Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for After School Program Leader

🎯 Role Definition

An After School Program Leader oversees daily operations of an after-school program on a school or community site, designs and delivers engaging enrichment activities, ensures child safety and positive behavior management, supervises staff and volunteers, and partners with families and community organizations to support academic, social, and emotional development for school-age children. This role balances program design, direct youth engagement, administrative compliance, and continuous improvement to achieve measurable outcomes in attendance, behavior, and learning.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Youth Counselor / Camp Counselor with demonstrated program delivery experience
Teacher Assistant or Paraprofessional with classroom exposure
Community Outreach or Recreation Assistant transitioning into youth services

Advancement To:

Site Coordinator / Program Coordinator for multiple after-school locations
After School Program Director or School-Age Services Manager
Director of Youth Development, Community Programs, or Nonprofit Program Director

Lateral Moves:

Family Engagement Coordinator
Youth Development Specialist / Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Specialist

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Design and implement a weekly lesson plan and activity schedule that balances academic support (homework help, literacy, math reinforcement) with enrichment (STEAM, arts, athletics, social-emotional learning) tailored to the developmental needs and interests of students in grades K–8.
Supervise and mentor program staff, site aides, and volunteers by providing daily direction, coaching, performance feedback, and regular training to maintain high-quality program delivery and staff retention.
Ensure the safety, health, and well-being of all participants by enforcing site-specific safety protocols, monitoring student-to-staff ratios, conducting regular health and emergency drills, and maintaining accurate attendance and incident records.
Develop and enforce positive behavior management systems and restorative practices that promote social-emotional growth, reduce disciplinary incidents, and create a welcoming, inclusive environment for diverse student populations.
Coordinate and deliver targeted academic support sessions—such as homework help, reading circles, math interventions, and study skills workshops—in collaboration with classroom teachers and school administration to reinforce school-day learning.
Communicate proactively with families through daily check-ins, newsletters, phone calls, and parent meetings to build trusting partnerships, share student progress, and solicit family input on enrichment opportunities and logistical needs.
Monitor program budgets, manage petty cash and supply inventories, prepare requisitions, and seek cost-effective solutions to maintain quality programming within fiscal constraints.
Track and report program metrics including attendance, engagement levels, behavior incidents, and academic outcomes; use data to evaluate program effectiveness and inform continuous improvement plans and funding proposals.
Recruit, screen, and onboard staff and volunteers, ensuring completion of background checks, mandatory trainings (CPR/First Aid, mandated reporter, confidentiality), and site orientation prior to direct student contact.
Establish and maintain relationships with school administrators, teachers, community partners, and local agencies to source resources, guest instructors, supplemental programming, and opportunities for youth enrichment.
Create individualized support plans for students with behavioral, academic, or social-emotional needs in collaboration with parents, teachers, school counselors, and external providers, and monitor progress regularly.
Facilitate small-group and large-group activities that intentionally build leadership, teamwork, communication, and conflict-resolution skills among participants.
Plan and execute regular family and community engagement events (open houses, showcases, volunteer nights) to highlight student work, strengthen school-home connections, and increase program visibility.
Maintain compliance with local licensing, school district requirements, and organizational policies by preparing documentation for audits, inspections, and funder site visits, and by updating policies and procedures as needed.
Coordinate transportation logistics for field trips and after-school pick-up routines, including bus rosters, parental consent forms, and supervision plans to ensure safe transitions.
Create culturally responsive programming that reflects community demographics, promotes equity, and incorporates multilingual supports and inclusive materials for English learners and diverse learners.
Lead recruitment and retention strategies for students, including outreach to classrooms, distribution of promotional materials, and enrollment tracking to achieve program capacity and target populations.
Respond to crises and behavioral escalations with de-escalation techniques, immediate parent/guardian communication, proper documentation, and follow-up safety planning to minimize recurrence.
Write and contribute to grant proposals, funder reports, and program narratives that articulate outcomes, needs, and impact to secure supplemental funding.
Implement and maintain systems for collecting family consent, emergency contact information, individual health plans, and medication administration records, ensuring confidentiality and adherence to privacy requirements (FERPA/HIPAA where applicable).
Evaluate and adapt program offerings based on participant feedback, staff observations, and outcome data, piloting new activities and scaling successful practices across sites.
Provide regular staff scheduling and coverage planning to meet attendance demands and ensure consistent adult supervision, including substitute coordination and cross-site float staffing.
Manage procurement of curriculum materials, sports gear, art supplies, snacks compliant with nutrition guidelines, and technology resources, tracking usage and replenishment needs.
Serve as an on-site ambassador for the program, representing the organization at school meetings, community coalitions, and partner events to build brand awareness and stakeholder buy-in.

