Associate Director of Youth Development
Cambridge, MA
Type: Exempt, Full-Time
Supervisor: Director of Youth Program Pathways
Location: 430 Rindge Avenue Suite #202, Cambridge, MA 02140
Salary Range: $80,000-$90,000 annually
POSITION SUMMARY:
Are you a dynamic leader who believes in the transformative power of young people - and who knows how to build the program structures, culture, and relationships that help them thrive? Are you equally comfortable holding space for a young person navigating a tough moment and strategizing about the future of youth workforce development? If so, you could be Just A Start's next Associate Director of Youth Development.
The Associate Director of Youth Development is a new program leadership role on our Youth Programs team. This leader owns the trainee and alumni experience from orientation through program completion and beyond, and plays an essential role in shaping the culture, systems, and experiences that define YouthBuild and all Youth Programs at Just A Start. They are part program director, part youth success dean, part community builder, and part strategist.
Reporting to the Director of Youth Program Pathways, the Associate Director leads three core program components - Academics, Leadership Development, and Vocational Training - while serving as a key architect of our evolving on-ramp and off-ramp programming. This includes championing pathways that prepare youth for YouthBuild enrollment as well as graduate opportunities that connect young adults to emerging careers and post-secondary education.
PROGRAM BACKGROUND:
Just A Start is a Cambridge-based community development corporation dedicated to promoting equity through affordable housing and pathways to economic opportunity. Our Youth Programs sit within our Education and Training department and include our flagship YouthBuild program - a full-time, comprehensive workforce development program for opportunity youth ages 16-24 in the Boston Metro North region.
YouthBuild Just A Start is one of 11 independently operated YouthBuild programs in the Massachusetts YouthBuild Coalition and a proud affiliated member of the global YouthBuild movement. We help young people reclaim their education, gain job skills, and grow into community leaders - grounded in positive youth development and trauma-informed practice.
As part of our strategic plan, we are actively developing new programming 'on-ramps' (such as academic remediation for youth working toward YouthBuild readiness) and 'off-ramps' connecting graduates and community young adults to emerging careers, including Solar Start - our training program for young adults entering climate critical careers. The Associate Director will be a key thought partner and implementer of this evolving and expanding departmental vision.
WHAT YOU'LL DO:
1. Program Leadership and Program Culture
- Set the tone for trainee success and program culture across YouthBuild's 10-month cycle - from pre-enrollment through graduation.
- Be the person everyone turns to when a situation needs de-escalating, expectations need reinforcing, or a young person needs to be redirected with firmness and care.
- Keep the Trainee Handbook current and meaningful, in partnership with the Youth Policy Council.
- Own the vision for Life Skills and socioemotional learning (SEL) - partnering with the Senior Case Manager on instruction to ensure SEL is directly tied to retention and trainee success.
- Lead planning for YouthBuild Orientation week, synthesize staff observations, and advise on enrollment decisions in coordination with the Youth Program Operations Manager and Senior Case Manager.
- Steer expenditures to deliver high quality programming that meets trainee needs and stays on budget with guidance from the Director of Youth Program Pathways.
- Serve as a program liaison to the Massachusetts YouthBuild Coalition in conjunction with the Director of Youth Program Pathways attending monthly meetings with other YouthBuild program leaders across the state.
2. Team Supervision and Program Oversight
- Directly supervise the instructional team: Construction Instructors, Youth Entrepreneurship Program Manager, and Academic Program Manager, who in turn supervises the Science, Technology, and Math Instructor.
- Champion a strong High School Equivalency Test (HiSET) program by supporting the Academic Program Manager in delivering quality instruction and achieving rigorous academic outcomes.
- Manage the vocational instruction teams (Construction and Retail Entrepreneurship) with the administration of workforce training ensuring that trainees’ needs are met while also complying with funder contractual outcomes.
- Collaborate with the Senior Case Manager and the Career and Post-Secondary Education Specialist to deliver trauma-informed, strengths-based supportive services to trainees and alumni - including the critical 12-month post-program follow-up period.
