Organizational Background  

Rocking the Boat began as an after school boatbuilding program for high school students in the South Bronx and was incorporated as a 501(c)3 non-profit in 2001. Today, the organization, with an annual budget of $5 million, is a hub of youth development programming that serves nearly 5,000 community members annually across three locations. The mediums of boatbuilding, environmental science, and sailing are paired with social-emotional, academic, and career counselling by a team of licensed social workers to have profound and lasting impact on participants.  

Position Summary 

The Middle School Program Manager oversees the Middle School youth development program - supporting a cohort of up to 24 middle school age students and leading the program that introduces participants to Rocking the Boat’s suite of boatbuilding, sailing, and environmental science programs.  The Program Manager must have experience working with a middle school population, a strong foundation in youth development pedagogy, an equity mindset, a background in experiential and STEM education as well as strong leadership and collaborative skills.  The program operates after school Monday through Thursday for 13 week-long Fall and Spring semesters and as a seven-week full-day program Mondays through Fridays throughout the summer. 

This position is responsible for training and supervising up to 4 college-aged Program Assistants. The Middle School Program Manager works closely with the Directors of Boatbuilding, Environmental Science and Justice, and Sailing, reports to the Chief Youth Development Officer, and is a full-time, exempt role. 

Responsibilities: 

Program Planning and Delivery 

• Coordinates the delivery of core environmental, sailing, rowing, and boatbuilding programming for middle school-aged participants, introducing them to a range of opportunities with the power to significantly broaden their horizons  
• Designs, implements and continuously improves lesson plans and curricula that align with Rocking the Boat’s mission and core values and is accessible to diverse learning styles 
• Fosters a positive and inclusive classroom environment that encourages curiosity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills among students 
• Responsible for creating and managing the Program Assistants’ work schedule 
• Participates in monitoring and evaluation exercises designed to assess programmatic success 
• Designs and leads a variety of challenging and enriching trips for participants; a variety of day trips during the summer and 1 to 2 overnight trips annually  
• Collaborates with the Youth Services Department to support participants’ individual and group social and emotional needs 
• Responsible for participant retention from one semester to the next and for recruiting new participants with a focus on engaging members of the local community in the South Bronx 
• Maintains and develops relationships with families of Middle School participants 

Staff Supervision and Development 

• Supervise and train of up to 4 Program Assistants 
• Provides ongoing management, technical, safety, and youth development training for Program Assistants 

Program Administration 

• Uses a Salesforce database to maintain accurate participant records including participant and family information, participant attendance, program evaluations, and other data  
• Supports the development department with grant proposals and fundraising reporting requirements  
• Assists in program budget development; tracks program budget; sources and purchases needed materials and equipment in a timely manner and within the parameters established in annual budgets; provides prompt and accurate accounting of all expenses  

Program Facilities, Equipment, and Safety 

• Follows and enforces all Rocking the Boat safety protocols; identifies and corrects any safety issues 
• Ensures appropriate use and care of Rocking the Boat’s boat inventory including wooden rowing craft and other waterfront equipment such as dollies, oars, and personal floatation devices; informs the Director of Boatbuilding of all maintenance and repair needs 
• Maintains classroom and equipment used in the classroom, boat shop and for field work 
• Keeps CPR, AED, and First Aid certifications current (provided by Rocking the Boat)  

Cross-Organization Support 

• Supports the Development Department in fundraising activities as requested 
• Contributes to the maintenance of shared resources 
• Manages program volunteers and hosts visitors 
• Participates in other activities as necessary to fulfill the mission of Rocking the Boat 

Qualifications 

Required 

• Bachelor’s degree, preferably in the field of education or related fields 
• Seasoned educator with direct middle school experience and deep understanding of social-emotional learning and development 
• Experience leading groups through high-energy, physically challenging activities 
• Strategic thinker with experience in program design, curriculum development and lesson planning 
• Excellent organizational skills, detail oriented, and an ability to work independently 
• Strong communication skills and ability to collaborate across teams 
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite 
• Valid driver’s license 
• Willingness to work long days, occasional weekends and overnight trips 
• This position involves on-site presence Monday to Friday with the opportunity for limited remote work 

Preferred 

• Experience managing entry-level staff 
• Case management or social work experience 
• Boating experience 
• Basic woodworking skills 
• Spanish language skills 

Rocking the Boat offers 

• Full-time salaried position: $60,000-70,000, commensurate with experience  
• Benefits package including Health, Vision, Dental and 401k with 6% employer match after 1 year of employment 
• Paid Time Off 
• Vacation: 23 days; increase to 28 days after three years  
• NYS Sick and Safe Time: 40 hours 
• Holidays: 10 days 
• Compensatory time for work on weekends, holidays, and overnight trips 
• Opportunity to work with a creative, well-funded organization committed to youth development and empowerment 

Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility at Rocking the Boat 

Rocking the Boat is committed to creating an environment that promotes the diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility of all applicants and employees. The program team strives not only to accept but to affirm and celebrate all identities. Race, religion, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, and veteran status are not barriers to employment at Rocking the Boat. Please feel welcome to communicate any special needs or requirements to be accommodated throughout the hiring process.