Youth Institute Program Manager

Inspire Creativity. Build Confidence. Help Teens Discover What's Possible!

At theWhatcom Family YMCA, we believe every young person deserves the opportunity to discover their strengths, explore their passions, and create a future filled with possibilities.

We're looking for an enthusiastic, creative, and relationship-driven Youth Institute Program Manager to lead our year-round Youth Institute program, an exciting college- and career-readiness experience that helps high school students develop leadership skills, explore creative interests, build meaningful relationships, and prepare for what's next.

This is more than managing a program. It's an opportunity to mentor the next generation, inspire creativity, and make a lasting difference in the lives of young people throughout Whatcom County.

If you love working with teens, enjoy bringing creative ideas to life, and believe in the power of positive relationships, we'd love to meet you!

What You'll Do

As our Youth Institute Program Manager, you'll create meaningful experiences that help teens build confidence, develop new skills, and discover opportunities they may never have imagined.

Bring Creativity and Learning to Life

• Plan and lead our year-round Youth Institute program, including an engaging summer experience and weekly school-year workshops.
• Develop hands-on activities that introduce teens to creative arts, entrepreneurship, leadership, and college and career opportunities.
• Create an environment where young people feel encouraged to explore their interests, take healthy risks, and discover new talents.
• Coordinate program activities, schedules, supplies, and special experiences that make learning exciting and relevant.

Be a Mentor Who Makes a Difference

• Build meaningful relationships with teens, helping them develop confidence, resilience, leadership skills, and a sense of belonging.
• Encourage young people to set goals, explore their potential, and take ownership of their futures.
• Create a welcoming, inclusive space where every participant feels valued, supported, and inspired.
• Celebrate student achievements, big and small, and help teens recognize just how much they're capable of accomplishing.

Connect Teens to Their Community

• Build strong partnerships with schools, educators, community organizations, and local professionals.
• Help recruit students who would benefit from the opportunities Youth Institute provides.
• Connect teens with experiences, resources, and relationships that support their educational and career goals.
• Collaborate with YMCA departments and community partners to expand opportunities for participants.

Lead and Support a Great Team

• Recruit, train, mentor, and supervise part-time program staff and volunteers.
• Create a positive, collaborative team environment focused on helping teens succeed.
• Provide guidance, feedback, and training to ensure high-quality program experiences.
• Model the YMCA's core values of caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility.

Make an Impact That Lasts

• Manage program registration, attendance, communication, and daily operations.
• Support grant-funded program requirements by tracking expenses, participation, outcomes, and reporting deadlines.
• Capture success stories that demonstrate the meaningful difference Youth Institute makes in young people's lives.
• Use participant feedback and program results to continually strengthen the experience.
• Ensure programs meet YMCA safety standards, youth protection policies, and applicable regulations.

What Makes You a Great Fit?

We're looking for someone who brings creativity, compassion, strong organizational skills, and a genuine belief in the potential of young people.

You'll thrive in this role if you:

• Love working with teens and helping them discover their strengths and passions.
• Have experience in youth development, education, mentoring, or community-based programming.
• Enjoy planning creative, hands-on learning experiences that keep young people engaged.
• Are a natural relationship builder who can connect with teens, families, educators, and community partners.
• Have strong leadership skills and enjoy coaching and supporting others.
• Are organized, dependable, and comfortable balancing program planning with daily operations.
• Can manage program details, track outcomes, and meet important deadlines.
• Bring a positive attitude, flexibility, and a willingness to jump in wherever needed.
• Believe that every young person deserves access to opportunities that help them succeed.

Experience with college and career readiness programs, creative arts, entrepreneurship, grant-funded programming, or teen leadership development is a plus!

Most importantly, we're looking for someone who sees the potential in every young person and is excited to help them see it in themselves.

Why Work at the Y?

Because the impact you make today can change a young person's tomorrow!

At the Whatcom Family YMCA, you'll be part of a mission-driven organization dedicated to strengthening our community and creating opportunities for everyone to thrive.

As our Youth Institute Program Manager, you'll have the opportunity to:

• Make meaningful, lasting connections with young people.
• Help teens discover their talents, build confidence, and prepare for their futures.
• Bring creative ideas to life through innovative, hands-on programming.
• Build partnerships that connect young people to new experiences and opportunities.
• Work alongside a passionate team that believes in the power of youth development.

Everyone Belongs at the Y

At the Whatcom Family YMCA, we believe everyone deserves the opportunity to reach their full potential. We are committed to creating welcoming, inclusive spaces that celebrate diversity, remove barriers, and provide opportunities for individuals of all backgrounds, identities, and abilities.

Our work focuses on supporting young people, strengthening families, and creating a community where everyone has the opportunity to belong, grow, and thrive.

Ready to Inspire What's Next?

If you're passionate about youth development, energized by creativity, and excited to help teens build the skills and confidence they need for the future, we want to hear from you!

Apply today and help us inspire creativity, unlock potential, and empower the next generation of change makers!

Qualifications

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Minimum of 2 years of experience working with teens, including prior experience serving at-risk teens, in youth development, education, community-based program delivery or related relevant experience.
• Bachelor's degree in youth development, education, recreation, social services or other relevant field preferred.
• One year or more of experience supervising staff or volunteers preferred.
• Minimum age of 21 years or older.
• Strong ability to relate to and communicate effectively with a wide and diverse group of teens.
• Self-motivated, well organized, and able to manage multiple projects and deadlines with sound decision-making skills.
• Comfortable responding to challenging or crisis situations and able to remain calm and use good judgment.
• Strong interpersonal, public relations, and communication skills with youth, families, colleagues, schools, and community partners.
• Proficiency in office suite applications (Microsoft Office, Google Suite) and ability to maintain accurate program data and reports.
• Ability to meet YMCA requirements to drive YMCA vehicles as needed.
• Maintain current CPR/First Aid certification and complete Child Abuse Prevention and YMCA program-specific training within required timelines.

WORK ENVIRONMENT & PHYSICALDEMANDS:

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. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• The employee needs sufficient strength, agility and mobility to perform essential functions and to safely supervise teen program activities in a variety of settings.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use a computer for extended periods of time and be able to communicate using a computer and phone/smart device.
• The employee frequently is required to sit and reach, and must be able to move around the workenvironment.
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 20pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and the ability toadjust.
• The noise level in the work environment is usuallymoderate.