Program Director

Location: Brooklyn, NY
Salary: $ 85,000 - 105,000
Job Type: Full-time

About Mindful Sports

Mindful Sports is a Brooklyn-based youth organization running after-school, summer camp, travel, and recess programs for children. We combine sports and mindfulness to create safe, fun, and development-focused experiences for kids. The Brooklyn Moose is our travel sports program - we offer baseball, soccer, and basketball teams. 

The Role

The Program Director leads the strategy and day-to-day operations of the Mindful Sports’ after-school, summer camp, Brooklyn Moose (travel sports), and recess programs, ensuring a safe, inclusive space where kids can explore sports and grow. This role manages a variety of team members - including program leaders and managers - while overseeing seasonal and long-term planning, performance reviews and goal-setting. The Program Director also oversees the travel sports program, ensuring high-quality, consistent experiences across all sites.

This role sets the vision for team culture, training, and performance, serving as a role model while driving accountability and continuous improvement. The ideal candidate brings strong leadership, emotional intelligence, and a passion for delivering impactful, high-quality experiences for children and families.

Key Responsibilities

People Leadership & Team Development

• Fully manage and oversee after-school, summer camp, Brooklyn Moose (travel sports), and recess programs

• Serve as a strong role model, demonstrating professionalism, accountability, and positive leadership

• Build a positive, accountable, and collaborative team culture

• Own hiring, onboarding, training, and performance management for field staff

• Conduct regular check-ins, evaluations, and coaching conversations

• Address performance issues, enforce policies, and implement corrective action when needed

• Identify training needs and continuously improve staff development systems and processes

• Run performance reviews and structured goal-setting processes for staff

Operations & Logistics Management

• Oversee day-to-day field operations to ensure programs run smoothly and safely

• Manage staffing logistics, including scheduling, coverage, and site assignments

• Ensure proper staff coverage for all programs, including substitutions when needed

• Coordinate logistics for travel sports programs across NYC, NJ, and Long Island

• Develop and improve operational systems and processes to increase efficiency and consistency

• Monitor program execution and troubleshoot operational issues in real time

Program Quality & Safety

• Ensure all programs meet Mindful Sports’ standards for safety, quality, and experience

• Support staff in delivering engaging sports and mindfulness programming

• Step in to support sites when needed, including occasional coverage for Site Leaders or Coaches

• Partner with curriculum leaders to ensure consistent and high-quality program delivery

• Maintain a safe, inclusive, and engaging environment across all after-school, summer camp, Brooklyn Moose (travel sports), and recess programs

Relationship Management & Communication

• Build strong working relationships with parents, children, and site partners

• Support staff in parent communication and customer service expectations

• Serve as a key point of contact for field-related issues and escalations

• Maintain consistent communication with the team via Slack and team meetings
  

Qualifications

• At least 2-3 years of experience managing youth programs and/or staff teams (required)

• At least 2-3 years of experience in a director-level or program leadership role

• At least 2-3 years of experience managing and supervising staff

• Experience with travel sports programs preferred

• Proven ability to manage multiple programs end-to-end (after-school, camps, or similar)

• Proven leadership skills with the ability to act as a role model for staff

• Experience with scheduling, logistics, and multi-site operations

• Strong people leadership, coaching, and performance management skills

• Excellent organizational and problem-solving abilities

• Strong communication and relationship-building skills

• Passion for youth development, sports, and positive team culture
  

Schedule

This is a 5-day per week role:

• Sunday–Thursday (7:30am-6:00pm Sundays; 9:30am-6:30pm Monday-Thursday)

Weekdays are in person at our Park Slope office. Weekends are at program sites mostly in NYC, but also in NJ, and Long Island.

Benefits

• Paid time off

• 401K through NY Secure Choice

• Medical Insurance Monthly Stipend