Secondary Functions

Assist with enrollment intake processes, data entry into the program management system, and maintenance of accurate participant records.
Support program evaluation efforts by collecting surveys, focus group feedback, and anecdotal observations and sharing insights with the program evaluation team.
Participate in professional development opportunities and contribute to staff training topics such as trauma-informed care, positive youth development, and cultural competency.
Coordinate limited facility maintenance requests and a clean-up schedule to ensure program spaces are safe, hygienic, and welcoming after daily use.
Collaborate with nutrition partners or vendors to ensure snack programs meet organizational guidelines and special-diet accommodations.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Curriculum and lesson planning for school-age children with the ability to create standards-aligned after-school activities and measurable learning objectives.
Behavior management and de-escalation techniques grounded in positive discipline, restorative practices, and trauma-informed approaches.
Child safety, first aid, and emergency response (current CPR/First Aid certification and mandated reporter training preferred).
Familiarity with program management and attendance tracking systems (e.g., KidKare, EZChildTrack, ChildPlus, PowerSchool) and basic data entry/reporting skills.
Budget tracking, supply procurement, and basic financial stewardship for small program budgets and grant-funded activities.
Knowledge of licensing, school-district partnership requirements, and compliance documentation to meet regulatory standards.
Ability to design and facilitate enrichment modules (STEAM, arts, sports, SEL) and adapt activities for multiple age groups and ability levels.
Experience with volunteer recruitment, onboarding, and supervision best practices.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel), Google Workspace, and virtual meeting platforms for communication and reporting.
Grant writing or contributing to funding proposals, including compiling program data and writing impact statements.

Soft Skills

Strong leadership and team-building skills to mentor staff, sustain morale, and cultivate a collaborative positive work culture.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills for interacting with children, families, school staff, and community partners.
High degree of patience, empathy, and cultural sensitivity working with children from diverse backgrounds and varied home situations.
Exceptional organizational skills, time management, and the ability to multi-task in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
Problem-solving orientation with the capacity to think creatively about programming, engagement strategies, and resource constraints.
Conflict-resolution and restorative conversation skills with students, families, and staff.
Adaptability and flexibility to respond to changing schedules, student needs, and emergent issues.
Coaching and mentorship capability to develop staff competencies and support career growth among team members.
Attention to detail for maintaining accurate records, health forms, and compliance documentation.
Strong interpersonal skills for community outreach, partnership building, and family engagement.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

High school diploma or equivalent; Associate degree in early childhood education, child development, youth services, or related field may be required by some employers.

Preferred Education:

Bachelor’s degree in Education, Social Work, Child and Family Studies, Recreation Management, Youth Development, or a closely related discipline.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Education
Child Development
Social Work
Recreation & Youth Services
Psychology
Nonprofit Management

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

1–5 years working directly with school-age children in after-school programs, camps, schools, or youth organizations.

Preferred:

2+ years of supervisory or lead experience in after-school or out-of-school-time programs; experience designing curricula, managing budgets, and working with school partners strongly preferred.
Experience working with diverse populations, familiarity with federal/state childcare regulations, and demonstrated success in family engagement and program growth.