About Operation HOPE-North County
Operation HOPE-North County is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing a safe, supportive environment for families with children and single women experiencing homelessness as they work toward stability, self-sufficiency, and lasting independence.
Our year-round shelter provides more than a safe place to sleep. Through compassionate case management, educational enrichment, life skills development, and community partnerships, we help families overcome barriers and build brighter futures.
We believe every child deserves the opportunity to learn, grow, play, and thrive, regardless of their family's circumstances.
Position Summary Operation HOPE-North County is seeking a compassionate, creative, organized, and enthusiastic Youth Program Manager to lead and strengthen our HOPE for Kids youth enrichment program.
The Youth Program Manager is responsible for the planning, coordination, daily implementation, and evaluation of engaging, structured, and developmentally appropriate programming for children and youth residing in our shelter.
This is a hands-on leadership position requiring strong organizational skills, creativity, initiative, and the ability to effectively coordinate children, volunteers, and support staff in a dynamic shelter environment.
The Youth Program Manager will ensure that every program session is thoughtfully planned, adequately staffed, safe, and engaging, with clear activities and learning opportunities for children of different ages and developmental stages.
The ideal candidate is passionate about youth development, understands the impact of trauma and housing instability on children and families, and has demonstrated experience developing enrichment activities, leading volunteers, and managing daily program operations.
Key Responsibilities
- Youth Program Development and Implementation
- Plan, coordinate, and facilitate engaging youth enrichment activities that support academic, social, emotional, physical, and creative development.
- Lead the HOPE for Kids program, incorporating educational enrichment, arts and crafts, recreation, wellness, life skills, and social-emotional learning.
- Develop monthly program calendars and detailed weekly lesson plans that reflect the interests, developmental needs, and abilities of participating children.
- Design and implement structured, age-appropriate activities for two primary groups: younger children (ages 0–6) and older children (ages 7+).
- Coordinate simultaneous activities for both age groups, ensuring each receives meaningful engagement, appropriate supervision, and a consistent program experience.
- Facilitate structured indoor and outdoor activities that promote positive peer relationships, confidence, creativity, teamwork, and problem-solving.
- Incorporate intentional, play-based learning and recreational activities rather than relying on extended periods of unstructured free play.
- Adapt programming to accommodate changing attendance, developmental differences, individual support needs, and shelter enrollment.
- Create opportunities for children to experience joy, belonging, stability, and personal growth.
- Ensure activities are inclusive, culturally responsive, trauma-informed, and accessible to children of varying ages and abilities.
- Curriculum Development and Lesson Planning
- Develop and submit detailed weekly lesson plans in advance, according to established organizational deadlines.
- Ensure every lesson plan includes:
- Clear learning or developmental objectives.
- Detailed activity descriptions and intended outcomes.
- Step-by-step instructions for introducing, facilitating, and concluding each activity.
- A breakdown of the time allocated to each activity component.
- Required materials, supplies, and preparation instructions.
- Specific staff and volunteer responsibilities.
- Age-appropriate modifications and alternative activities.
- Develop lesson plans detailed enough that another staff member or volunteer can independently facilitate activities when needed.
- Ensure activities are intentionally designed to engage children throughout scheduled program periods.
- Prepare additional activities or extensions for children who complete activities early.
- Organize, prepare, and clearly label materials and supplies before scheduled activities.
- Identify and communicate supply needs in advance to ensure program readiness.
- Regularly evaluate activities and incorporate feedback to improve engagement and program quality.
- Daily Youth Program Operations and Leadership
- Oversee the daily operation of HOPE for Kids, ensuring that programming begins on time and follows an organized, consistent schedule.
- Develop and implement daily program agendas identifying activities, locations, assigned personnel, and transitions.
- Lead daily opening huddles with children, staff, and volunteers to review introductions, activities, expectations, and responsibilities.
- Coordinate transitions between activity areas and age groups, ensuring children remain appropriately supervised.
- Ensure staff and volunteers understand the day's lesson plans and are prepared to facilitate their assigned activities.
- Maintain organized, welcoming, and safe indoor and outdoor program environments.
- Conduct brief daily debriefs with staff and volunteers to discuss successes, challenges, and opportunities for improvement.
- Demonstrate strong leadership, sound judgment, initiative, and proactive problem-solving.
- Maintain continuity of programming by ensuring schedules, materials, and lesson plans are accessible to designated staff in the event of an absence.
