Director of Youth and Community Engagement

/POSITION: Director of Youth & Community Engagement 

/ACCOUNTABLE TO: Chief Operating Officer

/CLASSIFICATION: Full Time, Salaried, Exempt

/SALARY RANGE: $81,500 - $90,000 Benefits

/OUR WHY

Life Remodeled works with communities and organizations to create neighborhood revitalization that lasts. Our unique model repurposes vacant school buildings into one-stop hubs of opportunity where families can thrive. We fill these hubs with the best and brightest nonprofit organizations and facilitate collaboration to create far greater life transformation together than was previously possible alone.

Together, we ensure more:

1. Detroit students perform at/above grade level in math and reading
2. Families have access to essential health and wellness services
3. Community members obtain higher-paying jobs and achieve economic self-sufficiency

/DEFINING THE OPPORTUNITY

The Director of Youth & Community Engagement leads Life Remodeled’s efforts to empower Detroit youth and strengthen neighborhood connections through high-impact programs, partnerships, and events centered at the Durfee Innovation Society (DIS), Anchor Detroit (Life Remodeled’s newest opportunity hub), and future opportunity hubs. This role ensures youth academic success, community collaboration, and measurable neighborhood thriving.

The Director of Youth and Community Engagement is a leadership role that is deeply rooted in the organization’s mission and core values of Community First, Always Find a Way, and Bold Humility. The role exists at the intersection of youth development and community transformation, advancing Life Remodeled’s broader goal of sustainable neighborhood revitalization through education, empowerment, and collaboration.

Aligning with Life Remodeled’s Community Thriving strategy, youth and community engagement is one of six core pillars driving neighborhood transformation — alongside technology, arts and culture, health and wellness, economic impact, and environmental safety. The Director’s leadership ensures that youth programming and community engagement remain central to achieving holistic, measurable life outcomes in the areas Life Remodeled serves.

The Director of Youth and Community Engagement is a catalyst — bridging generations, uniting partners, and embodying Life Remodeled’s belief that when youth and community come first, neighborhoods don’t just survive; they thrive.

/COMMITTED TO OUR CORE VALUES:

OUR CORE VALUES IN ACTION 

• Community First:
• The Director embodies Life Remodeled’s deep respect for community voice — prioritizing the ideas, hopes, and ambitions of youth and residents above all else. This means building authentic relationships with families, schools, and local organizations, and ensuring programming aligns with community-defined needs, not institutional assumptions.

• Always Find a Way:
• The role demands innovation and adaptability. The Director leads youth initiatives that are both ambitious and responsive, overcoming obstacles with creativity and determination. Whether engaging students from the 48206 and 48224 area codes in programs or coordinating citywide events that positively impact community members, the Director ensures consistent progress even amid the most pressing challenges.

• Bold Humility:
• The Director operates as a servant leader — confident and visionary, yet grounded and teachable. They nurture youth potential through mentorship, embrace feedback from families, and cultivate collaboration across partner nonprofits and schools. Their leadership is marked by listening, learning, and modeling growth for the young people they serve.

ACTIVITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Youth Development Leadership

• Instrumental in the design, oversight , and evaluation of all youth programs that align with Life Remodeled’s mission and goals.
• Ensure measurable improvement in youth academic performance, attendance, and engagement, contributing to the improvement of partner DPSCD schools.
• Oversee the Life Remodeled Youth Alliance (LRYA) and other collaborative programs, fostering leadership, academic growth, and character development among participants.
• Plan and execute a robust annual youth event calendar (e.g., Fall Kickoff, Trunk-or-Treat, LIT Fridays, Career Vision Day, Field Day, Holiday Pajama Jam).
• Maintain high retention and satisfaction rates across all youth initiatives.

2. Community Engagement & Relationship Building

• Serve as the strategic connector between Life Remodeled, Detroit families, schools, neighborhood leaders, and community-based organizations.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with Durfee Elementary-Middle School, Central High School, Wayne Elementary, Brewer Middle, and Denby High School administrators, teachers, and support staff.
• Facilitate collaboration between Life Remodeled and community advisory councils, ensuring community input shapes programming and strategy.
• Attend and represent Life Remodeled at block clubs, local church events, neighborhood meetings, and community celebrations.
• Coordinate community outreach for the Six Day Project, fostering trust, participation, and collaborative neighborhood involvement.
• Partner with DIS and Anchor Detroit tenant partners to create a seamless network of youth and family support services.

3. Program & Event Management

• Develop, plan, and manage youth- and community-focused programs, ensuring alignment with Life Remodeled’s values: Community First, Always Find a Way, and Bold Humility.
• Coordinate logistics, volunteers, and partners for major community engagement events. 
• Lead outreach campaigns that engage at least partner school students in DIS and Anchor Detroit programming.
• Track and analyze program participation, outcomes, and impact metrics through surveys, attendance data, and success stories.
• Manage event budgets, vendors, and communications in coordination with internal departments.

4. Leadership, Team Management, and Partnership Development

• Coach the College and Career Readiness Coordinator, the Technology and Esports Navigator, the Community Engagement Coordinator, and volunteers involved in youth and community work.
• Provide ongoing professional development, training, and performance feedback to team members.
• Ensure staff and volunteers embody Life Remodeled’s values in every interaction with youth and community members.
• Cultivate partnerships with nonprofit, corporate, and faith-based organizations to expand youth and community programming capacity.
• Work closely with fund development staff to identify and steward potential program sponsors and donors.
• Lead or participate in committees and collaboratives, such as the DIS Youth Collective, Community Advisory Councils, and partner school committees.

/YOU MAY BE THE IDEAL CANDIDATE IF:

• You have excellent verbal and written communication skills, capable of representing Life Remodeled with clarity and passion.
• You have 5 years of leadership experience and a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Education, Community Development / Urban Studies, Public or Nonprofit Administration, Psychology / Sociology, Human Services, Youth Development or a related field.
• You have a genuine love for youth and a passion for helping them thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.
• You have a deeply informed understanding of the challenges faced by Detroit families, particularly around education, equity, and access to opportunity.
• You prioritize community voices and ensure programs reflect residents’ real needs and aspirations.
• You are skilled in listening, relationship-building, and fostering trust across diverse populations.
• You bring fresh ideas to program development, partnership cultivation, and event design.
• You are skilled in managing budgets, timelines, and multiple projects simultaneously.
• You are data-informed — using participation rates, academic outcomes, and survey feedback to guide decisions.
• You exhibit patience, compassion, and emotional intelligence when working with youth, families, and community stakeholders

For strongest consideration, please submit your application, including resume, cover letter, and 2-4 references before 11:59pm EST on Friday, December 12, 2025. 

We are fortunate to receive many inquiries about our job postings, so we will only be able to respond to candidates who most closely match our qualifications. Thank you for understanding!