ORGANIZATION DESCRIPTION
Founded in 1965, the Chinese-American Planning Council, Inc. (CPC) aims to promote the social and economic empowerment of Chinese American, immigrant, and low-income communities. Today, CPC is the nation's largest Asian American social services agency and offers more than 50 programs at over 35 sites throughout New York City, including early childhood education, school-age care, youth services, workforce development, community services, and senior services. CPC strives to be the premier social service and leadership development organization. In 2017, CPC launched Advancing Our CommUNITY, its organization-wide strategy to expand services to address persistent needs and emerging trends and to improve leadership skills among staff and community members. In 2022, our core programs and emergency services reached 200,000 people living in all five boroughs and all 51 city council districts. In the summer of 2022, CPC was recognized as the number one Chinese American organization in New York City to recommend to a Chinese immigrant looking for in-language and culturally competent resources according to a recent survey. This accomplishment is a testament to the incredible work and dedication of our staff. (For more information, please visit: https://www.cpc-nyc.org/)
PROGRAM SUMMARY
Department of Youth & Community Development/Comprehensive After School System (DYCD/COMPASS) contracts with the Chinese-American Planning Council to provide youth after school services to school-age children ages 5-12 years old. 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 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.
JOB SUMMARY
Reporting to the Director of Childhood Development Services and the Deputy Director of SACC Initiatives, the Program Director is responsible for overall leadership, management, and strategic direction of the site’s afterschool program. This role requires a strong commitment to continuous learning and professional growth, with a growth mindset that embraces feedback, innovation, and collaborative problem-solving to enhance program quality and outcomes.
ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES
· Oversight
- 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 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.
- 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, and professional development sessions as required by CPC and external agencies.
- Report to and fulfill other program activities as assigned by the Director of Childhood Development Services and Deputy Director of School Age Child Care (SACC) Initiatives.
· Collaboration
- Serve as an active member of the CPC management team, collaborating with co-leaders, support staff, and agency departments to drive shared goals.
- Motivate staff by maintaining a positive attitude, modeling professionalism, and leading by example.
- Develop and implement systems for family involvement and engagement, ensuring families are active partners in their children’s development.
- Maintain open and effective communication and partnerships with the school principal, school staff, afterschool staff, and parents.
- Establish and maintain partnerships with community-based organizations to enrich programming with additional resources, services, and collaborative projects.
· Cultural Understanding
- Assist in creating a positive, respectful, and enjoyable work environment that values trust, loyalty, and confidentiality.
- Demonstrate cultural humility and awareness of the diverse identities, needs, and dynamics of staff and families.
- Ensure a culturally and linguistically responsive environment that affirms the experiences of children, families, and staff.
· Licensing and Contract
- 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 adherence to all DYCD contract requirements and deliverables.
- Maintain readiness for audits, site visits, and performance reviews by licensing and oversight entities.