- Volunteer Leadership and Community Partner Coordination
- Coordinate daily volunteer check-in, orientation, assignments, and engagement.
- Welcome new volunteers and introduce them to children, families, staff, and other volunteers as appropriate.
- Ensure every volunteer receives a clear assignment and understands their specific responsibilities.
- Provide volunteers with detailed instructions and guidance for facilitating activities and supporting children.
- Actively monitor volunteer engagement and provide redirection, coaching, and support as needed.
- Delegate appropriate responsibilities for activity preparation, facilitation, supervision support, transitions, and cleanup.
- Ensure volunteers follow organizational policies related to child safety, confidentiality, and professional boundaries.
- Coordinate guest instructors, educational workshops, recreational activities, and special events.
- Develop and maintain relationships with schools, nonprofits, businesses, and community organizations to expand enrichment opportunities.
- Identify opportunities for donated supplies, educational materials, and program resources.
- Foster a positive, collaborative environment that encourages meaningful volunteer participation and retention.
- Youth Engagement and Positive Behavior Support
- Build positive, trusting, and supportive relationships with children and families residing at the shelter.
- Foster a welcoming environment where children feel emotionally and physically safe, respected, included, and valued.
- Establish clear, consistent, and developmentally appropriate behavioral expectations.
- Develop and implement positive reinforcement strategies that encourage kindness, cooperation, participation, responsibility, and respectful behavior.
- Model healthy communication, emotional regulation, and effective conflict-resolution skills.
- Use trauma-informed, strengths-based approaches when responding to behavioral or emotional challenges.
- Support children in developing social-emotional skills, confidence, independence, and healthy peer relationships.
- Recognize and accommodate the individual developmental, emotional, and behavioral needs of participating children.
- Collaborate with shelter staff and case managers to identify opportunities to better support children's educational and developmental needs.
- Maintain appropriate professional boundaries and ensure all children are treated with dignity, compassion, and respect.
- Child Safety and Active Supervision
- Maintain active oversight of all participating children and ensure appropriate supervision across all program areas.
- Ensure younger children receive the same level of intentional engagement, attention, and support as older children.
- Establish clear supervision assignments for indoor activities, outdoor recreation, transitions, and other program components.
- Maintain accurate attendance records and account for participating children throughout each session.
- Follow established procedures for child check-in, authorized release, and parent or caregiver communication.
- Ensure program activities, materials, and equipment are safe and developmentally appropriate.
- Monitor program spaces for potential hazards and address safety concerns promptly.
- Follow organizational policies related to mandated reporting, confidentiality, emergency procedures, incident documentation, and child safeguarding.
- Respond appropriately to injuries, behavioral incidents, or safety concerns and communicate them promptly through established organizational channels.
- Collaborate with shelter staff to ensure adequate supervision and continuity of care.
- Program Administration, Documentation, and Evaluation
- Maintain accurate daily youth attendance records, activity logs, program sheets, calendars, and participation data.
- Complete required daily program documentation and submit reports according to established organizational deadlines.
- Track program outputs and outcomes, including classes delivered, attendance, participation, and youth engagement.
- Maintain organized program records that support continuity, accountability, and program evaluation.
- Collect feedback from children, parents, volunteers, and staff to continuously improve programming.
- Assist with gathering program stories, impact data, and information for grant reports and donor communications, while protecting client confidentiality.
- Manage youth program supplies, inventory, and expenditures within an approved budget.
- Communicate staffing gaps, program challenges, supply needs, and safety concerns proactively.
- Provide regular program updates to organizational leadership.
- Support the development of program goals, evaluation tools, and continuous quality improvement strategies.
- Program Space Organization and Readiness
- Ensure all program areas are clean, organized, welcoming, and ready for daily activities.
- Prepare activity materials, supplies, and equipment before children arrive.
- Maintain clearly organized and labeled storage systems for program supplies.
- Assign appropriate setup and cleanup responsibilities to volunteers and support staff.
- Encourage children to participate in age-appropriate cleanup activities.
- Ensure program materials are properly stored and activity spaces are restored at the conclusion of each session.
- Maintain a consistent standard of program readiness and organization.
- Collaboration and Organizational Leadership
- Collaborate closely with shelter staff, case managers, volunteers, and organizational leadership to support the needs of children and families.
- Communicate effectively and professionally with parents, caregivers, colleagues, and community partners.
- Participate in staff meetings, professional development opportunities, and organizational events as needed.
- Demonstrate reliability, initiative, accountability, and the ability to work independently.
