity for all staff.
  • Engagement with international professional visitors.
  • This position is classified as exempt according to the Fair Labor Standards Act.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The World Affairs Council of Philadelphia is committed to the principles of Equal Employment Opportunity. Accordingly, World Affairs will provide equal opportunity to all persons without regard to race, color, ethnicity, sex, sexual orientation, age, gender identity, religion, national origin, ancestry, disability, marital status, familial status, genetic information, domestic / sexual violence victim status, pregnancy, veteran status, use of guide or support animal because of blindness, deafness, or physical handicap, and/or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all areas of employment, layoff, compensation, benefits, and all other conditions, terms, and privileges of employment in accordance with federal, state, and local laws. World Affairs strives to employ and promote the best-qualified person for each job and, in doing so, will comply with all legal requirements.

ABOUT THE WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL OF PHILADELPHIA

The World Affairs Council of Philadelphia (World Affairs) is where continents, cultures, and ideas connect. World Affairs is the Philadelphia region’s largest and oldest international affairs nonprofit with 75 years of expertise in connecting Philadelphia to the world. World Affairs is a nonpartisan, nonprofit that curates speaker programs, professional development, youth education, and public diplomacy. World Affairs hosts global delegations and travels the world reaching more than 125 countries annually. Through authentic people-to-people diplomacy and exchange of ideas, World Affairs advances Philadelphia’s understanding of the world by creating the next generation of global citizens and furthering Philadelphia’s position as an international hub for business, education, culture, and sub-national diplomacy.

TO APPLY

Please submit your resume and cover letter to careers@wacphila.org. Please include the name of the position in the subject line. Incomplete applications will not be considered. We are unable to accept phone inquiries related to employment opportunities.