Leadership Development Manager Jobs in California

Reports To: Associate Director of Learning & Development

Status: Full-time; Exempt

Location: Los Angeles (Little Tokyo Office)

Hours of Operation: Monday-Friday; Occasional weekends

Hourly or Salary Range: $75,000 - $88,000 annually (based on experience and qualifications)

Are you passionate about giving back to your community and making a lasting difference in the lives of young people?

Woodcraft Rangers provides TK-12 expanded learning programs, including before and after school, specialty enrichment, and summer learning. In the past few years, Woodcraft has expanded its menu of services beyond traditional afterschool programs and summer camps to include early learning, environmental and social justice, college access, and inclusion services for youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Additionally, we offer LifeCraft, a college and career advancement program to support the development of approximately 2,000 staff. Today, Woodcraft Rangers serves more than 30,000 youth ages 4 to 18 each year across 150 plus Title I schools in Los Angeles, San Bernardino, and Riverside counties, and continues to expand its reach.

The Youth Development Manager is a mission-driven leader with a strong background in youth development, program design, and staff training. They are passionate about creating equitable, engaging, and culturally responsive learning environments that empower youth through meaningful experiences focused on Life Skills, Leadership & Advocacy, and Sports & Fitness.

They bring a proven track record of developing and managing youth-centered programs, supporting frontline staff, and implementing strategies that promote youth voice, confidence, personal growth, and leadership development. This individual has demonstrated success in coaching teams, facilitating professional development, and driving continuous improvement through reflection, data-informed practices, and quality program systems.

The Youth Development Manager is skilled at translating youth development research and best practices into engaging programming that supports the whole child. They excel at building strong relationships with youth, staff, community partners, and stakeholders while fostering inclusive environments where youth feel empowered to participate, lead, and advocate for themselves and their communities.

They are organized, collaborative, and strategicable to balance program development, staff support, curriculum implementation, and cross-site collaboration. They are confident facilitating meetings, providing technical assistance, and leading initiatives that strengthen youth programming across multiple sites. The ideal candidate thrives in a dynamic environment, adapts to evolving program needs, and is committed to youth empowerment, leadership development, and delivering high-quality experiences for all youth.

Role Overview: The Youth Development Manager is a dynamic leadership role focused on advancing high-quality, developmentally responsive programming for older youth across middle and high school programs, with a focus on youth development and sports & fitness. This position supports program design, curriculum development, professional development, and performance systems to ensure strong staff implementation and meaningful youth engagement.

Responsibilities:

• Curriculum and Program Development: Design, adapt, and refine engaging curriculum, activity plans, and enrichment experiences that align with the interests, developmental stages, and needs of older youth. Support the development of sports & fitness programming that promotes physical wellness, teamwork, leadership, skill development, and positive youth engagement. Oversee the creation of lesson plans, training materials, and specialty enrichment resources while collaborating with program staff to meet program needs.
• Training & Professional Development: Lead and support training sessions for site staff, including new hire onboarding, ongoing in-person and virtual workshops, and content-specific trainings focused on older youth engagement, sports & fitness programming, and effective youth development practices.
• Team Management and Training: Manage a team of curriculum developers and trainers, setting clear goals and expectations. Ensure staff are adequately trained and equipped to deliver high-quality older youth content.
• Task Unit Leadership & Collaboration: Plan, host, and facilitate regular Middle School and High School Task Unit meetings to promote collaboration, share promising practices, and align on program implementation strategies.
• Technical Assistance & Coaching: Conduct site visits to model best practices, provide feedback, and support program alignment with curriculum goals.
• Youth Voice & Stakeholder Engagement: Facilitate youth focus groups, surveys, and advisory councils to ensure middle and high school youth inform curriculum and program direction. Cultivate relationships with external partners, mentors, and community organizations to enhance enrichment opportunities and expand pathways to postsecondary success.
• Administrative & Strategic Support: Collaborate with the Associate Director of Learning to set program goals, manage curriculum timelines, and track outcomes aligned with strategic priorities. Maintain and regularly update the curriculum library, assessment tools, and communication systems related to cycle plans and programming resources.
• Performance Monitoring: Assess program effectiveness using feedback and data, guiding strategic enhancements.
• Data & Impact Evaluation: Monitor program effectiveness and growth, using data and feedback to strengthen participation, quality, and overall impact.

Qualifications/Skills:

• Bachelor's degree in Education, Youth Development, Social Work, Public Administration, or a related field required.
• Proven experience coaching or training staff, managing program quality, and facilitating professional development.
• Minimum of 35 years of experience in expanded learning, out-of-school-time programs, or youth development, with at least 2 years in a supervisory, training, or program management role.
• Experience designing and implementing curriculum and enrichment programming for middle and high school students.
• Proficiency in MS Office Suite.
• Demonstrated experience in working with ethnically and culturally diverse communities, along with a comprehensive understanding of the unique needs of high-need areas in Los Angeles, including knowledge of the existing educational systems, youth development principles, and related programs.
• Proof of COVID-19 vaccination is required for all employees engaged in in-person work with staff or clients.
• Valid LIVE Scan, TB Clearance, and CPR Certification (provided by Woodcraft Rangers).

Physical Demands: In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the following physical demands may be essential for the effective performance of this position. Reasonable accommodation will be considered to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.

• Frequent standing is required during working hours
• The ability to travel across the Great Los Angeles area, using either a car or public transportation, is necessary several times a month.
• Regular use of hands for various tasks, such as operating a computer and handling objects, is essential.
• Must be able to occasionally lift/move up to 40 pounds.
• Reasonable accommodation is available for individuals with disabilities.

Work Environment: We are committed to fostering an inclusive work environment and will actively consider reasonable accommodations to enable individuals to effectively perform their roles. This position operates in environments typical of the following key aspects:

• Regular working hours are from Monday to Friday, with occasional weekends and evenings required for events, training, or conferences.
• Optional weekly work-from-home opportunities.
• Travel is necessary to various regions where Woodcraft Rangers programs are implemented, including San Fernando Valley, South Los Angeles, West Los Angeles, San Gabriel Valley, Southeast LA, and Downtown areas, to support or deliver in-person training.
• Regular exposure to a computer monitor during work.
• The typical noise level of a standard work environment.
• Stable internet access is required for effective work-from-home performance.
• Status: Full-time; Exempt

Woodcraft Rangers provides equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without discrimination with regard to race, religious belief, color, sex, sex stereotype, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions (including breastfeeding), age, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, gender identification and expression, transgender status, transitioning status, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic characteristics, genetic information, family care, marital status, enrollment in any public assistance program, status as military, a veteran or qualified disabled veteran, status as an unpaid intern or volunteer, or any other classification protected by law. We also prohibit discrimination based on the perception that anyone has any of those characteristics or is associated with a person who has or is perceived as having any of those characteristics.