Family Programs Director

Company: YMCA
Location: Springfield
Posted on: January 13, 2026

Job Description:

Bring your adventurous spirit, empathy, and caring through words and actions. Be a catalyst for self and others. Job Description The Family Programs Director is responsible for overseeing the following programs: Child Watch, Youth Club, Kids’ Classes, Parents Night Out & the RYse & Shine Initiative. This role ensures a safe, engaging, and inclusive environment for kids and staff, aligning with the YMCA’s mission and values. This role is perfect for someone passionate about youth development and out of school time education, with strong leadership and organizational skills. Qualifications To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. ? Education: Bachelor’s degree in Recreation Management, Education, Child Development, or related field. ? Experience: Minimum of 3 years of supervisory experience in a youth programming environment. Experience developing and managing a budget of at least $200,000 preferred. ? Certifications: Ability to complete all required training within 60 days of employment, including but not limited to CPR, first aid, Living Our Cause, DCFS Mandated Report, IL Gateway Registry Modules and to maintain these certifications as current as outlined by regulations or requirements. ? Skills: Demonstrated leadership qualities, exceptional organizational abilities, and a strong focus on delivery of outstanding customer service. ? Schedule Flexibility: Ability to work off-hours and weekends for special events when required. Working Conditions/Physical Requirements The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. ? Sufficient strength, agility, and mobility to perform essential functions and to supervise program activities. ? Visual and auditory ability to respond to critical situations. ? Ability to act swiftly in an emergency. ? Ability to speak concisely and communicate effectively. ? May require physical effort and cardiac endurance while reaching with hands and arms, stooping, kneeling, crouching, standing, walking, balancing, bending, leaning, kneeling, walking, and climbing. Specifically, a. Walking up and down stairs multiple times a day. b. Carrying supplies to and from work locations, normally lifting less than 30 lbs. ? The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to loud. Essential Functions 1. Leadership and Team Management: ? Provide visionary leadership to the family programming team, fostering a positive and inclusive culture. ? Recruit, hire, train, supervise, and evaluate staff and volunteers, ensuring adherence to YMCA policies and procedures. ? Conduct regular staff meetings, training sessions, and evaluations to enhance performance and teamwork. 2. Program Development and Implementation: ? Develop and implement high-quality, age-appropriate programs aligned with YMCA standards. ? Collaborate with staff to create engaging educational, recreational and enrichment activities that promote personal growth and skill development for kids. ? Ensure the safety and well-being of all kids by maintaining high standards of supervision and care. 3. Operational Management: ? Oversee the day-to-day operations of Child Watch, Youth Club, Kids’ Classes, Parents Night Out & the RYse & Shine Initiative. ? Manage budgets, expenses, and resources effectively to ensure financial sustainability. ? Maintain compliance with health, safety, and accreditation standards. 4. Community Engagement and Relationship Building: ? Establish positive relationships with campers, families, staff, and the community, promoting the YMCA’s mission and values. ? Actively engage families through regular communication and involvement opportunities. ? Collaborate with other community organizations to enhance programs and outreach. 5. Additional Duties: ? Perform other duties as assigned to support the overall mission and goals of the YMCA. Cause-Driven Leadership Competencies Cause-Driven Leadership Designation: Team Leader Description: Someone who leads a team, project, or process with or without supervisory responsibility. Disciplines: a broad grouping of competencies focused on a critical area that defines a cause-driven leader’s ability to advance the work of the Y. Competency: Clusters of observable skills and behaviors needed to be successful within an organization or role. Key Leadership competencies a person should bring to this position: Engaging Community: Builds bridges with others in the community to ensure the Y’s work is community-focused and welcoming of all, providing community benefit. Behavioral Indicators: ? Ensures programs and services meet community needs. ? Ensures a level of service and engagement that fosters loyalty among those we serve. ? Intentionally fosters a cause-centered culture that is welcoming, genuine, hopeful, nurturing, and determined. Program/Project Management: Ensures program or project goals are met and intended impact occurs. Behavioral Indicators: ? Translates organizational goals into executable plans with accountable staff and volunteers by defining tasks, milestones, and priorities for programs or