Vice President of Youth Development

Description

Are you the right leader to help grow our Youth Development departments?

We're looking for a strategic leader who can turn relationships into results. As Vice President of Youth Development, you'll set the direction for programs that reach thousands of kids and families. How? You will build real partnerships with school districts, funders and community leaders across the region. This isn't a maintain-the-status-quo role. It's a build role, where the districts you bring to the table and the trust you earn with them determine how far our impact can grow. If you think in systems, lead with relationships and want your work to shape a region, we want to talk to you.

Position Summary:

Reporting to the COO, the Vice President of Youth Development & Childcare plays a critical leadership role in advancing the mission of the YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids - a leading nonprofit organization in West Michigan dedicated to strengthening the community through youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. This position holds strategic and operational oversight of all youth development programs, including but not limited to: School-age childcare, preschool/early learning childcare, Great Start Readiness Programs (GSRP), and Head Start childcare.

Key areas of responsibility include leadership and staff development, school district and community partnerships, fiscal management, licensing compliance, program and enrollment growth, marketing and communications, and continuous process improvement.

The VP of Youth Development & Childcare’s daily work balances high-level strategic planning with direct, hands-on leadership. The role requires a proactive and adaptable leader who can drive initiatives forward while responding effectively to evolving organizational needs - ensuring strong alignment between the YMCA’s overall strategic goals and operational objectives.

EOS Accountabilities:

• Leadership, Management & Accountability
• Program Growth Strategy
• Sustainability & Business Planning
• Public Policy & Advocacy
• Stakeholder Expansion
• Strategic Budget Management

Essential Functions: 

• Responsible for the overall operations of licensed childcare programs, including grant-funded childcare programming.
• Develop, monitor, and maintain the operational budget while achieving programmatic goals. Ensure fiscal leadership and responsibility for all program areas. 
• Enhance and implement the Youth Development and childcare department’s vision & strategic goals. 
• Ensure operational growth through program expansion, program participant recruitment and retention, pricing strategies, new site development, collaborations, opportunities, and recommend strategies for their impact and sustainability to executive leadership. 
• Establish strategic relationships with internal and external stakeholders to achieve common goals and support the expansion of youth development and childcare programming. Represent the YMCA and the youth development team with outside groups, school districts, funders, and community partners.
• Attract, develop, coach, and retain a diverse, high-performance team, empowering them to elevate their level of responsibility, span of control, and performance to create an internal leadership pipeline.
• Review and appraise the effectiveness of supervised personnel in assigned accountabilities and make appropriate training recommendations or staff changes where necessary.
• Work with staff to develop systems to ensure consistent, high-quality programs.
• Provide leadership in the development of inter-team communication and cohesiveness, sustaining culture and supporting staff during organizational change and growth.
• Provide leadership in the continued development, enhancement, and implementation of
• Curriculum.
• Ensure compliance with all regulatory, licensing, grant, and Y standards.
• Collaborate with the Marketing Department to ensure a comprehensive marketing and communication plan is in place for program promotion and to communicate community benefit.
• Closely collaborate with YMCA branches and departments to deliver on all program goals.

Perform additional duties as assigned to ensure the success of the YMCA and its mission-driven work.

COMPENSATION:

$120,000 - $140,000 annually; Full Time; Exempt

BENEFITS

• Free YMCA Family Membership – Enjoy full access to facilities & program discounts for you and your family!
• Childcare Discount – Discount is off the regular rate for each child enrolled in a YMCA childcare program, excluding the infant room.
• Comprehensive Medical Coverage – Up to 93% employer paid plan options through Blue Care Network.
• Dental and Vision Insurance – low-cost coverage options.
• Health Savings Account (HSA) – Receive up to $1,040 in employer contributions each year to help cover qualified medical expenses.
• Generous Paid Time Off – Beginning with 4 weeks of PTO per year, plus 9 paid holidays.
• Paid Parental Leave - Dedicated time off to support you during the arrival or adoption of a child.
• Retirement Savings – 12% employer retirement contribution, no match requirement (upon eligibility) and a 403(b) savings plan.
• Paid Disability Leave – short & long term disability coverage.
• Life Insurance – employer paid life insurance, plus voluntary coverage for the entire family.
• Optional Insurance – Customize your coverage with options like accident, hospital, pet, and legal insurance, plus more to fit your lifestyle and needs.
• Pay on Demand – Access your earned wages before payday.
• Professional Growth – Access to ongoing training, development programs, and career advancement opportunities
• Loan Forgiveness - Eligible employees can also take advantage of Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF).
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) – Free, confidential resources and counseling for you and your family.

Requirements

QUALIFICATIONS

• Education: Bachelor's degree in Business, Early Childhood Education/Education, Human Services, or Social Services; or other related field.
• Experience: Minimum of ten years of progressive professional experience in youth development and licensed childcare, education programs in a YMCA, school district, or other not-for-profit agency.
• Proven Expertise: Experience in staff development, staff supervision and development, quality assurance and implementation, and fiscal management and budgeting; Experience in developing and scaling child development curriculum, pedagogy and programs to multiple sites; Proven ability to maintain tight control of confidential material and information; Demonstrated ability to manage employees at multiple locations including budget oversight, team development and performance management; Experience and knowledge of state and local licensing and accreditation agencies; Excellent communication      skills both written and oral. 
• Mission-Driven Leadership: Strong analytical skills with the ability to assess and align department initiatives with organizational goals.

Certificates and Licenses

• Background Check: State of Michigan criminal clearance (ICHAT).
• Safety Training: Bloodborne Pathogen training upon hire.
• Emergency Certifications (within 60 days): 
  • CPR
  • First Aid
  • AED-Oxygen

WORK ENVIRONMENT AND PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

This role requires strong analytical, communication, and leadership skills to effectively execute strategic initiatives. Reasonable accommodation will be provided to support individuals with disabilities.

• Advanced Communication – Reads and interprets complex documents, responds to sensitive inquiries, and delivers compelling speeches and presentations.
• Problem-Solving & Decision-Making – Collects and analyzes data to define challenges, develop solutions, and drive informed decision-making.
• Public Engagement – Persuasively communicates with leadership, community partners, staff, and board members on complex or high-impact topics.
• Clear & Concise Expression – Ensures alignment across stakeholders through effective communication.
• Travel Requirements – Regular travel within Grand Rapids and Michigan; occasional out-of-state travel for conferences and training.

HIRING TIMELINE

• Job closes: Oct 31
• 1st interview (Phone): Nov 5 and Nov 6
• 2nd interview (Virtual): Nov 18 and 19
• Final interview (In person): Dec 7
• Anticipated start date: Jan 11