School's Out Lead Instructor
METROWEST YMCA JOB DESCRIPTION
Job Title: School’s Out Lead Instructor – School Year 2026 - 2027
FLSA Status: Part-Time Hourly
Reports to: Site Director
Salary Range: Starting at $18.00 per hour with opportunities for increased compensation based on experience and qualifications
Schedule: Part-time afternoon hours during the school year with opportunities for additional hours during school vacations and summer programming
Typical Shift: 1:45pm to 6:00pm Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and 12:45pm to 6:00pm on Wednesdays.
- 5-6 times per year there are Super Wednesdays and the shift is 11:00am to 6:00pm
Location: Camp Chickami, 139A Boston Post Road, Wayland, MA
POSITION SUMMARY:
The School's Out Lead Instructor works alongside the Site Director and Assistant Site Director to provide a safe, engaging, and high-quality out-of-school time program for elementary-aged children. Lead Instructors serve as role models for both children and staff by creating enriching learning experiences, supporting positive behavior, mentoring team members, and helping ensure the program meets all YMCA and Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) standards.
School's Out programs provide children with opportunities to create, learn, and belong through healthy snacks, physical activity, homework support, enrichment experiences, and meaningful relationships.
As a School's Out Lead Instructor, you'll do more than supervise children—you'll help shape meaningful experiences that inspire confidence, curiosity, and belonging while mentoring fellow staff members and serving as a leader within your program.
OUR CULTURE:
Our mission and core values are brought to life by our culture. In the Y, we strive to live our cause of strengthening communities with purpose and intentionality every day. We are welcoming: we are open to all. We are a place where you can belong and become. We are genuine: we value you and embrace your individuality. We are hopeful: we believe in you and your potential to become a catalyst in the world. We are nurturing: we support you in your journey to develop your full potential. We are determined: above all else, we are on a relentless quest to make our community stronger beginning with you.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
Child Engagement
- Provide direct supervision using positive guidance and behavior management techniques.
- Foster an inclusive, welcoming environment where every child feels safe and supported.
- Build positive relationships with children and encourage their social, emotional, and academic growth.
Program Leadership
- Plan and lead engaging enrichment activities that are developmentally appropriate and aligned with YMCA program standards.
- Prepare activity materials in advance and ensure activities are organized and engaging.
- Provide structured homework assistance and academic support.
- Help maintain a safe, clean, and organized program environment.
Staff Leadership
- Mentor and support Instructors and Assistant Instructors.
- Model professionalism, teamwork, and positive communication.
- Assist in onboarding and coaching newer staff members.
- Serve as a leadership resource within the program.
Family & Community Engagement
- Build positive relationships with families, school personnel, and community partners.
- Communicate professionally and effectively with parents and caregivers.
- Represent the YMCA's mission and values in daily interactions.
Program Compliance
- Follow all YMCA, EEC, DPH, HEPA, CACFP, and Praesidium policies and procedures.
- Assist with attendance, meal counts, and required documentation.
- Participate in staff meetings and required professional development.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Required
- Must be at least 18 years of age.
- High school diploma or equivalent (proof of completion required).
- Minimum of one year of experience working with elementary-aged children in a licensed or structured youth program, such as an out-of-school time program or summer camp.
- Ability to meet all EEC licensing requirements.
- Strong communication, leadership, and relationship-building skills.
Preferred
- College coursework in Education, Child Development, Psychology, Recreation, Human Services, or a related field.
- Experience leading groups of children and mentoring other staff.
- Experience teaching or facilitating activities in areas such as:
- STEM
- Arts
- Physical Education
- Literacy
- Team Building
- Cooking & Nutrition
- Experience working with children from diverse backgrounds and abilities.
- Flexibility to support other MetroWest YMCA School's Out locations as needed.
ABUSE RISK MANAGEMENT:
Employees who directly supervise youth will:
- Adhere to policies related to boundaries with youth.
- Attend required abuse risk management training.
- Adhere to procedures related to managing high-risk activities and supervising youth.
- Report suspicious or inappropriate behaviors and policy violations.
- Follow mandated abuse reporting requirements.
- Follow employee and volunteer screening requirements and use screening instruments to screen for abuse
risk.
- Provide employees and volunteers with on-going supervision and training related to abuse risk.
- Provide employees and volunteers with regular feedback regarding their boundaries with youth.
- Require employees and volunteers to adhere to policies and procedures related to abuse risk.
- Respond quickly to policy and procedure violations using the organization’s progressive disciplinary
procedures.
- Respond seriously and confidentially to reports of suspicious and inappropriate behaviors.
- Follow mandated reporting requirements.
- Communicate to all employees and volunteers the organization’s commitment to protect their youth from
abuse.
- Report essential abuse risk management information to the board of directors.
Supervisors and administrators will:
- Follow employee and volunteer screening requirements and use screening instruments to screen for abuse risk.
- Provide employees and volunteers with on-going supervision and training related to abuse risk.
- Provide employees and volunteers with regular feedback regarding their boundaries with youth.
- Require employees and volunteers to adhere to policies and procedures related to abuse risk.
- Respond quickly to policy and procedure violations using the organization’s progressive disciplinary procedures.
- Respond seriously and confidentially to reports of suspicious and inappropriate behaviors.
- Follow mandated reporting requirements.
- Communicate to all employees and volunteers the organization’s commitment.
WORK ENVIRONMENT & PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- Ability to actively engage with children in both indoor and outdoor environments.
- Ability to stand, walk, bend, kneel, and sit on the floor throughout the program day.
- Ability to lift and move up to 40 pounds when necessary.
- Sufficient strength, ability and mobility to safely engage with children throughout the program day.