Harlem Children’s Zone (HCZ) — a world-renowned education and poverty-fighting organization based in New York — seeks an enthusiastic, dedicated, and mission-aligned Assistant Director to support and assist with leading our After School Programs .
The Assistant Program Director will bring a passion for the mission of Harlem Children’s Zone: break the cycle of intergenerational poverty with comprehensive, on-the-ground programming that builds up opportunities for children and families to thrive in school, work, and life.
We are seeking an Assistant Director to help lead the day-to-day operations of a dynamic after-school program, ensuring alignment with HCZ’s mission, values, and long-term goals. The ideal candidate is a proven leader with experience in program and administrative systems development, staff coaching, and professional learning design, who is passionate about improving outcomes for children and families in historically underserved communities.
The Assistant Director will serve as a key leader within the After-School Program, partnering closely with the Director to oversee daily operations, staff management, and program excellence. Together, they will ensure the delivery of high-quality programming that provides hundreds of students with a safe, supportive, and enriching environment where they can build confidence, develop critical life skills, and thrive both personally and socially.
Through a diverse range of engaging, project-based learning experiences, students explore high-caliber enrichment opportunities across the arts, including dance, culinary arts, media arts, and production, as well as health, wellness, and physical fitness programming. Scholars also participate in leadership development, college and career readiness initiatives, and character-building activities focused on community service, conflict resolution, and social-emotional growth. In addition, students can engage in a variety of athletic and recreational opportunities, including basketball, soccer, table tennis, track and field, and karate, promoting teamwork, discipline, and overall well-being.
We strive to create strong bonds and partnerships among students, families, and staff to meet the needs of each individual child and the community overall.
For more information, check out Want to Work at Harlem Children’s Zone? Here’s 7 Things You Need to Know .
Requirements
Bachelor's Degree; Master’s degree preferred
3+ years of experience managing in an education, social services, or community-related program.
Who you are
A commitment to HCZ's mission and the communities we serve
Demonstrated record of meeting and exceeding goals and positively impacting children, their families, and the community as a whole
Demonstrated excellence at youth development program design, implementation, management, and continuous improvement
Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, both oral and written, including the ability to navigate and manage multiple stakeholders
Strong knowledge of child safety protocols in New Yok State and the demonstrated ability to navigate complex stakeholder engagement while ensuring child safety
Strong people manager with demonstrated success coaching and developing staff to improve scholar outcomes
Skilled at building, implementing, and refining systems and structures that support high-quality programming and efficient operations
Highly organized with excellent time management skills and a strong sense of urgency, without sacrificing accuracy or ethical standards
Strong qualitative and quantitative data analysis and problem-solving skills
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), Outlook), and Google Suite
Willing and able to work flexible hours based on program needs
What you’ll do
Support daily operations of our program serving scholars and families directly
Partner with the Director to ensure students receive high-quality academic and enrichment programming
Supervise and develop a…