K-5 Assistant Director

Position Overview:

The K–5 Program Assistant Director helps create a safe, welcoming, joyful, and developmentally grounded experience for elementary school youth and their families in our afterschool and summer/school break out-of-school programs. This role blends daily program operations, family partnership, staff support, safety oversight, and coordination of academic and enrichment components. Additionally, the Assistant Director will spend between 25% to 40% of their time supporting the kindergarten and first grade classroom.  The Assistant Director works closely with the K–5 Director to ensure the program runs smoothly, that staff have what they need to be successful, and that youth benefit from a consistent, culturally responsive experience. This position requires strong relationship building, clear communication, and the ability to support a diverse community that includes immigrant and refugee families, multilingual learners, and children with a wide range of social, emotional, and academic needs.

King Street Center is a vibrant nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering youth to explore their talents and find their voice through learning, play and opportunity.  We offer a variety of programs ranging from mentoring, out-of-school programming and early childhood education.  Located in the heart of Burlington, Vermont, King Street Center serves predominantly BIPOC children from Burlington's immigrant communities. 

We strive to be one of the most racially diverse places to work in Vermont, as a community where both our youth and colleagues have shared identities or experiences. As a BIPOC led organization, serving BIPOC children and families, King Street is committed to centering equity, inclusion, and belonging in all facets of our work. If you are passionate about making a positive impact in the lives of children in the Burlington community and you have personal, life or work experience with the communities we serve, we would love to hear from you! 

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

Program Operations and Daily Leadership

  • Oversee daily program flow in partnership with the K–5 Director, ensuring smooth transitions, adequate coverage, and consistent communication.

  • Maintain student attendance and database records, including student and family information updates.

  • Support daily check in and check out and maintain awareness of student whereabouts and participation at all times.

  • Coordinate with school contacts, including teachers, paras, counselors, and school administrators.

  • Ensure physical classrooms are clean, prepared, welcoming, and developmentally appropriate each day.

  • Support family partnership, including new family orientation, daily communication, and participation in family meetings.

  • Support and communicate with caregivers about youth experiences, challenges, and progress.


Safety and Emergency Preparedness

  • In partnership with the K-5 Director lead safety oversight, including fire drills, emergency procedures, preparedness training, medical kits, supplies, and incident response.

  • Respond to accidents and incidents, confer with the K-5 Director, communicate with caregivers as appropriate, complete necessary documentation, and notify others as required.

  • Subsidy and Enrollment Coordination

  • Support child care subsidy management, documentation, communication with families, and coordination with interpreters as noted in program expectations..

  • Support enrollment and waitlist processes, including family outreach and paperwork.


Academic and Boost Time Support

  • Support the planning and implementation of Boost Time (academic programming) in collaboration with classroom leads and staff.

  • Support daily reading, homework completion, and youth academic needs.

  • In partnership with the K-5 Director, maintain communication with teachers and school partners regarding student needs and successes.


Staff Support and Coordination

  • In partnership with the K-5 Director provide on the ground staff support each afternoon, ensuring staff readiness, understanding of plans, and responsiveness to youth needs.

  • Support staff training, onboarding, orientations, and ongoing professional development alongside the K–5 Director.Coordinate volunteers in partnership with the Mentor and Volunteer Director.

  • Provide supervision as needed for program staff and Junior Counselors.


Behavior Support and SEL

  • Support positive behavior strategies and social emotional skill building, grounded in trauma informed, culturally responsive practices.

  • Assist staff in implementing PBIS aligned approaches and de escalation supports.

  • Communicate with caregivers as needed regarding behavior, growth, and social emotional progress.


Shared Leadership Responsibilities

  • Participate in Director, Assistant Director weekly check ins and monthly strategy sessions.

  • Support licensing documentation and compliance.

  • Collaborate on budget awareness and credit card tracking.

  • Support implementation of the Strategic Plan, including STARS work, YPQA, DESSA Mini, and survey administration.

  • Support community partner relationships and integration of partner activities into program plans.

  • Provide coverage for staff absences and fill in for other program roles as needed.


Other Duties

  • Maintain awareness of youth participation and safety at all times.

  • Carry out additional responsibilities that support the K–5 program and King Street Center as assigned.

Relationships & Roles:

  • Reports to the Director of K–5 Programs.

  • Works closely with the K–5 Director on all aspects of daily operations and planning.

  • Interacts with children, families, teachers, school administrators, community partners, interpreters, and mental health providers.

  • Collaborates with other KSC program staff, the Development Team, and the Operations Team.

 

Qualifications: 

Knowledge

  • Out of school time child development and group dynamics.

  • Trauma informed practice and culturally responsive youth development.
    Strong understanding of KSC’s mission and community.

Skills

  • Effective communication with families, staff, and partners.

  • Strong interpersonal and relationship building skills.

  • Organizational, time management, and documentation skills.

  • Behavior management and de escalation skills.

  • Ability to support group facilitation and youth engagement.

Abilities

  • Assist in planning and implementing developmentally appropriate programming.

  • Maintain confidentiality and follow mandated reporting requirements.

  • Adapt plans and maintain flexibility in a fast paced environment.

  • Balance small operational tasks with broader program responsibilities.

Education and Experience

  • Must meet or exceed Vermont Child Care Licensing requirements for Afterschool Programs.

  • Experience working with elementary aged children in afterschool or youth development settings.

  • Experience working with low income communities and immigrant, refugee, and BIPOC youth and families.

  • Valid driver’s license and ability to meet transportation requirements.

 

Required Competencies:

  • Communicates effectively.

  • Manages conflict with care and clarity.

  • Collaborates and builds partnerships.

  • Plans and aligns work with organizational goals.

  • Directs work and removes obstacles.

  • Builds effective teams grounded in shared purpose.

  • Leads proactively and seeks solutions.

  • Demonstrates curiosity and continuous learning.

 

Physical Requirements/Conditions of Work:

Work is conducted inside and outside during all seasons. Must be able to be physically active, participate in gross motor games, and walk distances to neighborhood sites. Occasional lifting of furniture, materials and children, weighing up to 50 pounds. Occasional interaction with children and families exhibiting some instability in their behavior. Some exposure to behaviors that require calm, trauma informed response.Some potential for risks to physical safety and security of the facility.  Potential for injury from physical interplay with children, and for illness passed along from children. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.

Employment Details: 

  • Hours: Full time, 40 hours per week, year round

    • School Year Hours: typically 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM, with planning hours from 10:00 AM to 2:45 PM and direct Program Hours: 2:45 PM to 5:30 PM

    • Summer Hours: rotating eight hour shifts between 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM

  • Location: This is an on-site position, with occasional trips off site

  • Salary Range: $45,000-$55,000 per year

  • Benefits: 

    • Health Insurance

    • Vision Insurance

    • Dental Insurance

    • Healthy Living Allowance

    • Paid Time Off

    • Employee Assistance Program

    • Retirement Benefit

    • Parental Leave

    • Disability Insurance

    • Life Insurance

To Apply:

Candidates should submit the following to tony@kingstreetcenter.org and dylan@kingstreetcenter.org : 

  1. Resume

  2. Cover letter that includes:

    • Why you would like to work at King Street Center and why you are interested in this position

    • Description of your experience working with BIPOC youth from low income, refugee and/or immigrant communities 

Please be prepared to submit three professional references at a later time

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work to be performed by the individual assigned to this position. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, and skills required. Management reserves the right to modify, add, or remove duties as necessary. King Street Center is an equal opportunity employer.

Not ready to apply, but want to learn more? Get in touch by filling out the form below!