Goodhue Center Director

$108,000 - $122,000 / year

Position Summary:
The Center Director provides leadership for Children's Aid programming at the Goodhue Center and partners with I.S. 61 to deliver collaborative, high-quality programming. The Director ensures year-round delivery of after-school, summer camp, recreation, aquatics, and family engagement programs that meet high standards and support youth development. This person in this role leads a team committed to creating safe, welcoming spaces where youth learn, build skills, and develop strong connections with peers and caring adults.

The Director builds and sustains strong relationships with Staten Island families, community organizations, civic leaders, and school partners to ensure programs reflect the strengths, cultures, and priorities of the North Shore community. The Director collaborates with Children's Aid and Staten Island partners to cultivate an environment rooted in equity, youth voice, and meaningful family and community engagement, ensuring the Goodhue Center continues to serve as a trusted place for learning, growth, and support.

Essential Duties:
Program & Staff Leadership

• Understand and promote the organization's Mission, Vision, and Core Values to ensure alignment with organizational policies and procedures.
• Oversee all youth and family programming for both Goodhue and I.S. 61, including afterschool, summer camp, recreation, pool, and field activities, ensuring high-quality, safe, developmentally appropriate, and mission-aligned delivery across both sites.
• Supervise and support two Program Directors (I.S. 61 and Goodhue) and an Office Manager serving both sites, ensuring programs are fully staffed, well-coordinated, compliant, and aligned with agency priorities.
• Build staff capacity through coaching, professional development, and clear performance expectations, so teams are growing, supported, and set up for success.
• Demonstrate a collaborative, flexible leadership style stepping in to support programs, staff, and operations as needed to ensure smooth, high-quality service delivery across both sites.
• Work with the Principal and staff at I.S. 61 to identify needs and trends and create programs that support student learning, wellness, and development.
• Ensure recruitment and enrollment strategies are in place to support strong participation across all programming.

Data, Evaluation & Continuous Improvement

• Develop and implement a data-driven site plan for programming, partnerships, staffing, and facility use.
• Ensure that program attendance, survey data, and outcome measures are collected consistently and used to inform program adjustments and continuous improvement.
• Provide oversight and accountability for tracking participation, site utilization, partner activities, and service outcomes.
• Ensure timely submission of monthly, quarterly, and annual reports for internal leadership, public agencies, and funders.
• Oversee use of data systems to support Program Directors in monitoring goals, scheduling, and staff capacity.

Partnership Development & Stakeholder Collaboration

• Build and sustain relationships with community organizations, civic agencies, school partners, and elected officials and the Goodhue advisory board.
• Manage partnerships with organizations delivering recreation, enrichment, mentoring, health, family, and community services.
• Collaborate with development staff to identify and secure funding, grants, and other resources.
• Maintain a strong presence within Staten Island's civic, youth development, and neighborhood networks.
• Represent Goodhue as the primary liaison to the school, families, Children's Aid leadership, community agencies, elected officials, and Staten Island coalitions, civic boards, and public forums.

Family & Community Engagement

• Create and sustain family engagement opportunities, including workshops, events, and leadership roles, that build connection, belonging, and shared partnership with families.
• Ensure programming reflects family needs, cultural identities, and community strengths.
• Maintain open communication with families, caregivers, and community members regarding programming and services.

Facilities, Compliance & Fiscal Management

• Oversee facilities operations at Goodhue, including supervision of maintenance and pool staff, and ensuring proper staffing, supplies, and seasonal hiring to support safe, high-quality use of the pool, fields, and community spaces.
• Manage program budgets across both sites; monitor expenses and ensure fiscal compliance.
• Ensure programs comply with agency policies, contracting requirements, and city, state, and federal regulations.
• Maintain visible leadership during afterschool peak times, summer camp, pool hours, and community use.
• Ability to work flexible hours (evenings, weekends) as needed.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree required; master's degree preferred (Education, Youth Development, Public Administration, Social Work, or related field).
• 7-10 years of experience in youth and family services, community-based programming, school partnerships, or multi-site management.
• Demonstrated experience in staff supervision, program implementation, partnerships, and operational oversight.
• Proven ability to build and sustain strong community partnerships, including schools, public agencies, and local organizations.
• Experience managing facilities, multi-use spaces, or site operations strongly preferred.

Key Competencies:

• Strong leadership, communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Knowledge of youth development best practices, culturally responsive engagement, and recreational programming.
• Strong computer and data system skills.
• Commitment to equity, youth voice, and community-centered practice.
• Bilingual (Spanish/English) preferred.
• Demonstrated strategic leadership and vision.
• Ability to build relationships and collaborate effectively.
• Ability to coordinate programs and services with fidelity and consistency.
• Demonstrated capacity to mentor, supervise, and develop staff.
• Ability to use data to inform decisions and improve practice.
• Commitment to culturally responsive and inclusive practice.
• Demonstrated flexibility, resilience, and professional integrity.
• Ability to manage complex, multi-site operations with clarity and attention to detail.
• Ability to build trust with families, partners, and Staten Island community stakeholders.

It is the policy of Children's Aid to provide equal employment opportunity to all employees and applicants for employment and is dedicated to maintaining a work environment that is free from harassment and discrimination. Children's Aid will not tolerate discrimination, harassment, or retaliation on any basis, including race, creed, color, national origin, ethnicity, alienage or citizenship status, gender/sex (including pregnancy), disability, religion, source of income, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, familial status, caregiver status, military status, marital or partnership status, status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual violence or stalking, predisposing genetic characteristics, arrest or conviction record, credit history, unemployment status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. Children's Aid is committed to complying with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Children's Aid will conduct a prompt and thorough investigation of all allegations of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or any violation of the Equal Employment Opportunity Policy in a confidential manner and will take appropriate corrective action, if and where warranted. Children's Aid prohibits retaliation against employees who provide information about, complain about, or assist in the investigation of any complaint of discrimination or violation of the Equal Employment Opportunity Policy.

The incumbent is expected to work a schedule, whether in-person or hybrid, as determined by the department's needs to facilitate effective collaboration with the team. This flexibility is essential for maintaining seamless communication, fostering teamwork, and ensuring the smooth operation of the department's processes. The position's requirements are subject to periodic review and adjustment based on organizational needs and changes in work dynamics.

Leader - Inspires teammates to follow them
Detail Oriented - Capable of carrying out a given task with all details necessary to get the task done well
Dedicated - Devoted to a task or purpose with loyalty or integrity

Masters of Education (preferred)
Bachelors (required)

Experience managing facilities, multi-use spaces, or site operations strongly preferred.
(preferred)
Proven ability to build and sustain strong community partnerships, including schools, public agencies, and local organizations. (preferred)
Demonstrated experience in staff supervision, program implementation, partnerships, and operational oversight. (preferred)
7-10 years of experience in youth and family services, community-based programming, school partnerships, or multi-site management. (required)

Skills