Assistant Director of Youth Development & Socio-Emotional Learning

Company: Red Hook Initiative
Location: New York City
Posted on: February 14, 2026

Job Description:

Job Description Job Description ABOUT RED HOOK INITIATIVE(RHI ) Red Hook Initiative(RHI) is a community-based nonprofit organization working to improve the lives of the more than 6,500 residents of Red Hook Houses, Brooklyn's largest public housing complex. RHI believes that the social change to overcome systemic inequities begins with empowered youth, and that change in communities should come from within. In partnership with community adults, we nurture young people in Red Hook to be inspired, resilient, and healthy, and to envision themselves as co-creators of their lives, community, and society. Youth development, community building, and community hiring are at the core of RHI's approach to strengthen Red Hook's future. Our model gives young people and residents the tools, resources, and opportunities they need to interrupt the systems and barriers that perpetuate historic inequities for the community. Residents lead the way toward a more equitable, hopeful future. Over our 22-year history, RHI's model and dedicated team have been nationally recognized for our innovative, place-based approach to social change. RHI was recently awarded an unrestricted gift of $1M from MacKenzie Scott through her philanthropic open call venture, Yield Giving. RHI's programs include: Youth Development : RHI engages over 450 adolescents each year, from middle school through young adulthood, endeavoring to interrupt cycles of injustice and to build hope. Building Community : Working with Red Hook youth and adults to organize, exercise leadership to drive positive change for the community, and increase social cohesion to build a more resilient neighborhood. Investing in Residents : RHI hires locally and invests in residents who will improve their lives and the community in which they live. More than $1.1M was earned in the last year by people from Red Hook. Red Hook Farms : A youth-centered urban agriculture and food justice program operating one of Brooklyn's original and largest farms. Red Hook Farms cultivates affordable, fresh produce and provides STEM and nutrition education, leadership development, and employment opportunities for local youth and residents. THE OPPORTUNITY RHI seeks a dynamic and mission-driven Assistant Director of Youth Development & Socio-Emotional Learning (YD & SEL) to lead high-quality programming that fosters academic success, emotional wellness, and leadership among Red Hook youth ages 11 to 18. Reporting to the Senior Director of YD & SEL, the Assistant Director oversees after-school, summer, and Freedom Schools initiatives and ensures alignment with RHI's broader youth development goals. In this leadership role, the Assistant Director ensures program excellence, staff development, and youth outcomes across all middle and high school initiatives, bridging daily operations with strategic program goals and serving as a key thought partner to the Senior Director. Supervises: Youth Workers, Summer Interns, Activity Specialists Key Collaborators: College & Workforce Success Team, Clinical Counselors, Community Building Team, Director and Assistant Director of Red Hook Farms, Director of HR & Operations,, RHI Operations Team Hours per week: 40 hours/week, exempt, Monday - Thursday 10:00 am - 6:00 pm (In person), Friday 9 am - 5 pm (In Person as needed) Summer Hours: Monday - Friday 8:30 am - 4:30 pm (In Person) ESSENTIAL DUTIES RESPONSIBILITIES Responsibilities: The responsibilities of the Assistant Program Manager include but are not limited to: Program Oversight & Youth Engagement Oversee daily operations of after-school, holiday, and summer programs for up to 150 youth, ensuring responsive and engaging experiences. Design, implement, and evaluate curriculum and programming aligned with RHI's mission and funder expectations. Lead youth recruitment, intake, and retention strategies to maintain consistent participation. Co-develop annual program goals and assessment tools to evaluate outcomes and support continuous improvement. Plan and execute trips, events, and family engagement opportunities that expand learning and exposure. Promote trauma-informed, healing-centered, and positive youth development practices throughout all programming. Serve as Site Coordinator for the Children's Defense Fund Freedom Schools program, overseeing all planning, staffing, and implementation. Staff Supervision & Development Supervise, coach, and support program staff to ensure performance excellence, professional growth, and alignment with RHI's values. Support recruitment, onboarding, goal setting, and performance monitoring for Youth Workers and interns. Facilitate regular team meetings and foster a collaborative, accountable work culture. Identify staff training needs and coordinate with HR and senior leadership to implement solutions. Lead crisis response and conflict resolution using trauma-informed and restorative approaches. Compliance & Administration Ensure accurate and timely attendance, participation, and outcome data; manage reporting and documentation for funders and internal use. Oversee staff schedules and timekeeping to ensure payroll accuracy and program coverage. Collaborate with the Senior Director on budgeting decisions, program resources, and inventory management. Ensure compliance with SACC and Department of Health regulations, including safety drills, training, and reporting requirements. Lead policy enforcement to ensure staff and youth adhere to program expectations and protocols. Partnership & Case Support Represent RHI in external partnerships and meetings, cultivating