School Site Director at Boys & Girls Club of Garfield in Garfield, NJ

Job Summary:

The Club/Site Director is the chief mission officer of an assigned Blue Door Academy sites. This leader owns the full performance of the sites — driving youth enrollment, building the culture, and serving as the primary relationship holder with school partners and families. This is not a manager who executes someone else's vision. The Club/Site Director is an owner-operator: accountable for results, responsible for the community's trust, and empowered to build a site that reflects the highest standards of Blue Door Academy.

While this role carries all the operational responsibilities of a Club Director, the Blue Door Academy model holds this position to a higher standard of entrepreneurial leadership, community presence, and growth accountability. The Club/Site Director is expected to treat this site as their own — with the professionalism, urgency, and pride of someone who has a personal stake in its success.

Key Responsibilities

Program Operations

• Direct daily site operations in alignment with Blue Door Academy standards and BGCA's core program areas.
• Maintain a safe, structured, and engaging environment that supports positive youth development outcomes.
• Track attendance, program participation, and member outcome data; use data to drive continuous improvement.
• Ensure full compliance with all applicable licensing, regulatory, and organizational standards.

Staff Leadership & Development

• Recruit, hire, supervise, coach, and evaluate all site-level staff.
• Set clear performance expectations; hold staff accountable through regular feedback and formal evaluations.
• Facilitate weekly staff meetings and provide ongoing training and professional development.
• Maintain staff schedules that meet required staff-to-member ratios at all times.

Operations & Fiscal Management

• Manage site budget; monitor expenditures and submit accurate financial reports on schedule.
• Maintain facility safety, cleanliness, and operability; complete daily safety checks.
• Submit all required operational reports including attendance, incidents, and grant documentation.

Membership Growth, School & Family Engagement

• Own the site's membership targets — actively recruit youth, monitor daily attendance trends, and implement strategies to grow and retain enrollment.
• Serve as the primary, personal relationship holder with school principals, administrators, and teachers; maintain a visible, consistent presence within the school community.
• Build trusted relationships with families — ensuring parents and caregivers know the Director by name, feel welcomed, and are actively engaged as partners in their child's experience.
• Lead parent engagement events, school partnership meetings, and community outreach initiatives.
• Represent Blue Door Academy in the broader community; position the site as a recognized and valued neighborhood institution.

Safety & Compliance

• Implement and enforce all organizational policies, safety protocols, and emergency procedures.
• Serve as a Mandated Reporter; report suspected abuse or maltreatment as required by law.
• Maintain accurate and confidential staff and member records.

Qualifications

Education

• Required: Associates or Bachelor's Degree in Education, Human Services, Nonprofit Management, Youth Development, or a related field or completion of state licensing requirements for program lead preferred.

Experience

• Minimum 2-3 years of professional experience in youth development, education, or human services.
• Minimum 1 year of supervisory experience managing a professional team.
• Experience managing program budgets and operational compliance requirements.
• Preferred: Prior experience with Boys & Girls Clubs of America or a comparable youth-serving organization.

Required Certifications & Clearances

• CPR/First Aid certification (required within 30 to 60 days of hire; see Site Addendum).
• Mandated Reporter training completion prior to or within 30 days of hire.
• Successful completion of all required background checks, fingerprinting, and state clearances.
• Valid driver's license where applicable. Additional site-specific requirements listed in the Localization Addendum.

Skills & Abilities

• Strong verbal and written communication skills; ability to engage diverse stakeholders.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and program data management tools.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities with accuracy and follow-through.
• Cultural competence and demonstrated commitment to equity, inclusion, and belonging.