Director of Educational Programs Position Available

Position:  Director of Educational Programs 

Reports To:  Chief Impact Officer 

Category:  Full Time, exempt 

Location: White Plains, NY plus once per week, visiting each site (i.e., Ossining, Tarrytown, Sleepy Hollow, and Greenburgh); Up to 1 day per week remote at the discretion of the supervisor and when scheduling permits. 

Salary:  $80,000 to $85,000 

Summary of the Position 

The Director of Educational Programs will oversee and manage everything from the day-to-day operations to the long-term strategy of United Way of Westchester and Putnam’s school-based out-of-school time (OST) educational programs including its year-round Education United Program, which is funded in part by 21st Community Learning Centers grant, a LEAPS grant, a Westchester County Youth Bureau grant, and by parent-private pay.  The responsibilities will include but are not limited to ensuring the delivery of quality, aligned, academic curriculum and tutoring, and enrichment opportunities at Brookside, Highview, Tappan Hill, and Winfield L. Morse Elementary School per funding priorities. 

About the Organization 

At the United Way of Westchester and Putnam (UWWP) we believe that WE ARE STRONGER TOGETHER and that it is only by being UNITED that we can change the world for the better. 

In Westchester and Putnam more than 40 percent of households are living in poverty or paycheck to paycheck, what we call ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed). These are often hardworking families struggling to make ends meet and provide a better life for their children. But for these families, when funds run short, they are forced to make impossible choices between childcare, paying the rent, filling a prescription, or fixing a car. They are our preschool teachers, home health aides, and retail salespeople – workers essential to keeping all our communities and economies humming, yet who struggle to pay their own basic bills. 

We achieve results in three ways. First, by investing dollars or essential goods in programs with proven results.  Second, by providing direct services to the community such as our free 211 Information and Referral Helpline, our Ride United Food Distribution program, our Education United free, bilingual OST program, and so much more.  And finally, by fostering collaboration with community stakeholders, leaders, and partners to change the way we look at and solve problems. Every year, we collaborate with hundreds of nonprofit partners and governmental agencies, and our work positively impacts hundreds of thousands of individuals. 

Our United Way has a $12 million budget and 35 FT and 50 PT staffers, who collectively generate almost $36 million in impact for Westchester and Putnam families in crisis.   

Our United Way has a purpose-driven, results-oriented, caring culture, that prioritizes the greater good, working hard, and getting things done, while building mutual trust amongst our teammates, taking risks, and having fun in the process. 

Job Description 

UWWP seeks a Director of Educational Programs to oversee the organization’s Education United Program which takes place at four (4) different schools throughout Westchester: Brookside Elementary School in Ossining, Highview Elementary School in Hartsdale, and Winfield L. Morse in Sleepy Hollow, and Tappan Hill Elementary Schools in Tarrytown. The purpose of the program is to provide academic enrichment and youth development opportunities for approximately 600 students enrolled throughout the year, during before and after school and school breaks including summer. 

Qualifications 

Minimum Education/Certification 

• Bachelor’s degree in education, social work, human services, or a related field. A master’s degree in education or a related human services field is preferred; 

• Possess current certifications in and be able to perform CPR and medical first aid (or be willing to become certified upon hire). 

Essential duties and responsibilities will include but may not be limited to: 

• Provide leadership and management of UWWP’s educational programs; 

• Plan and organize a structured program to deliver quality academic enrichment and youth development programming; 

• Ensure the fidelity of program implementation, including monitoring fiscal expenditures, overseeing compliance with grant requirements, and collecting documentation of program activities; 

• Complete necessary reporting and submit to the proper entity, such as the New York State Education Department; 

• Collaborate with the program evaluator to ensure compliance with evaluation requirements. This may include but is not limited to the collection and reporting of student and program-level data into state and federal data management systems; 

• Oversee hiring, training, scheduling, and management of all Education United staff as well as other educational program interns and volunteers;  

• Facilitate weekly staff meetings; 

• Establish professional development trainings for program staff; 

• Develop student and family outreach recruitment and retention plans; 

• Build and maintain relationships with program stakeholders such as program partners, sites, parents, and community leaders. This includes meeting regularly with the program stakeholders; 

• Supervise the recruitment and retention of students; 

• Oversee the supervision of students participating in the program; 

• Collaborate with program staff, teachers, students, and school principals to develop and maintain a schedule for project-based learning, academic, youth development, service learning, and extra-curricular activities; 

• Attend mandated program directors’ meetings and required professional development training; 

• Develop operational policies and practices for the OST program in cooperation with staff, youth, and parents; 

• Develop a sustainability plan and work towards program sustainability over the grant period and beyond current grant funding; 

• Secure a healthy and safe environment while overseeing the use of equipment and supplies; 

• Serve as highest escalation point for medical, behavioral, and staffing incidents; 

• Collaborate inter-departmentally with the Social Work, Resource Development, and Finance teams; 

• Lead presentations about the program and represent the program at public events and meetings; 

• Travel locally (within 20 minutes of office) up to 50% of the time to execute responsibilities; 

• Travel throughout the state to grant-mandated conferences several times a year. 

Skills and Knowledge 

• Experience working with elementary-school children, high-risk children and families, and underserved communities; 

• Experience managing grant-funded school programs; track-record of leading OCFS programs preferred; 

• At least 3 years of experience working in education, social services, or nonprofit organizations and with at-risk school-aged populations; 

• Experience in a supervisory role is preferred; 

• Strong knowledge of budgets and personnel management; 

• Strong organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills; attention to detail; 

• Ability to work with large amounts of data, research and interpret records, detect errors, and make necessary program corrections; 

• Knowledge of program evaluation and performance measurement; 

• Ability to be courteous and professional when working with parents, children, and other colleagues; 

• Ability to identify ways for improving and promoting quality, and strive to implement best practices; 

• Is proactive and takes initiative; 

• Thinks creatively and drives projects to completion; 

• Proficiency in the use of computers and Microsoft Office; 

• Knowledge of student information systems such as Infinite Campus; 

• Preference for candidates who are fluent in Spanish. 

Physical Requirements / Work Environment 

• Must be able to sit, stand, or walk for extended periods of time; 

• Must have a valid driver’s license, personal vehicle, and proper automobile insurance; 

• Must be able to squat or bend to communicate at youth level; 

• Must be able to lift up to 25 lbs. unaided. 

Other Job Requirements 

• Requires fingerprinting and background check; 

• Submit personal information into the NYS Office of Children and Family Services online portal as the director of the program. 

For all External and Internal applicants 

UWWP is committed to fostering a workplace culture that values all perspectives, promotes fair treatment, welcomes full participation at all levels, and upholds the highest standards of respect and professionalism in all interactions. We understand that by valuing the visible and invisible qualities that make everyone who they are and welcoming their unique perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences we further advance our mission, support our communities, and strengthen our organization.  

Any applicant that is disabled as defined under the American Disabilities Act (herein referred to as the ADA) must be able to perform the essential job functions as listed herein either unaided or with the assistance of a reasonable accommodation to be determined by management on a case-by-case individual basis. 

Statements in this job description are intended to describe the general nature of the work being performed, and are not intended as a complete comprehensive list of all responsibilities, skills required for the position, or duties. 

Interested individuals should email their resumes to Avery Zuvic, Chief Impact Officer, at azuvic@uwwp.org. 

Please Reference “Director of Educational Programs” in the Subject line. 

Because of the sheer volume of applicants expected, no calls please.