Executive Director Youth Development Jobs (NOW HIRING)

About Asphalt Green 

Asphalt Green is a nonprofit organization that transforms lives and builds community through sports, fitness, and play for all. Across our sports, aquatics, fitness, camps, and community programs, our staff help New Yorkers of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities access high-quality movement, wellness, and community-centered programming. 

About the Role 

Asphalt Green seeks a strategic and mission-driven leader to serve as Senior Director, Youth Development. 

Reporting to the Chief Program Officer, this role provides strategic leadership for Asphalt Green's youth development portfolio, overseeing program quality, participant pathways, inclusion efforts, and long-term impact across camp, adaptive, school-based, community, and entry-level sports programs. 

As a senior leader within the Programs division, the Senior Director leads Program Directors, establishes organization-wide standards, and drives alignment across multiple program areas to ensure consistent, high-quality participant experiences throughout the organization. 

This role is responsible for shaping how Asphalt Green serves young people and families, strengthening organizational impact, and positioning the organization as a leader in inclusive youth development through sport, fitness, and play. 

This position is ideal for a leader who has successfully managed large-scale youth-serving programs, developed high-performing teams, built systems that improve consistency and quality, and can balance mission impact with operational and financial sustainability. 

Why This Role Matters 

Youth development programs sit at the heart of Asphalt Green's mission and community impact. 

The Senior Director, Youth Development, serves as the organization's leader for youth development strategy, standards, and program quality. This role ensures that programs are intentionally designed to foster belonging, skill development, personal growth, and long-term engagement while remaining responsive to the needs of participants, families, schools, and community partners. 

Through strong leadership, thoughtful program design, and cross-functional collaboration, this role will help strengthen participant outcomes, expand access, and create a more connected youth development ecosystem across Asphalt Green. 

What You’ll Do 

Youth Development Strategy & Portfolio Leadership 

• Lead the strategic direction of Asphalt Green's youth development portfolio, including camp, adaptive, school-based, community, and entry-level sports programs.  

• Establish and implement a unified youth development framework that promotes access, inclusion, participant progression, and program quality across all youth-serving programs.  

• Evaluate program performance and identify opportunities to strengthen quality, expand impact, improve retention, and increase organizational effectiveness.  

• Design participant pathways that connect programs and create meaningful opportunities for long-term engagement and growth.  

• Partner with the Chief Program Officer to shape long-term youth development strategy and identify opportunities for innovation and future expansion.  

• Ensure program models remain aligned with Asphalt Green's mission, values, instructional philosophy, and community needs. 

Leadership, Talent Development & Accountability 

• Lead the strategic direction of Asphalt Green's youth development portfolio, including camp, adaptive, school-based, community, and entry-level sports programs.  

• Establish and implement a unified youth development framework that promotes access, inclusion, participant progression, and program quality across all youth-serving programs.  

• Evaluate program performance and identify opportunities to strengthen quality, expand impact, improve retention, and increase organizational effectiveness.  

• Design participant pathways that connect programs and create meaningful opportunities for long-term engagement and growth.  

• Partner with the Chief Program Officer to shape long-term youth development strategy and identify opportunities for innovation and future expansion.  

• Ensure program models remain aligned with Asphalt Green's mission, values, instructional philosophy, and community needs. 

Program Impact, Access & Continuous Improvement 

• Champion inclusive program design that expands access and participation for young people of all backgrounds and abilities.  

• Partner with program leaders to establish and monitor key performance indicators related to participation, retention, quality, and developmental impact.  

• Collaborate with the Data team to strengthen outcome measurement, program evaluation, and organizational learning.  

• Use data, participant feedback, staff insight, and operational trends to guide decision-making and continuous improvement.  

• Support organizational efforts to expand adaptive and access-focused programming through sustainable and mission-aligned models. 

Cross-Functional Leadership & Organizational Alignment 

• Serve as the primary youth development leader across the organization, partnering closely with Operations, Finance, Marketing, Development, Data, and Competitive Athletics teams.  

  Drive alignment across departments to support consistent program delivery and exceptional participant experiences.  

  Advise senior leadership on youth development trends, portfolio performance, strategic opportunities, and emerging risks.  

  Support planning efforts that strengthen Asphalt Green's ability to scale programs and increase community impact over time.  

  Balance participant experience, mission delivery, operational realities, and financial sustainability in organizational decision-making. 

Partnerships, Advocacy & External Leadership 

• Develop and strengthen relationships with schools, community organizations, nonprofits, public agencies, and other youth-serving partners.  

• Collaborate with the Development team to support fundraising efforts, grant opportunities, and impact reporting.  

• Partner with Marketing to communicate Asphalt Green's youth development philosophy, program value, and community impact.  

• Represent Asphalt Green with partners, funders, policymakers, and sector leaders as appropriate.  

• Contribute to the organization's reputation as a leader in inclusive youth development and community-based programming. 

What Success Looks Like 

Within the first 12-18 months: 

• A unified youth development framework is established and implemented across major program areas.  

