Learning Development Program Manager Jobs in Houston, TX

Description
Position Summary:
In this role, you'll combine leadership, program management, and community engagement to deliver high-quality afterschool and day camp programs. You'll play a key role in creating safe, inclusive spaces where young people can grow, explore their interests, and thrive.
YMCA of Greater Houston Youth Development Program Manager supports the work of the Y, a leading nonprofit committed to strengthening the community through youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. This position assists with organizing and implementing high-quality YMCA afterschool and day camp programming. The Youth Development Program Manager will create a safe and positive atmosphere that welcomes and respects all individuals while inspiring youth to discover their passions. This position will enthusiastically represent the YMCA by displaying a positive attitude, maintaining a high level of energy and commitment to quality throughout all aspects of the job. This position supports transportation logistics for afterschool programming, including coordinating transportation for onsite participants and assisting with operations at offsite program locations throughout the Bellaire and West University area. Ensures safe, timely, and efficient transitions in alignment with YMCA safety standards and procedures.
Essential Functions:
1. Program Quality: Actively works within assigned program area to provide oversight and coordinate high-quality youth development programs in afterschool and outdoor day camp settings for assigned location/s, in adherence to Y program model, curriculum, and quality standards. Ensure campgrounds and program space are safe and engaging.
2. Program Compliance: Ensure that all assigned program areas comply with YMCA standards, risk management policies are followed, plus state and local regulations are adhered to. Monitors compliance status in the Child Care Licensing (CCL) portal and oversees Workforce Solutions FA portals to ensure accurate, timely documentation and follow-up.
3. Program Evaluation: Monitors and evaluates program delivery within the program area. Supports and assists the program director by identifying program needs concerning staffing, program supplies, equipment, and curriculum implementation. Prints weekly compliance documents, including rosters, activity plans, and required forms to support accurate evaluation and record-keeping.
4. Administrative Support: Manages key administrative functions including ordering snacks, curriculum, and program supplies. Submits snack and meal updates to the Houston Food Bank. Maintains parent communication templates, assists with distributing program information, and designs flyers and promotional materials. Coordinates regional t-shirt orders and schedules/prepares regional meetings and update calls. Supports management of participant waitlists and assists in establishing staff recruitment goals aligned with site capacity.
5. Staff Development: Assists with onboarding and training of new staff to ensure high-quality program delivery. Coordinates staff appreciation efforts, including recognition of birthdays, anniversaries, and achievements. Supports consistent communication and development across regional teams.
6. Marketing & Promotion: Assist with the implementation of marketing strategies to promote program growth and brand exposure to the targeted communities and families. Assists in the marketing and distribution of program information and shares photos/videos with ISD partners and internal Operations teams to support visibility and partnership engagement.
7. Problem-Solving: Identifies concerns within program operations and works with the program director to resolve them in a timely, solution focused manner.
8. Center/Program Engagement: Actively participates in center/program-related events, meetings, and staff training. Develop and maintain good working relationships with the directors, managers, staff, parents, and families by way of open communication, positive problem-solving, flexibility, and teamwork, and positive problem solving. Shares media content with school districts and internal teams to strengthen collaboration.
9. Annual Campaign: Assists in YMCA annual campaign fundraising and special events.
10. Administration: Maintains all required program records and compiles needed statistics. Submit all required reports in a timely manner. Meet timelines and deadlines related to supporting systems and employee compliance.
11. Child Abuse Prevention: Reports suspicious and inappropriate behaviors and policy violations. Follows mandated abuse and incident reporting requirements. Adheres to policies related to boundaries with each child.
12. Other Duties as Assigned: Fulfills additional responsibilities as needed to support youth development programming and the overall mission of the YMCA
YMCA CULTURE & CAUSE EXPECTATIONS
Our mission and core values are brought to life by our culture. It's who are, who we aspire to be and how we show up every day. We are cause-driven. We don't just show up, we show up with purpose. As a cause driven leader you are expected to be:
Welcoming-Accept neighbors eagerly, warmly, hospitably, and as equal participants.
