Kids club manager - story county

Job Details:

Job Location: Jacobson Center Headquarters - Ames, IA

Position Type: Full Time

Education Level: 4 Year Degree

Salary Range: $22.00 Hourly

Travel Percentage: Up to 50%

Job Shift: Day

Job Category: Kids Club Before/After-School Programs

Come join YSS as a Kids Club Manager for our Story County school locations: Ballard Elementary, Gilbert Elementary, Gilbert Intermediate, and Roland-Story Elementary. In this role, you’ll help shape engaging, supportive before- and after-school programs for students in kindergarten through sixth grade, along with summer programming, school breaks, and no-school days. You’ll lead the people and programs that make Kids Club a place where children can build friendships, explore their interests, develop new skills, and feel a sense of belonging. This is a hands-on, mission-driven leadership role for someone who can inspire a team, build strong relationships, and turn great ideas into meaningful experiences for kids. You’ll collaborate with school partners and families, coach and develop staff, and help ensure every child has a safe, welcoming, and enriching place to learn and play.

What You'll Do...

• Lead, Coach & Inspire: Supervise and mentor staff, fostering teamwork, accountability, and a shared commitment to kids.
• Create Engaging Experiences: Oversee fun, inclusive, age-appropriate programming that promotes learning, creativity, and social development.
• Build a Strong Team: Recruit, hire, train, and schedule staff and volunteers while supporting their growth and success.
• Prioritize Safety: Ensure appropriate supervision and compliance with program policies, licensing requirements, and safety standards.
• Connect Schools, Families & Community: Build strong partnerships with families, school staff, and community partners to support children’s success.
• Manage Daily Operations: Oversee staffing, schedules, supplies, and program logistics to ensure smooth, consistent operations.
• Drive Program Quality: Partner with the Kids Club Director on budgets, quality assurance, program evaluation, outreach, and staff development.
• Put Kids First: Model YSS values and create an environment where every child feels safe, supported, respected, and encouraged to thrive.

Please know this is not a complete list of the position’s responsibilities. Duties can change.

Who You Are...

You’re a people-focused leader who brings out the best in others and understands that great programs start with great relationships. You’re organized, adaptable, and comfortable balancing big-picture planning with the day-to-day details that keep a program running. Most importantly, you believe every child deserves a place where they belong, opportunities to grow, and adults who show up for them.

What We Provide...

We invest in people—because when you thrive, so do the communities we serve. At YSS, you’ll find meaningful work, strong support, and benefits designed for real life.

• Supportive Culture & Work Environment: Supportive leadership team and mission-driven culture, Flexibility and autonomy in a collaborative environment, Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for all employees.
• Health & Wellness Benefits: Comprehensive health insurance, Voluntary dental and vision insurance, Life insurance and long-term disability coverage, Supplemental accident, critical illness, and hospital indemnity insurance, Flexible Spending Account (FSA) / Health Savings Account (HSA) options, Flu shots and mental health support resources.
• Time Off & Work-Life Balance: Generous paid time off (4 weeks PTO), Paid holidays, including a birthday holiday, Volunteer time off.
• Financial & Retirement Benefits: Competitive salary, Supplemental compensation award, 403(b) retirement savings plan.
• Professional & Career Support: Professional liability insurance coverage, Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) qualified employer.

Qualifications:

We want to create a world where youth are valued and empowered to stand strong. To do this, we ask our staff to embrace YSS core values - Commitment, Collaboration, Compassion, Innovation, Integrity, and a “Can Do” Spirit.

Required Qualifications - MUST HAVES:

• Bachelor's degree or higher in early childhood, child development, elementary education, or a related field.
• Current CPR/First Aid, Universal Precautions, and Mandatory Reporter Training. If not completed at the time of hire, required training must be completed within the first three months of employment.
• Meets DHS requirements for childcare, including background checks and required trainings.

Preferred Qualifications - SHOULD HAVES:

• Previous supervisory experience.
• Ability to coordinate multiple sites and lead a team with confidence.
• Strong communication skills, including the ability to listen, observe, speak, and write effectively with children, families, coworkers, and the public.
• Patient, calm, and adaptable, with the ability to respond positively and professionally to challenging situations.
• Excellent problem-solving skills, with the ability to respond quickly, use good judgment, and find creative solutions.
• Organized and detail-oriented, with the ability to manage time and resources effectively.

The IDEAL Candidate

Is rooted in purpose and driven by equity, inclusion, and positive social impact. Brings humility, respect, and cultural awareness to every interaction. Speaks a second language (especially one spoken in our communities).

We Celebrate Your Story...

Have you navigated recovery from addiction, mental health challenges, trauma, or housing instability? Your lived experience offers a unique, compassionate perspective that can inspire real change. By sharing your story and serving as a role model or mentor, you can make a meaningful impact in the lives of youth and families. Your journey matters. If you’re ready to use it to uplift and empower others, we warmly encourage you to apply.

Stay Connected...

We communicate with applicants via email - straight from our Paycom system. Please check your inbox regularly (and your spam/junk folder just in case). If the message does end up in spam/junk, make sure to add systemmessage@paycomonline.com to your list of safe senders. We may also send you texts if you give us that permission when you apply.

Questions? Reach us anytime at yss@yss.org. Learn more about YSS and our hiring process at https://yss.org/ysscareers/the-hiring-process/.