projects. ? Delegates responsibilities and monitors progress towards goals. ? Follows fidelity, quality, and evidence-based standards of programs, projects, or the organization. ? Challenges inefficient or ineffective work processes and offers constructive alternatives. ? Follows through on commitments with an appropriate sense of urgency. ? Demonstrates flexibility when plans or situations change unexpectedly, effectively adjusting plans to achieve intended outcomes. Developing Self & Others: Develops self and supports others (e.g., staff, volunteers, members, program participants), both formally and informally, to achieve their highest potential Behavioral Indicators: ? Recruits and hire diverse staff and volunteer teams across multiple dimensions of diversity. ? Onboard and develop staff and volunteers for success. ? Provides staff and volunteers with the support, time, tools, and resources necessary to set, meet or exceed goals. ? Coaches others for continuous development, including analyzing performance gaps, building development plans, delivering appreciative and developmental feedback, and aligning passions and career goals. ? Addresses sensitive issues, inappropriate behavior, or performance concerns to help the other person grow. ? Shares and employs new learning to improve staff and personal performance. ? Strives to understand and resolve conflicting feedback or ideas from multiple sources. Required Certifications Protecting Youth & Vulnerable Populations: Overarching Goal: Through their training, best practice, monitoring. supervision, vigilance, and reporting maintain an environment and culture where all are safe from harmful actions of others physically, psychologically, and behaviorally. Employees and volunteers who directly supervise consumers will: ? Adhere to policies related to boundaries with consumers. ? Attend required abuse risk management training. ? Adhere to procedures related to managing high-risk activities and supervising consumers. ? Report suspicious or inappropriate behaviors and policy violations. ? Follow mandated abuse reporting requirements. Supervisors and administrators will: ? Follow employees and volunteers’ screening requirements and use screening instruments to screen for abuse risk. ? Provide employees and volunteers with on-going supervision and training related to abuse risk. ? Provide employees and volunteers with regular feedback regarding their boundaries with consumers. ? Require employees and volunteers to adhere to policies and procedures related to abuse risk. • Respond quickly to policy and procedure violations using the organization’s progressive disciplinary procedures. ? Respond seriously and confidentially to reports of suspicious and inappropriate behavior. ? Follow mandated reporting requirements. ? Communicate to all employees and volunteers the organization’s commitment to protect their consumers from abuse. Child Abuse Policies & Prevention The YMCA enforces its policies and practices to prevent child abuse. Allegations or suspicions of child abuse are taken very seriously at the YMCA and will be reported to the proper authorities for investigation. We have abuse reporting procedures, there are unscheduled visits from supervisors, we have an open door for parents, and we have a code of conduct for staff. We minimize opportunities for abuse to occur, and we talk with children about personal safety and touching limits. We screen carefully to prevent abusers from being hired. We provide child abuse prevention training to staff including how to conduct yourself for safe practices and termination of employment for employees who fail to report suspicion or failure to follow policies. Employees who fail to support, actively engage in prevention and be forthcoming about concerns or violations of this policy will be subject to discipline, up to and including immediate termination of employment. Background Check: A background check, criminal, work, and reference checks, will be required of any employee at hire and may be repeated during their employment. A barred report, negative report or discovery of false information will result in immediate termination. Alert & Focused: Use of illegal drugs, alcohol, prescribed or over the counter medications and lack of sleep can impact a person’s ability to be alert and focused while on duty. Used illegally or inappropriately while off duty may affect employment status. Responsibility, respect, caring, and honesty are core values of the YMCA. Employees involved in any injury found to be work related may be required to submit for a screening for drug and alcohol use. Suspicious behaviors observed while working or in the YMCA or at a YMCA program where the employee would be perceived by others as an employee may also be subject to alcohol and drug screening. Positive results of a drug or alcohol screening will result in termination of employment. Behaviors which are perceived to be unbecoming a YMCA employee may be subject to discipline up to and including immediate termination of employment.

Keywords: YMCA, Saint Charles , Family Programs Director, Social Services , Springfield, Missouri