Youth Enrichment Instructor

Find Your Purpose - join us and help lead our future to greatness with the Community Schools Initiative through the YMCA!

The YMCA Before & After-school programs team is hiring part-time Youth Enrichment Instructors. The part-time Youth Enrichment Instructors will create child-centered environments that promote learning, character development, positive & nurturing relationships, and healthy living in Chicago. The hours for this exciting position are Monday - Friday from 2pm-6pm.

As a Youth Enrichment Instructor (YEI) you will implement and adapt a wide variety of enrichment activities for grades K-8 in a before or after school program setting. The YEI plays a key role in ensuring that program participants have a safe, supportive, interactive and enriching program experience while ensuring the safety and security of all program participants.

Position Responsibilities:

• Create a safe, supportive, interactive and engaging environment for youth that is characterized by teamwork, camaraderie and inclusiveness. This includes demonstrating an appreciation of the youths' efforts and accomplishments and providing assistance and encouragement to program participants when needed.
• Provide effective supervision of youth that is age-appropriate, considers diverse abilities and interests and meets program quality, safety and policy requirements.
• Positively interacts with youth, parents/guardians and other team members to create a respectful, warm, supportive environment. Models self-control, respect and cooperation to teens and other team members. Utilizes youth arrival/departure ensure to share information with parents/guardians and to build relationships.
• Prepares lesson plans on a daily and/or weekly basis outlining program activities, ensures materials and supplies are available and ready for daily program activities, and ensures all program areas and supplies are clean and well maintained regularly.
• Maintains accurate attendance, instructional and other records as necessary to meet program requirements.
• Participates in team meetings and other special events

Requirements & Preferred Qualifications for this position are:

• Must be at least 18 years of age and/or 5 years older than the oldest child that participates in the program and meet program requirements for education and/or credentials.
• H.S. Diploma or GED along with related college coursework and/or equivalent experience in: childcare, education, recreation or related program. Additional educational or experience requirements may be required based on program license requirements.
• Must have the proven ability to establish constructive relationships and interact as a positive role model for youth and staff demonstrating the values of respect, responsibility, caring and honesty.
• Commitment to and passion for the YMCA of Metro Chicago's mission is required including a passion for working with diverse youth.
• Excellent verbal communication skills, including the ability to clearly and concisely present ideas and concepts and tailor communication to multiple audiences.
• Meets physical qualifications required as outlined in job description.
• The YMCA will provide reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities.

Child Abuse Prevention - Support the YMCA's commitment to child abuse prevention by:

• Reporting any items that may provide a health or safety hazard to staff, members or guests to your supervisor
• Following all policies and procedures related to keeping children safe in our facilities and programs, including those related to the monitoring and supervision of children
• Reporting any suspicious behavior and violation of policy and procedures to your supervisor
• Completing all child abuse prevention training as required

Innovative - Consistently introduces new ideas and demonstrates original thinking
Team Player - Works well as a member of a group
Enthusiastic - Shows intense and eager enjoyment and interest

Growth Opportunities - Inspired to perform well by the chance to take on more responsibility
Flexibility - Inspired to perform well when granted the ability to set your own schedule and goals
Ability to Make an Impact - Inspired to perform well by the ability to contribute to the success of a project or the organization