• Program Directors operate with greater consistency, accountability, and alignment.  

• Participant retention and progression across youth programs improve.  

• Program quality standards are clearly defined, measured, and reinforced.  

• Adaptive and access-focused initiatives continue to expand and deepen their impact.  

• Cross-functional teams are aligned around shared youth development priorities and organizational goals.  

• Data and participant feedback are regularly used to inform strategic and operational decisions.  

• Asphalt Green strengthens its reputation as a leader in inclusive youth development. 

Who You’ll Work With 

• Chief Program Officer  

• Programs Leadership Team  

• Program Directors and youth development staff  

• Seasonal, part-time, and full-time program teams  

• Competitive Athletics leadership  

• Operations, Finance, Data, Marketing, Development, and People teams  

• Young people, families, schools, and community partners  

• Funders, public agencies, and external stakeholders 

Required Qualifications 

You’ll need:

• Minimum 8-10 years of progressive leadership experience in youth development or related fields such as education, recreation, sports, community programming, or health and wellness.  

• Demonstrated experience leading large-scale, high-volume youth-serving programs across multiple sites or program areas.  

• Experience managing, coaching, and developing senior program leaders and diverse staff teams.  

• Strong understanding of youth development principles, participant engagement, inclusion, and age-appropriate programming.  

• Proven success building partnerships with schools, nonprofits, municipalities, public agencies, and community organizations.  

• Experience using data and performance metrics to evaluate program effectiveness and guide decision-making.  

• Strong financial and operational acumen with the ability to balance mission impact with sustainable program models.  

• Excellent communication, relationship-building, and organizational leadership skills.  

• Commitment to Asphalt Green's mission of advancing health, fitness, and personal growth through sport, fitness, and play for all. 

• Commitment to Asphalt Green’s mission of advancing health, fitness, and personal growth through sport, fitness, and play for all. 

Preferred Qualifications 

It would be helpful if you also have:

• Experience with adaptive programming, inclusive sports, or access-based initiatives.  

• Experience working within a nonprofit or mission-driven organization.  

• Experience supporting grant-funded programs and funder reporting requirements.  

• Experience developing organization-wide standards, leadership frameworks, or participant pathways.  

• Familiarity with registration, CRM, scheduling, payroll, and data management systems.  

• Bilingual or multilingual language skills. 

Schedule and Work Environment 

This role is based at Asphalt Green’s Upper East Side / HQ location and includes travel to various program locations as needed. 

The position is in person 3 to 4 days per week, with opportunities for remote work 1 to 2 days per week based on organizational and program needs. 

The work environment may include office settings, program sites, school or community partner locations, athletic spaces, camp environments, meetings, events, and occasional external partner engagements. 

This schedule is important because the role supports leaders, programs, participants, and partners across a high-volume, multi-site youth development portfolio. 

Physical Requirements 

This role may require the ability to:

• Work in office, program, athletic, school, community, and event environments. 

  Travel between Asphalt Green locations and partner sites as needed. 

  Stand, walk, sit, bend, or move through program spaces for meetings, observations, and events. 

  Use a computer and other office technology for extended periods. 

  Participate in program visits, staff meetings, community events, and other activities connected to the role. 

  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the role. 

Benefits and Perks 

Asphalt Green offers benefits and perks that support our employees inside and outside of work. 

For Full-Time Eligible Employees 

• Complimentary Asphalt Green membership. 

• Medical, dental, and vision benefits. 

• Paid holidays, vacation, and sick time. 

• Hybrid work eligibility for eligible roles. 

• Voluntary insurance options, including short and long-term disability, critical accident, and life insurance. 

• Plum Benefits discount program. 

• Commuter benefits and parking discounts at UES and BPC. 

• 401(k). 

• Medical FSA and Dependent Care FSA options. 

Benefits may vary based on employment status, schedule, and eligibility. 

Growth at Asphalt Green 

At Asphalt Green, employees have the opportunity to build skills, gain hands-on experience, and grow within a mission-driven organization. 

• Lead youth development work across a broad and high-impact program portfolio. 

• Develop and coach leaders across camp, adaptive, school-based, community, and sports programs. 

• Build organization-wide frameworks, standards, and tools that can shape how Asphalt Green serves young people over time. 

• Collaborate with senior leaders across Programs, Operations, Data, Development, Marketing, Finance, and Athletics. 

• Contribute to programs that support New Yorkers across different ages, backgrounds, and abilities. 

Hiring Process 

After applying, qualified candidates may be invited to participate in a phone screen, one or more interviews with the hiring team, and a final conversation with senior leadership. The process may include a discussion of leadership approach, youth development experience, team management experience, and program strategy. 

The hiring process may vary by department and position. 

Equal Opportunity Statement 

Asphalt Green is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to building an inclusive workplace and welcoming people of different backgrounds, experiences, cultures, identities, and abilities. 

We encourage qualified candidates to apply, even if they do not meet every preferred qualification listed.