Program Director

About SquashBusters

SquashBusters is a 28-year-old sports-based youth development program that uses a combination of squash, fitness, academic support and enrichment, community service, and mentoring to improve the lives of youth in Boston, Lawrence, and Providence. SquashBusters' mission is to challenge and nurture youth with need in these cities - as students, athletes, and citizens - so that they can recognize and fulfill their greatest potential in life. SquashBusters currently serves 400 middle school, high school and post-secondary students. Middle and High School Students practice at least three days a week throughout the school year and participate in weekend practices, tournaments, and summer opportunities. After high school graduation, students join the Post- Secondary Services Program, and a dedicated staff team supports them in their chosen post-secondary path, and provides career development, internship placement, and employment opportunities. In Boston, programming takes place at the Badger-Rosen SquashBusters Center located on Northeastern University’s main campus. In Providence, we work and play out of the Gorgi SquashBusters Center on the campus of Moses Brown School. In Lawrence, we are in the process of designing a facility, in partnership with the City of Lawrence and others, that will literally break new ground for the urban squash movement by placing SquashBusters directly inside a beautiful, new, 80-unit affordable housing complex on the banks of the Merrimack River in downtown Lawrence. Our core values are: Love, Honesty, Attention to Detail, Teamwork and High Standards. Do these match yours?

Overview:  

The Program Director (PD) will help determine the overall vision for all programming at their SquashBusters’ site and will oversee its implementation.  The PD will set the tone for hard work and commitment with a consistent presence and will create a positive, dynamic culture for staff, students, and families. The Program Director will directly supervise and support academic and squash team members, leading meetings and trainings. The PD will ensure strong partnerships with ‘feeder’ schools and effective recruitment processes that lead to full enrollment. The Program Director reports to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

Reports to: Chief Executive Officer

Supervisory Responsibility: Boston Program Team Members (two squash staff, two academic staff, and one co-op)

Home Office: Boston

Schedule: Full-time role with a primarily in-person schedule (some remote work possible). Occasional travel required.

Responsibilities:

Programmatic Responsibilities

·      Oversee the development and implementation of all programming (academics, squash & fitness, social & emotional) to ensure high-quality and mission alignment.

·      Ensure full participant enrollment and high attendance to achieve full space utilization and maximum dosage/impact. Lead recruitment efforts accordingly.

·      In collaboration with the leadership team and other site PD’s, drive programmatic vision and ongoing program development.

·      Ensure maintenance of student standards and performance benchmarks.

·      Develop additional strategic plans documents to guide programming and overall vision.

·      Use data to identify programmatic trends and create and/or adapt programs to meet identified needs. 

Supervisory and Leadership Responsibilities

·      Lead, manage and directly supervise team of academic and squash team members.

·      Conduct both informal and formal observations of all staff members with formal observations involving pre- and post-observation meetings and a written summary of the observation.

·      Meet regularly with staff members and conduct program staff evaluations at both mid-year and year-end.

·      In collaboration with leadership team, implement staff improvement plans and termination procedures when appropriate.

·      In collaboration with leadership team, create staff retention and appreciation initiatives.

·      In collaboration with leadership team, recruit and hire site program staff.

·      Build positive staff culture and work environment and motivate team around common goals.

·      Facilitate and lead meetings and trainings.

Partnerships/Engagement

·      Maintain relationships with partner schools to ensure consistent flow of participants and integration into school communities.

·      Evaluate partnerships with an eye towards fit and seek new partnerships when necessary.

·      Manage strategic relationships with our facility partners, Northeastern and LearnSquash to maximize court usage, increase opportunities for collaboration, and support the interests of all community members.

·      Ensure families are kept informed about their child(ren)’s progress and are included as partners in school decisions; ensure families are aware of SQB programming.

·      Ensure volunteers are well trained, supported, and feel included in the SQB community.

Administrative/Finance/HR Responsibilities

• Coordinate all program logistics including daily scheduling, program calendar, summer program structure and details.
• In collaboration with leadership team, maintain and update procedure manual to reflect organizational and programmatic policies and approaches.
• Oversee program budget and ensure team adheres to expense tracking policies and procedures.
• Maintain and organize relevant documents in Microsoft Teams.

Relationships:  At the heart of SQB mission is the power of transformative relationships (adapted from the Search Institute). Thus, the Program Director should:

• Express care by believing in and encouraging youth and being a dependable, warm source of encouragement.
• Challenge growth by holding youth accountable and maintaining high expectations.
• Provide support by empowering youth and providing guidance and advocacy.
• Share power by respecting, including and collaborating with youth.
• Expand possibilities by connecting youth to opportunities and inspiring and broadening horizons.

Core Competencies

·      Exceptional leadership, people management and communication skills. Demonstrated high energy and proactive style with a track record of successfully managing professionals, projects, and programs.

·      Ability to lead, motivate and direct groups and individuals.

·      An innovator, capable of creating or seizing opportunities to improve program effectiveness and student outcomes and build strategic partnerships.

·      A demonstrated commitment to diversity and inclusion; valuing a diversity of perspectives and backgrounds.

·      Enthusiasm for working with young people and experience developing trusting relationships with youth.

·      Ability to work independently and thrive in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications and Experience

·      5+ years of relevant professional experience

·      2+ years of management experience

·      Track record of success in managing people and programs to desired outcomes

·      Expertise in one or more of the following areas strongly desired: sports-based or other youth development; secondary education; nonprofit management

Compensation and Benefits

·      Annual salary between $80,000-$90,000, commensurate with experience

·      Retirement plan with employer matching

·      26.5 paid company holidays and days off plus an additional 16 vacation days (with some restrictions)

·      Subsidized health, dental, and vision insurance available

·      Free Employee Assistance Program, a cell phone subsidy, and public transportation and parking subsidies available 

To Apply: Please submit a resume and brief letter of interest through LinkedIn or via email to recruiting@squashbusters.org.

SquashBusters is an equal opportunity employer and strives to reflect the diverse community it serves. SquashBusters is committed to promoting diversity and inclusion and looks to all its staff members to foster and promote its values. We believe in an intersectional approach to diversity, equity, and inclusion, where all of the various forms of oppression are addressed, challenged, and dismantled. Our primary focus is on racism because we live in a society that is so resistant to, and uncomfortable with, discussions of racism.