Middle School Program Staff
Position Overview:
King Street Center is seeking part-time Middle School Program Staff to support our afterschool program for 6th-8th grade youth. Staff are responsible for facilitating a safe, supportive and nurturing out-of-school space, so that youth may gain self-awareness, become empowered to make safe choices, and grow as individuals in the community. Program staff must be empathetic, self-motivated and eager to be a part of a collaborative team that is committed to the health and wellbeing of all youth and families. They should also demonstrate a commitment to principles of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion. This is a part-time position, and staff are expected to commit to a regular weekly schedule. Available shifts are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 2:00pm-6:00pm and Wednesday 1:00pm - 6:00pm during the school year after school program. Additional hours may be available for summer programming or school vacation weeks.
King Street Center, which serves predominantly BIPOC children from Burlington's immigrant communities, is a vibrant non-profit community center that empowers youth to explore their talents and find their voice through learning, play and opportunity. King Street Center strives to be one of the most racially diverse places to work in Vermont, as a community where both our youth and coworkers have shared identities or experiences. If you are passionate about making a positive impact in the lives of children in the Burlington community and you have life or work experience with the communities we serve, we would love to hear from you. Contact us to set up a time to chat.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities:
Plan, organize and lead daily activities for middle school youth that encourage growth and learning.
Provide a listening ear, encouraging voice, and general support to youth on a daily basis, including assistance with projects and homework and attendance at individual youth activities.
Educate youth in various activities and on life skills such as food preparation and cooking skills.
Plan and attend local trips with youth to participate in activities within the community.
Celebrate the diversity of the youth participating in the program.
Provide outreach to the families of the participating youth in order to strengthen bonds.
Participate in operation of the lemonade stand during the summer.
Support student behavior needs with oversight and support from Program Director
Ensure health, safety and enjoyment of students in program.
Teach students life skills, appropriate behaviors, and how to make good choices.
Interact with students to resolve problems.
Maintain awareness of student’s participation and whereabouts.
General “housekeeping” matters such as classroom clean up, and light facilities maintenance. Support the organization of the program storage spaces
Maintain regular reliable attendance
Attend all required trainings and staff meetingss.
Relationships & Roles:
Reports to Senior Director of Programs.
Supervises Middle School Coordinator, program staff, interns, and volunteers.
Works closely with other Program Directors to plan and implement programs and to share building space.
Collaborates with the Development Team and Operations Team
Interacts with Youth, families, local schools, business leaders, city officials, funders, and the broader community.
Qualifications:
Knowledge:
Best practices in teen program expansion, recruitment, and retention.
Adolescent development and trauma-informed approaches.
Career pathways, workforce development, and post-secondary education opportunities.
Skills:
Exceptional leadership and communication skills—this person must inspire, motivate, and engage youth, staff, and external partners.
Strategic program development and expansion, with a proactive and growth-oriented mindset.
Relationship-building and networking, with a proven ability to forge strong community partnerships.
Program evaluation and data-driven decision-making, ensuring continuous improvement.
Budget management and resource allocation to support sustainable growth.
Abilities:
Visionary leadership—this role requires someone who sees what’s possible and makes it happen.
Ability to develop and execute a long-term plan for growing and enhancing the teen program.
Adaptability and problem-solving, making quick and informed decisions in a fast-paced environment.
A relentless drive to engage more youth, expand opportunities, and ensure King Street Center’s teen program is the best it can be.
Experience:
At least 3 years in youth program leadership, with a track record of expanding and enhancing teen programs.
Experience supervising staff, managing partnerships, and leading new initiatives.
Demonstrated success in increasing youth participation and engagement in a program or organization.
Experience working with low-income communities and immigrant, refugee and BIPOC youth and families is required.
Must pass a criminal background check through the VT Child Care Development Division.
Must have a valid driver's license and pass a motor vehicle report.
Experience working with low-income communities and immigrant, refugee and BIPOC youth and families is required.
Proficiency in additional languages (particularly Nepali, Maay Maay, Somali, Burmese, or Swahili) is a plus.
Education:
Bachelor’s degree in social work, human services, education, youth development, or a related field.
Required Competencies:
Instills trust - gaining the confidence and trust of others through honesty, integrity, and authenticity
Manages ambiguity - Operating effectively, even when things are not certain or the way forward is not clear
Values differences - Recognizing the value that different perspectives and cultures bring to an organization
Courage - Stepping up to address difficult issues, saying what needs to be said
Being resilient - Rebounding from setbacks and adversity when facing difficult situations
Self-development - Actively seeking new ways to grow and be challenged using both formal and informal development channels.
Curiosity - Consistently seeks opportunities to learn, ask questions, and explore new ideas to improve outcomes and drive continuous growth.
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 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.
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by persons assigned to this position title. They do not include all job duties performed by employees in this position, nor does every position necessarily require these duties.
Employment Details:
Start Date: Fall 2025
Pay: $19-21/ hour
Hours: Part-time, up to 20 hours/week during school year, additional hours may be available for summer programming or school vacation weeks.
Location: This is an on-site position, with occasional trips off site
How to Apply:
Email hr@kingstreetcenter.org. Provide your name and state that you are interested in King Street Center’s part-time Middle School Program Staff role or would like to hear more about the job.