Nurturing-To care for, support, and help develop through encouragement.
Hopeful-Take an optimistic or positive view of future outcomes.
Determined-To devote full strength and concentrated attention to the cause.
Genuine-To be honest and open in relationships with others.
YMCA COMPETENCIES (LEADER)
Mission Advancement: Accepts and demonstrates the Y's values. Demonstrates a desire to serve others and fulfill community needs. Recruits volunteers and builds effective, supportive working relationships with them. Supports fund-raising.
Collaboration: Works effectively with people of different backgrounds, abilities, opinions, and perceptions. Builds rapport and relates well to others. Seeks first to understand the other person's point of view, and remains calm in challenging situations. Listens for understanding and meaning; speaks and writes effectively. Takes initiative to assist in developing others.
Operational Effectiveness: Makes sound judgments, and transfers learning from one situation to another. Embraces new approaches and discovers ideas to create a better member experience.
Establishes goals, clarifies tasks, plans work and actively participates in meetings. Follows budgeting policies and procedures, and reports all financial irregularities immediately. Strives to meet or exceed goals and deliver a high-value experience for members.
Personal Growth: Pursues self-development that enhances job performance. Demonstrates an openness to change, and seeks opportunities in the change process. Accurately assesses personal feelings, strengths and limitations and how they impact relationships. Has the functional and technical knowledge and skills required to perform well; uses best practices and demonstrates up-to-date knowledge and skills in technology.
Job Requirements:
• Bachelor's degree in a related field or an equivalent combination of education and experience preferred.
• Minimum two years of relevant professional experience preferred.
• Must be at least 21 years of age.
• Completion of following training requirements: Prior to first scheduled shift: Online training for Child Abuse Prevention, Work Place Harassment & Bullying, Universal Precautions, Information Security and Awareness, and Medicare Part C & D (if applicable). Within first 30 days of employment: ASHI trainings for CPR-Pro, AED, Oxygen and First Aid.
• Completion of YMCA program related specialty trainings.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and maintain accurate records.
• Must pass all required background checks, including fingerprinting, as required by state licensing.
• Must meet all state and local childcare licensing requirements, including ongoing annual training hours.
• Must maintain current certifications required for youth program operations.
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise sound judgment in sensitive situations.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a collaborative team environment.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES
This position does not have direct reports.
LANGUAGE SKILLS
Ability to read, interpret, retain, and teach documents such as safety rules, operating maintenance instructions, and procedure/educational manuals. Ability to write routine reports and correspondence. Ability to speak effectively before groups of children, parents, staff, members of the YMCA, and/or others, as well as in one-on-one situations.
MATHEMATICAL SKILLS
Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.
REASONING ABILITY
Ability to apply common sense, understanding, and sound mature judgment to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form, including assisting with curriculum learning. Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations. Ability to maintain confidentiality. Ability to be sensitive and alert to the needs, feelings, and safety of others. Ability to ensure children's safety and maintain YMCA and state standards and guidelines at all times.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, and talk and hear. The employee frequently is required to use hands to finger, handle, and/or feel objects, tools, and/or controls; climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, and/or crawl. The employee is frequently required to reach with hands and arms and taste and smell. The employee must frequently move and/or lift up to 50 pounds and move up to 100 pounds such as furniture, supplies, equipment, children, etc. Possess adequate vision and hearing to safely monitor environment and children. Ability to remain alert, continuously scan all areas of the pool with clear vision and perform strenuous physical tasks necessary for a water rescue. Ability to hear noises, distinguish distress signals and communicate verbally, including projecting voice across distance in normal and loud situations.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
TRAVEL
Travel is primarily local between assigned centers during the business day, although some out-of-area and overnight travel may be expected.
HOURS
Flexible with scheduling and available operational hours of the YMCA, which may include day, evening, weekends, and/or holidays, based on the center needs.
OTHER DUTIES
This job description is not all inclusive. The YMCA of Greater Houston reserves the right to amend this job description at any time.
The YMCA is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to a diverse and inclusive work