Description

The Opportunity

El Puente is seeking a thoughtful, relationship-centered, and strategic Program Director to lead the El Puente Beacon Leadership Center at MS 50.

This role is an opportunity to shape a vibrant community space where young people, families, and community members can learn, create, lead, and thrive. The Program Director will play a critical role in ensuring that the Beacon serves as a welcoming, engaging, and high-quality environment that reflects El Puente's mission, values, and commitment to social justice.

Working closely with the Deputy Director for Programs, school leadership, staff, youth, and community partners, the Program Director will oversee all aspects of Beacon operations, including program quality, staff supervision, compliance, partnerships, member engagement, and long-term program growth.

This role is ideal for someone who believes deeply in youth leadership, understands the importance of community-rooted programming, and can balance big-picture vision with strong operational management.

About El Puente

Founded in 1982, El Puente is a youth-centered human rights organization rooted in Brooklyn, New York and Puerto Rico, using the arts, education, environmental justice, and community organizing as tools to inspire and nurture leadership for peace and justice.

For over four decades, El Puente has been building community-led movements grounded in self-determination, where young people, families, and communities are not only participants, but leaders shaping the future of their neighborhoods and beyond. Through a holistic leadership and membership model, the organization creates spaces where culture, identity, civic engagement, and activism intersect.

El Puente’s work spans Youth Leadership Centers across Brooklyn, a nationally recognized public high school, environmental justice initiatives, and organizing efforts that place community voice at the center of change. From local neighborhoods to global conversations, the organization continues to stand at the forefront of movements for equity, climate justice, and human rights.

At its core, El Puente is deeply relational, intergenerational, and community-rooted. The work is dynamic and responsive, grounded in the lived experiences of the communities it serves.

The Role

The Program Director serves as the leader of the El Puente Beacon Leadership Center at MS 50 and is responsible for the overall vision, management, and success of the program.

Reporting to the Deputy Director for Programs, this role oversees the daily operations of the Beacon and ensures that all programming reflects El Puente’s mission, contractual expectations, and commitment to youth and community development.

The Program Director will supervise the Beacon leadership team and program staff, support strong partnerships with school leadership and community stakeholders, and ensure the program remains responsive to the needs of members and families.

This role will also oversee compliance with all Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD) Beacon requirements and New York City Department of Health School-Aged Child Care (SACC) regulations, ensuring that the program operates safely, effectively, and with a high standard of quality.

This is both a strategic and hands-on leadership role, ideal for someone who enjoys building strong teams, fostering meaningful relationships, and creating environments where young people and communities can thrive.

Key Responsibilities

Program Leadership & Quality

Lead the overall vision, implementation, and continuous improvement of the Beacon program
Develop and oversee structured, age-appropriate programming that aligns with El Puente's Mission, Membership Model, and 12 Principles
Ensure programming supports youth development, leadership development, academic enrichment, wellness, arts education, and community engagement
Create systems for measuring program outcomes, participation, and overall program quality
Use data, feedback, and observation to continuously strengthen program effectiveness and member experience

Staff Leadership & Supervision

Provide leadership, supervision, coaching, and support to the Beacon Leadership Team, including the Assistant Director, Education Coordinator, Membership Coordinator, Administrative Coordinator, and other program staff
Supervise and support Group Leaders, Activity Specialists, Facilitators, seasonal staff, and community partners
Conduct regular supervision meetings, performance evaluations, professional development planning, and ongoing coaching
Cultivate a positive, collaborative, and accountable team culture rooted in El Puente's values
Support staff recruitment, onboarding, retention, and professional growth

Membership & Community Engagement

Support participant recruitment, enrollment, retention, and engagement efforts
Ensure youth and families experience a welcoming, inclusive, and affirming program environment
Strengthen relationships with members, caregivers, community partners, and stakeholders
Support implementation of El Puente's Membership Model and leadership development framework
Promote opportunities for youth voice, leadership, and community participation throughout programming

Compliance & Operations

Ensure compliance with all DYCD Beacon contractual requirements, reporting expectations, and performance standards
Maintain compliance with all NYC Department of Health School-Aged Child Care (SACC) regulations and health and safety requirements
Ensure appropriate staff-to-participant ratios, supervision practices, emergency preparedness procedures, and incident reporting protocols are maintained
Monitor attendance, enrollment, program participation, and outcome tracking systems
Serve as Administrator on Duty (AOD) as needed

Data, Administration & Fiscal Oversight

Oversee enrollment, attendance, and participant data collection and reporting
Ensure timely completion of all required reports, documentation, and compliance records
Collaborate with fiscal and administrative teams to manage program budgets and expenditures
Monitor program resources and ensure responsible stewardship of funding and materials
Support grant compliance and contract deliverables as required

School & Organizational Partnerships

Collaborate closely with MS 50 leadership and the El Puente Community School team to align programming and support student success
Maintain strong relationships with school personnel, community organizations, service providers, and external partners
Represent El Puente in meetings, events, and community spaces as needed
Work collaboratively across departments to support organizational goals and initiatives

Qualifications

Key Qualifications

Successful candidates will bring a strong commitment to youth development, community leadership, and social justice, along with experience managing programs, staff, and partnerships in dynamic community-based settings.

We are seeking a candidate who brings:

A bachelor's degree in Education, Youth Development, Human Services, Social Work, Public Administration, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience
At least three years of supervisory or management experience in youth development, education, after-school programming, community-based organizations, or related fields
Strong relationship-building skills with youth, families, staff, school partners, and community stakeholders
Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously
Experience overseeing program operations, compliance requirements, and administrative systems
Strong written and verbal communication skills
A demonstrated connection to El Puente's mission and values, with a commitment to community-centered and justice-rooted work

Preferred Qualifications

Bilingual English/Spanish proficiency strongly preferred, with the ability to communicate effectively with youth, families, community members, and stakeholders in both languages
Prior experience managing a DYCD-funded program, Beacon, Cornerstone, COMPASS, or Community School initiative
Knowledge of DYCD contract management and reporting requirements
Knowledge of NYC Department of Health School-Aged Child Care (SACC) regulations

Location, Salary and Benefits

El Puente Beacon Leadership Center is located at MS 50 in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. This is a full-time, in-person position.

The salary for this role is $65,000 annually and includes a competitive benefits package, including healthcare, retirement benefits with employer match, and paid time off.

Equal Opportunity Employer

El Puente is an equal opportunity employer committed to a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace that reflects the communities it serves. It provides equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants and does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected category under local, state, or federal law.

El Puente strongly encourages applications from women, people of color, DREAMers, immigrants, as well as members of LGBTQIA+ communities.

El Puente De Williamsburg

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