Group Leader (Polo Grounds Cornerstone)

Position: Group Leader 

Who we are:  

The Police Athletic League (PAL) of New York City is an independent youth development nonprofit organization and has been a vibrant and vital institution, serving as an effective, critical bridge between police and communities across all five boroughs of the City since 1914. PAL operates diverse programs for children as young as 2 years old to young adults. Programs include Head Start, after-school programs and summer day camps for elementary, middle and high school youth, and summer Playstreets. PAL also runs evening teen centers and college readiness programs, youth employment, and juvenile justice programs. Staying true to PAL’s roots, a cornerstone of our youth development strategy includes offering competitive and recreational sports for children of all ages.  At PAL, we’re devoted to empowering communities and building the best places to work, and that goes for our own teams too. 

Position Summary: 

We are looking for Part Time Group Leaders who will be responsible for facilitating and supporting a wide variety of afterschool activities including SEL, dance, sports, STEAM, life skills development, literacy, leadership, performing arts, visual arts, and college and career readiness.   

The Group Leader will report to the COMPASS or SONYC Director and be supported by the Content Specialist. 

What you’ll do:  

Major Duties & Responsibilities  

1. Foster social and emotional competencies and mental and physical well-being in a safe, welcoming, inclusive, and nurturing environment. 

1. Under the guidance of the Activity Specialist and/or Content Specialist, support the planning and implementation of all activities, including but not limited to specialized activities, homework help, field trips, mealtimes, and culminating performances. 

1. Implement PAL supplied curricula.  

1. Build positive relationships with youth, colleagues, and caretakers and serve as a role model with respect to demeanor, communication, and behavior.  

1. Aware of students with IEPs and medical conditions in your groups and follow support plans to help the student with special needs thrive. 

1. Respond appropriately when time-sensitive mental health services are needed such as suicide prevention, grief, and loss due to death or incarceration of a family member. Provide referrals to appropriate mental health services as needed. 

1. Attend meetings with staff, caretakers, volunteers, and community residents as needed.  

1. Interact with caretakers and keep open lines of communication. 

1. Attend and actively participate in all required training sessions, designated meetings, and special events. 

The Commitment 

Able to work 15 hours a week (3 hours a day, 5 days a week) 

Able to attend 15 hours of orientation prior to the beginning of programming.   

Able to attend scheduled staff meetings and professional development throughout the year. 

What You Bring: 

• Minimum High School Diploma / GED.  Associates degree preferred.   

• You must be at least 18 years old. 

• Minimum of two years' work experience in a non-profit agency working with youth.  

• Strong Classroom management and behavior management skills.  

• Open to learning and growing.  All staff will be learning mental health, SEL, and special needs inclusion skills and expected to integrate them into programming.   

• Good communication skills and ability to work collaboratively. Bi-lingual in Spanish, French, or Chinese preferred.   

Compensation: The salary for this role is $19.00 an hour. 

Benefits: PAL offers a comprehensive benefits package which includes health insurance, flexible spending account options, an employee assistance program, tuition reimbursement, pet insurance, life insurance, retirement savings options, a generous paid time off policy, training and more!  

Location:  Polo Grounds Cornerstone

Start Date: September 7th, 2026 

At the Police Athletic League, we seek people who are talented, creative and passionate to help create a more inclusive city and better futures for our youth. We’re devoted to empowering communities and building the best places to work, and that goes for our own teams too. 

The Police Athletic League is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected characteristic including, but not limited to, an individual’s sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy 

Employment with PAL is contingent upon successful completion of all the Agency’s lawful pre-employment checks, which may include a background check.