Student Program Director Jobs (NOW HIRING)

ORGANIZATION OVERVIEW

YPIE creates pathways to college and career success. With a focus on mid-sized cities, our proven approach is grounded in high expectations, personalized opportunities, and community partnerships.

We envision a future where all young people are equipped to thrive in communities that support their pathways to success.

Youth in mid-sized cities often face significant barriers to achieving economic mobility and may lack the sustained support systems needed to navigate college and career pathways. YPIE is working to change that. Across Yonkers, Jersey City, and Nashville, YPIE partners with public schools and local organizations to provide students with a comprehensive, 9th grade-to-career continuum of support. Through deep, high-touch relationships, real-world skill development, strong community and corporate partnerships, and a culture of high expectations paired with meaningful support, YPIE helps students prepare for college, persist through graduation, and launch into careers that lead to long-term opportunity. Today, YPIE serves more than 2,500 students across these three cities, building on a model with proven results in expanding access to higher education and economic mobility.

Our recent outcomes data demonstrates the positive impact that YPIE has on the communities we serve: increased college readiness, enrollment, degree attainment, and career access.

YPIE Yonkers is at an exciting point. With a strong foundation established, an entrepreneurial and outcomes-oriented leader can take the program to the next step by maximizing outcomes. Students are waiting to be pushed to compete through their YPIE Majors and with ambitious leadership we can get there.

POSITION OVERVIEW

The YPIE Program Director is an exciting role offering the best of both worlds: direct work with students and broader impact through team leadership. The Program Director drives measurable student outcomes across YPIE Yonkers college readiness program by coaching and leading the College Readiness Team while also leading a YPIE Majors for students.

RESPONSIBILITIES & RESULTS

People Leadership

• Lead the Yonkers Readiness program.

• Build and mentor a high-performing team to effectively ensure that students are:

  • Achieving mastery in their academic courses (GPA and SAT improvement);

  • Competing in YPIE Majors competitions.

• Manage and oversee the day-to-day work of Readiness team program staff.

• Coach staff to create targeted improvement plans for each student.

• Review lesson plans, and observe/provide feedback about teaching at the YPIE College Zone.

YPIE Majors & Academic Coaching

• Lead the design and delivery of a career-pathway program, preferably Speech and Debate (“YPIE Majors”).

• Facilitate real-world project-based learning experiences for students that empower them to compete in a field-specific competition.

• Develop and support academic intervention plans to foster self-advocacy so students identify and seek support.

Student Engagement & Effective Relationships

• Develop strong professional relationships with students in order to facilitate targeted and comprehensive support.

• Help connect students to crucial YPIE and external resources as necessary and hold students accountable for milestones to achieve their goals.

• Collaborate with volunteers to assist in providing services to YPIE students.

Family Engagement

• Maintain active, collaborative relationships with key family figures in students' lives, coordinating to address students’ challenges and reinforce goals.

• Facilitate meetings involving a family figure for each student.

Program Administration & Recruitment

• Manage student records and leverage data systems to proactively identify student challenges and concerns.

• Manage relevant program logistics and communicate with key stakeholders about timelines and necessary tasks.

• Recruit for a new cohort of YPIE Scholars each year, proactively collaborating with district partners to identify target students and deliver info sessions and presentations.

VALUES

YPIE team members:

• expect more, holding ourselves and our students to high expectations and demonstrating fierce accountability in all that we do.

• pursue relentlessly, doing whatever it takes to achieve our goals with integrity, while sweating the details and never compromising on quality.

• are always learning, approaching our work with curiosity and a growth mindset, continuously seeking feedback and opportunities to improve.

• drive results that matter, staying focused on impact, purpose, and measurable outcomes that create meaningful change for our students and community.

• draw on collective strength, building strong relationships rooted in trust, and collaborating with partners and teammates to advance shared goals.

CANDIDATE QUALIFICATIONS

To be eligible for consideration, applicants should have:

• Education and Experience

  • Bachelor’s degree

  • 4+ years of teaching experience

  • Experience coaching or leading other adults; department chairs or assistant principals are well-aligned with the management role

• Skills and Knowledge

  • Strong writing and public speaking skills

  • Proven organizational and program tracking skills

• Personal Attributes

  • Ability to navigate partnerships with diverse stakeholders

  • Flexibility to work some evening and weekend hours based on program needs

  • A car and willingness to travel to program site(s)

The most competitive applicants will possess:

• Education and Experience

  • Experience teaching first-generation and/or low-income students

  • Master’s degree in teaching

  • New York state teaching certification

  • Demonstrated experience with Speech and Debate, such as:

    • Coaching or teaching a high school/college speech and debate team

    • Competitive participation in speech, debate, or forensics at the high school or college level

• Skills and Knowledge

  • Teach Like a Champion best practices

  • Spanish fluency

• Personal Attributes

  • Flexibility and adaptability

  • A desire to learn and stay current in the ever-changing world of postsecondary readiness, project-based learning, and high school credentialing opportunities

You are likely to be successful in this role if:

• You enjoy solving challenging problems to reach measurable outcomes.

• You thrive in an entrepreneurial environment, where you will manage your own time to support each student.

• You are hungry for collaboration.

JOB DETAILS

• Location: In-person across multiple program sites in Yonkers, NY

• Hours: Full-time, 12 month

• Salary range: $70,000 - $85,000, depending on qualifications, expertise, experience

• Reporting to: Senior Director, YPIE Yonkers

• PTO: 1 week around new year, 1 week at end of school year, Summer Fridays, plus accrued vacation, personal, and sick time

• Start Date: July 1, 2026 (flexible)

• Benefits: YPIE offers a competitive compensation and benefits package commensurate with experience. Benefits include:

• Health, dental, and vision insurance

• Retirement plan with matching contributions

• Flexible Spending Account

• Life insurance

• Employee assistance program (EAP)

• On-site gym

• Partial cell phone reimbursement

• Personalized staff learning opportunities