relationships that enhance youth opportunities and program visibility. Collaborate with counselors and case managers to support youth referrals, behavioral health needs, and case conferencing. Participate in professional development and capacity-building opportunities to strengthen program delivery. Preferred Qualifications: Experience working with middle school and high school youth from diverse backgrounds. Knowledge of youth development principles, including Social Emotional Learning (SEL). Proven ability to motivate participants in areas such as Academic Support, STEAM, Leadership Development, and Healthy Living. Additional Requirements: Flexibility to attend occasional morning, evening, or weekend meetings and training. Commitment to a strength-based and youth development approach. Ability to maintain confidentiality. Successful completion of all required background checks and clearances. COMPETENCIES (Knowledge, Skills & Personal Attributes) Strong leadership, management, and supervisory skills; able to lead intergenerational staff, manage change, and motivate teams toward shared goals. Deep commitment to the success, development, and well-being of young people, with knowledge of strengths-based and socio-emotional learning approaches. Proven ability to design, implement, and evaluate youth programming and curriculum aligned with positive youth development principles. Excellent communication and collaboration skills; able to build rapport with youth, staff, and partners while modeling transparency, respect, and teamwork. Highly organized and detail-oriented, with strong planning, project management, and problem-solving abilities. Passionate about community-based work and advocacy, with the ability to work independently and as part of a team to achieve organizational and program goals. EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE Bachelor's degree required At least five (5) years of relevant experience (youth development, social work, education, etc), including at least three (3) years in a supervisory/managerial position. Experience developing and supporting staff to develop curriculum and programs. English/Spanish/Mandarin, Bilingual preferred. WORKING CONDITIONS (ENVIRONMENT) & PHYSICAL DEMANDS The RHI work environment is characteristic of a typical indoor office/program environment and the noise level is generally quiet to moderate. While performing administrative duties the employee will operate a computer and other office equipment. During this time the employee may sit or stand at will. During youth program hours, there is more movement (e.g. standing and walking, moving tables and chairs to set up the room). RHI provides a hybrid work arrangement for employees, when possible. In this role, a hybrid schedule can be arranged when direct services are not in session. This job is primarily based on-site at RHI's main program office in Red Hook, Brooklyn. The ideal candidate will either be a resident of Red Hook or one of its neighboring communities or will be in reasonable commuting distance to RHI's main program office. The ideal candidate should be able to meet the physical demands of the job with or without a reasonable accommodation. COMMITMENT TO DEI & EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY RHI actively engages individuals from all backgrounds and is committed to embracing diversity across all areas and aspects of the organization. We firmly believe that an atmosphere of civility and mutual respect towards individual differences and embracing an inclusive and equitable environment is indispensable to building a successful organization, contributing to a positive and meaningful employment experience for staff, and advancing the best possible outcomes for the clients served by RHI's programs. We are also committed to community hiring and supporting the job prospects of Red Hook residents. As an equal opportunity employer, RHI is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified individuals and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity and expression, disability, age, marital status, military status, veteran status, pregnancy, parental status, genetic information, or any other characteristic or basis prohibited by applicable law. This position is based on-site at RHI's main program office in Red Hook, Brooklyn. The ideal candidate should be within reasonable commuting distance to our main program office or a resident of Red Hook or one of its neighboring Brooklyn communities. Proof of full COVID vaccination is required prior to starting employment. COMPENSATION & BENEFITS RHI strives to offer a competitive compensation and benefits package that reflects our core values and commitment to our employees. The salary for this position is: $68K - $72K commensurate with an employee's or candidate's competencies and experience. Additionally, RHI provides a comprehensive benefits package which includes medical, dental and vision coverage, an Employee Assistance Program (EAP), which includes 12 counseling sessions per year, 403b retirement plan, flexible spending accounts for out-of-pocket health, dependent and commuter expenses, life insurance, 24 PTO days, "Summer Fridays," when possible and a hybrid work schedule when direct services are not in session. TO APPLY Please log on to the RHI career portal at: https://rhicenter.applicantpro.com/jobs/ for further instructions about how to apply for this position. Please be sure to attach your cover letter and resume as one combined pdf. Date Issued: [10/20/2025] Job Posted by ApplicantPro

Keywords: Red Hook Initiative, Hackensack , Assistant Director of Youth Development & Socio-Emotional Learning, Social Services , New York City, New Jersey