- Administer trainee progress review meetings, trainee success plans and supportive action plans in collaboration with all program staff.
- Lead program change initiatives that drive positive outcomes for trainees.
- Ensure timely Salesforce data entry across the team and contribute to quarterly contractual reporting.
3. Leadership Development and Community Service Projects
- Design and facilitate the Youth Policy Council (YPC) meeting 2-4 times per month to build trainee leadership, drive the Life Skills series, and amplify trainee voices in program culture and policy.
- Oversee the Alumni Advisory Board (AAB) - deepening alumni leadership through training, advocacy, and community projects. Recent projects include an AAB-produced podcast on youth addiction and substance use.
- Coordinate quarterly community service activities to meet YouthBuild Global affiliated status requirements.
- Lead YouthBuild's annual State House Day - connecting trainees and alumni with their elected officials to advocate for state funding for youth programs.
- Own alumni engagement from the ground up — designing events and programming that connect graduates to workforce opportunities and advance our strategic plan.
QUALIFICATIONS / KEYS TO SUCCESS:
- 7-10 years in youth development, education, or human services, with at least 2-3 years in a leadership role; experience as a supervisor is required.
Lived or professional experience with opportunity youth - court-involved, out-of-school, or housing-unstable - - and the ability to show up for them with both compassion and clear structure.
- Grounded in trauma-informed care, positive youth development, and DEIB; able to authentically connect across difference and navigate structural inequities with young people.
Proven ability to hold a firm, fair, restorative trainee culture - - high expectations and high support in equal measure.
Familiarity with academics (HiSET/GED), workforce development, and leadership development - - you don't need to be the expert, but you need to champion all three.
- Strong facilitator and program designer; comfortable leading a Life Skills session, a Youth Policy Council meeting, or a State House prep workshop with equal confidence.
A background in youth development, workforce programs, community based organizations, public education, state family services (Dept. of Children and Families, Dept. of Youth Services), or juvenile justice - - what matters is that you've led in complex, youth-serving environments.
- Organized, clear communicator, and skilled at building trust with trainees, staff, families, and partners.
- Familiarity with Salesforce or similar CRM and Google Workspace; willingness to learn required.
- Ability to occasionally work evenings or weekends. Acceptable CORI/SORI.
We know that no individual candidate will possess every skill or experience listed above. Studies show that women and people of color are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet all qualifications. We encourage you to apply even if you don't meet every requirement. If you're excited about this role and our mission, we want to hear from you!
TO APPLY / WHAT TO EXPECT:
Please submit a resume and cover letter in order to be considered for the role.
Qualified candidates may expect the following interview process:
- 30 minute Zoom interview with Youth Programs leadership
- 45-60 minute Zoom interview with the hiring manager
- 60 minute in-person interview with program directors and trainees
SALARY AND BENEFITS:
Starting annual salary $80,000-$90,000. The Associate Director of Youth Development works in the office five days a week with opportunities for approved remote work days. In addition to a competitive salary, Just A Start offers excellent benefits including medical, dental, life, short-term and long-term disability insurance, 20 Paid Time Off days in the first year, 13 paid holidays, 1 day of Volunteer Time Off, an Employee Assistance Program, and a 401(k) savings plan with a 3% employer contribution after 3 months of employment. Just A Start YouthBuild employees receive professional/leadership development funds annually to support training and leadership growth. In addition, Just A Start has implemented a "Find Your Joy Fridays" benefit that allows full-time employees to leave work at 2:00 pm on Fridays.
Just A Start is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our staff represents a wide range of ages, races, interests, and backgrounds coming together in pursuit of common goals. We value diversity and work together to create an inclusive culture where people from all backgrounds can thrive and belong. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetics or any other characteristic protected by law.
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. Must possess mobility to work in a standard office setting and to use standard office equipment, including a computer; vision to read printed materials and a computer screen; and hearing and speech to communicate in person and over the telephone. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Some travel within the Metro North region required for program activities, community service, and advocacy events.
