Description

Recommendation:

The YMCA recommends you review the linked information to apply for the position which is the best match to the department, the location, and the position. (if link below will not open, right click on the link, choose copy link address and paste into a new tab in your browser)

Matching Camp to Applicant Characteristics

While every effort will be made, if hired, placement may be adjusted to meet the registration and/or operating needs of the program. Employees may experience transfer to and/or sub assignments in any of the Y’s youth development sites.

Youth Development Department Org Chart

POSITION SUMMARY:

Under the direction of the Youth Development Director, the Activity Specialist will overseetheir assigned area or program, staff, and participants. The Activity Specialist will understand that character development is the chief mission of the YMCA and will personally exhibit a commitment to the goal in all YMCA programs.

OUR CULTURE:
Our mission and core values are brought to life by our culture. In the Y, we strive to live our cause of strengthening communities with purpose and intentionality every day. We are welcoming: we are open to all. We are a place where you can belong and become. We are genuine: we value you and embrace your individuality. We are hopeful: we believe in you and your potential to become a catalyst in the world. We are nurturing: we support you in your journey to develop your full potential. We are determined: above all else, we are on a relentless quest to make our community stronger, beginning with you.

CUSTOMER SERVICE EXPECTATIONS:

1. Display a friendly, helpful, and positive disposition.
2. Provide customer service that is thorough, timely, organized, and accurate.
3. Help ensure the Y is meeting member and participant needs by utilizing good listening skills, attentiveness, objectivity, and patience in all situations.
4. Place members and participants as the first and highest priority, always showing kindness and compassion.
5. Demonstrates the Y core values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility through all daily activities and responsibilities.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Overreaching Goal: Through their planning, actions and daily work creates and fosters a welcoming environment for all persons of all backgrounds and abilities and has a positive, nurturing relationships with staff and children, while building cooperative relationships with parents/caregivers and program partners. Promotes and supports the potential of all youth in programs and facilitates peer-to-peer connections as part of the overall YMCA experience.

Essential Functions of Activity Specialist:

1. Always demonstrates responsibility for the safety and well-being of all program participants. Follows all policies for emergencies, incident reporting, child abuse prevention and YMCA procedures. Assists the Site Coordinator in maintaining children’s files. In the absence of the Site Coordinator, communicates all details to parents and supervisor.
2. Provide a high level of customer service while dealing with YMCA members, guests, and staff. Assists Site Coordinator in daily face to face communication with parents.
3. Plans for and implements assigned program activities and ensures they are delivered in a high-quality manner. Assist Site Coordinator with overall implementation of curriculum and supports staff as needed to deliver activities.
4. Supervises assigned program areas and keeps supplies in good order.
5. Assists Site Coordinator with the direction of personnel and volunteers as needed. Celebrates successes and reports any concerns to Site Coordinator.
6. Assists in maintaining program areas and reports on any maintenance issues. Maintains cleanliness of program areas.
7. Participates in daily huddle with camp team. Participates in weekly meeting with supervisor. Adds to the daily recap email as needed.

YMCA LEADERSHIP DISCIPLINES (Leader):

Competency: Clusters of observable skills and behaviors needed to be successful within an organization or role.

Key Leadership competencies a person should bring to this position:

• Program Management
• Collaboration
• Developing Self and Others

Engaging Community: Builds bridges with others in the community to ensure the Y’s work is community-focused and welcoming of all, providing community benefit.

Collaboration: Creates sustainable relationships within the Y and with other organizations in service to the community.

Communication & Influence Listens and expresses self effectively and, in a way, that engages, inspires, and builds commitment to the Y’s cause.

Inclusion: Values all people for their unique talents and takes an active role in promoting practices that support diversity, inclusion, and global work, as well as cultural competence.

Functional Expertise: Executes superior technical skills for the role.

Emotional Maturity: Demonstrates ability to understand and manage emotions effectively in all situations.

OBSERVABLE BEHAVHIORS (Leader)

• Express the Y’s Cause & Culture
• Create a safe, welcoming, and respectful environment.
• Deliver a high-quality experience.
• Serve others by welcoming, connecting, and supporting.
• Invite Others to get involved and give back.
• Listen with the intent to support.
• See the Y as a lifelong connection.

SAFETY & COMPLIANCE

Child Abuse Policies & Prevention

The YMCA enforces its policies and practices to prevent child abuse.

Allegations or suspicions of child abuse are taken very seriously at the YMCA and will be reported to the proper authorities for investigation. We have abuse reporting procedures, there are unscheduled visits from supervisors, we have an open door for parents, and we have a code of conduct for staff. We minimize opportunities for abuse to occur and we talk with children about personal safety and touching limits. We screen carefully to prevent abusers from being hired. We provide child abuse prevention training to staff including how to conduct yourself for safe practices and termination of employment for employees who fail to report suspicion or failure to follow policies.

Employees who failure to support, actively engage in prevention and be forthcoming about concerns or violations of this policy will be subject to discipline, up to and including immediate termination of employment.

Background Check: A background check, criminal, work, and reference checks will be required of any employee at hire and may be repeated during their employment. A barred report, negative report or discovery of false information will result in immediate termination.

Alert & Focused: Use of illegal drugs, alcohol, prescribed or over the counter medications and lack of sleep can impact a person’s ability to be alert and focused while on duty. Used illegally or inappropriately while off duty may affect employment status. Responsibility, respect, caring, and honesty are core values of the YMCA. Employees involved in any injury found to be work related may be required to submit for a screening for drug and alcohol use. Suspicious behaviors observed while working or in the YMCA or at a YMCA program where the employee would be perceived by others as an employee may also be subject to alcohol and drug screening. Positive results of a drug or alcohol screening will result in termination of employment. Behaviors which are perceived to be unbecoming a YMCA employee may be subject to discipline up to and including immediate termination of employment.

Qualifications

QUALIFICATIONS:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Must be at least 18 years of age, preference for those 21 years or older.
• At least 2 years of related experience working with youth.
• Must complete the onboarding process within designated time.
• Have leadership competencies in the identified key areas.
• Ability to learn quickly.
• Ability to work with integrity, discretion, and a professional approach.
• Prefer knowledge of, and previous experience with, diverse populations (language, culture, race, physical ability, sexual orientation, social, economics, etc.).
• Ability to complete all required trainings within 60 days of employment, including but not limited to CPR, first aid, Living Our Cause, DCFS Mandated Report, IL Gateway Registry Modules and to maintain these certifications as current as outlined by regulations or requirements.

WORK ENVIRONMENT & PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Ability to speak concisely and effectively communicate. Be able to communicate using a computer and phone/smart device.
• Visual and auditory ability to respond to critical situations ability to act swiftly in an emergency.

Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust.

• May require physical effort and cardiac endurance while reaching with hands and arms, stooping, kneeling, crouching, standing, walking, balancing, bending, leaning, kneeling, walking, and climbing.

• Specifically,
  • Walk extensively both within site and the programs supervised. May require walking up and down stairs multiple times a day.
  • May require walking on different surfaces, including uneven or unpaved ground.
  • Carrying supplies to and from work locations, normally lifting less than 25lbs.
  • Playing large motor games with youth.

• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to loud.