- Identify opportunities to strengthen program quality, efficiency, youth engagement, and volunteer participation.
- Support the mission, values, policies, and overall goals of Operation HOPE-North County.
Skills, Knowledge and Expertise
Qualifications
Required Qualifications
- Experience working directly with children or youth in educational, recreational, nonprofit, community-based, or social service settings.
- Demonstrated ability to develop structured lesson plans and facilitate engaging, age-appropriate enrichment activities.
- Experience coordinating or leading volunteers, support staff, or group activities.
- Strong organizational, time-management, and program coordination skills.
- Ability to manage simultaneous activities, changing attendance, and multiple age groups.
- Strong interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to provide clear instructions, delegate responsibilities, and guide volunteers effectively.
- Ability to build positive relationships with children, parents, volunteers, and colleagues.
- Understanding of, or willingness to learn, trauma-informed care and the challenges associated with family homelessness.
- Ability to work independently, demonstrate initiative, and adapt to changing program needs.
- Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and culturally responsive programming.
- Availability to work the required Monday–Friday afternoon and evening schedule.
- Ability to satisfy applicable background screening and child safety requirements.
- CPR and First Aid certification, or ability to obtain certification within a timeframe established by the organization.
Preferred Qualifications
- Associate's or bachelor's degree in Child Development, Education, Social Work, Psychology, Human Services, Recreation, or a related field.
- Two or more years of experience in youth development, after-school programming, education, or community-based services.
- Experience working with children and families experiencing homelessness, poverty, trauma, or housing instability.
- Experience developing curriculum, structured activities, or enrichment programming for multiple age groups.
- Knowledge of social-emotional learning, positive youth development, and restorative practices.
- Experience coordinating volunteers, supervising program activities, or developing community partnerships.
- Bilingual proficiency in English and Spanish.
Core Competencies
The successful candidate will demonstrate:
- Compassion and Empathy: A genuine commitment to supporting children and families experiencing difficult circumstances.
- Creativity and Initiative: The ability to independently design meaningful, engaging, and developmentally appropriate activities.
- Organization and Preparation: Strong attention to detail, advance planning, and consistent program readiness.
- Leadership and Accountability: The ability to coordinate volunteers and support staff, communicate expectations, and take ownership of daily program operations.
- Trauma-Informed Practice: An understanding of how adversity can affect children's behavior, development, and sense of safety.
- Positive Youth Engagement: The ability to create supportive, inclusive environments that encourage participation and healthy relationships.
- Communication and Collaboration: Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively with families, volunteers, colleagues, and community partners.
- Adaptability and Problem-Solving: The ability to respond thoughtfully and effectively to changing needs in a dynamic shelter environment.
Program Goals and Performance Expectations
The Youth Program Manager will contribute to the following organizational priorities:
- Support the delivery of approximately 280 youth enrichment classes annually, across four program categories.
- Maintain a consistent, engaging, and developmentally appropriate youth activity calendar.
- Ensure timely preparation and submission of complete weekly lesson plans and daily program schedules.
- Maintain structured, age-appropriate programming for both younger and older children.
- Ensure volunteers receive consistent orientation, clear assignments, and appropriate support.
- Maintain a safe, organized, and welcoming program environment.
- Increase meaningful participation and engagement in HOPE for Kids programming.
- Strengthen relationships with community partners and volunteer instructors.
- Maintain accurate attendance, activity, and program outcome documentation.
- Incorporate youth and family feedback into program improvement.
- Support the organization's ability to demonstrate measurable impact to funders and community stakeholders.
Annual goals will be adjusted to reflect staffing capacity, program resources, and organizational priorities.
Work Environment and Physical Requirements This position is based primarily onsite at Operation HOPE-North County's shelter in Vista, California.
Responsibilities involve direct interaction with children and families, facilitating indoor and outdoor activities, preparing program spaces, and participating in recreational and educational programming.
The position may require standing, walking, bending, and lifting program supplies of up to 25 pounds, with reasonable accommodations available in accordance with applicable law.
Equal Employment Opportunity Operation HOPE-North County is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and supportive workplace. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds who share our commitment to serving families and children with dignity, compassion, and respect.
How to Apply Interested candidates should submit a resume and brief cover letter describing their experience working with children, developing enrichment programming, and their interest in supporting youth experiencing homelessness.
Join us in helping children build confidence, discover their strengths, and experience the stability, connection, and opportunity every child deserves.
