Program Director (KECS)

ORGANIZATION DESCRIPTION 

Founded in 1965, the Chinese-American Planning Council (CPC) is a social services organization advancing the social and economic well-being of immigrant and low-income New Yorkers through holistic services and community-led impact. CPC is the nation’s largest Asian American social services organization and serves as a trusted community anchor to over 80,000 community members who are served by CPC annually through 50+ high-quality programs and services across 35 sites in New York City. (For more information, please visit: https://www.cpc-nyc.org)    

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION 

CPC Education and Career Services (ECS) provides dynamic programs and activities that bridge youth and adults with their highest educational, economic, and leadership potential. ECS believes it is never too early or too late to start learning, which is why we use an asset-based approach to maximize clients’ current strengths. Whether in our schools, community centers, or internship sites, ECS creates equitable learning environments that promote leadership development, self-advocacy, and community building. Our programs equip clients with essential skills and experiences today so that they are empowered to take the next step tomorrow. 

COMPASS Middle School: Department of Youth & Community Development/Comprehensive After School System (DYCD/COMPASS) provides youth after school services for middle school students. COMPASS seeks to promote positive youth development, foster social and emotional skills, and encourage youth leadership through engaging activities that incorporate hands-on learning in safe, welcoming environments. The program includes academic support, physical exercise, and enrichment of age-appropriate activities such as literacy or STEM to enhance the academic, social, and physical development of children during the after-school hours and on certain school holidays. 

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES 

     Under the supervision of the Director of ECS, the Program Director will: 

• Act as a liaison between CPC and stakeholders, which includes funding agency, school leadership, community members, and community partners. 

• Oversee all day-to-day operations involved in running the center, ensuring high-quality, mission-aligned service delivery. 

• Hire, train, supervise, and inspire a team of passionate, committed educational staff. 

• Manage all classroom operations, including but not limited to maintaining required group sizes and ratios; child attendance procedures; daily routines such as opening/closing, mealtimes, and transitions; and ensuring consistent implementation of program and classroom safety procedures. 

• Oversee educational environment and programming by providing curriculum documents and resources, observing classroom practices, reviewing and giving feedback, and assessing classroom quality and alignment with developmental standards. 

• Register and enroll in new families, manage schedules, and collect and maintain all required enrollment documentation. 

• Manage budget development and track program expenditures to ensure responsible and transparent use of resources. 

• Analyze enrollment and attendance trends to inform program planning, staffing, and outreach. 

• Support staff with implementation of child guidance and behavior management strategies aligned with CPC policies. 

• Maintain full knowledge of NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) School-Age Child Care (SACC) regulations, FDNY safety requirements, and applicable CPC policies. 

• Ensure timely and accurate completion of all incident and injury reports in accordance with CPC protocols and regulatory requirements (DOHMH, DOE, DYCD) and collaborate with families to communicate incidents with care and transparency. 

• Guide staff in proper documentation procedures and follow-up actions for behavioral, safety, and medical incidents. 

• Maintain secure records of all incident reports and contribute to root cause analysis and corrective action planning as needed. 

• Attend all meetings, trainings as required by CPC and external agencies. 

• Complete professional development (at least 129 hours for COMPASS as required by CPC and funding/regulatory agencies (e.g., DYCD, DOHMH, FDNY, and DOH SACC), including, but not limited to, these required trainings: 

  • 2-hour training provided by DYCD on mental health spectrum and mental health crises and importance of implementing an organizational crisis navigation plan. 

  • 1-hour training provided by a DYCD-designated vendor on strategies for accessibility and inclusion and universal design. 

  • 1-hour training provided by DYCD on mental health and mental illness, engagement and de-escalation strategies, referral and crisis management protocols, and mental health resources. 

• Report to and fulfill other related duties as assigned by the Director and Deputy Director of ECS. 

Education and Experience: 

• Bachelor's degree in child development, elementary education, physical education, recreation or a related field preferred, or School Age Child Care Credential or other Office recognized credential specific to the school-age developmental period and Two years direct experience working with children under the age of 13 years, including at least one year in a supervisory capacity in a childcare program or related field of work; OR 

• A New York State Children’s Program Administrator Credential and two years of direct experience working with children less than 13 years of age, including at least one year in a supervisory capacity in a childcare program or related field of work; OR 

• A School-Age Child Care Credential or other Office-recognized credential specific to the school-age developmental period and two years of direct experience working with children less than 13 years of age, including at least one year in a supervisory capacity in a childcare program or related field of work; OR 

• Two years of college with 18 credits in Child Development, Elementary Education, Physical Education, Recreation or a related field; and two years of direct experience working with children less than 13 years of age, including at least one year in a supervisory capacity in a childcare program or related field of work. 

• Current CPR/first aid/AED certification or willingness to complete this training/certification within 6 months of hire is required. 

• Specialized health and safety training/certifications (e.g., MAT) are desirable. 

Skills and Competencies: 

• Excellent verbal and written  

• Demonstrated leadership, team building, and conflict resolution abilities.  

• Ability to multitask while remaining organized and meeting deadlines.  

• Professional, courteous demeanor with strong customer service orientation.  

• Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. 

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Outlook, etc.) 

• Fluency in Chinese (Mandarin and/or Cantonese) or Spanish preferred. 

• Must pass full background check that includes fingerprinting, SCR (Statewide Central Register), and DOHMH and PETS Clearance system. 

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS OVERVIEW 

• Annually salary range of $60,000 - $65,000; 35 hours per week with occasional evenings and weekends 

• CPC offers a competitive and comprehensive benefits package, including but not limited to generous paid time off (holiday, sick and vacation time), Medical, Dental, Vision, Basic Life Insurance Coverage, Commuter Benefits, and a 403(b) Retirement Plan. 

HOW TO APPLY 

Interested individuals should submit their resume, along with a cover letter addressed to Amy Latorres ([email protected]) and Ying Xie ([email protected]), when applying online via CPC’s website: https://www.cpc-nyc.org/jobs or selected online job boards. All documents should be submitted in one single file. Applicants may reach out to [email protected] with any questions or further inquiries. 

CPC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. CPC values a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace and strongly encourages women, BIPOC, immigrants, LGBTQ+, individuals with disabilities, and veterans to apply.