Program Director

Director, Programming

New York City Urban Debate League

Our Commitment to You

The NYCUDL is firmly committed to equal employment opportunity for all in all phases of employment, including the application process. We know that applying for a new job can be a daunting process. But we encourage all qualified candidates with an interest in joining our organization to apply. You may be just the person we need.

NYCUDL Mission

The New York City Urban Debate League (NYCUDL) unlocks the transformative power of debate for New York City public school students to develop the next generation of informed, compassionate, and courageous leaders.

NYCUDL Description

The New York City Urban Debate League is a nonprofit organization dedicated to expanding access to competitive debate across New York City, with a focus on teaching underserved students. To advance this mission, the NYCUDL provides comprehensive support for students, educators, and schools—including, but not limited to, year-round instructional coaching for educators, student workshops, over 35 annual debate tournaments, four weeks of Summer Debate Institute, and the development of original curriculum, including more than 100 lesson plans for educators each year. The League has experienced significant growth in recent years and continues to be dynamic and fast-paced. Since the 2018–2019 school year, student participation has grown by nearly 80%, from 2,260 to just over 4,000 students. The number of participating schools increased by 60%, from 160 to 250, and the number of Title I schools served nearly doubled. With active partnerships in all five boroughs, the NYCUDL is proud to be the largest urban debate league in the country and remains deeply committed to teaching debate, fostering student voices, and supporting academic confidence and civic leadership across New York City.

Position Overview

As the Director of Programming, you serve as a cornerstone of the NYCUDL executive team. This is a high-level strategic role designed for a veteran educator or administrator who can navigate the complexities of NYCPS system while maintaining the grassroots excellence that defines our league. You will be the architect of our educational ecosystem, ensuring that our curriculum remains robust and our tournaments operate with precision. You will partner closely with the CEO to define the organization's programming strategy and lead its execution through a growing programming team of five full-time staff members, currently supported by significant part-time help.

Key Responsibilities

Curriculum Design & Execution Oversight

• Oversee the Curriculum & Professional Learning Manager and the overall development and continuous improvement of the NYCUDL’s debate curricula for Elementary, Middle, and High School programs.
• Direct the pedagogical strategy for specialized initiatives, including access to debate for underserved communities such as Multilingual Learners.
• Oversee the execution of teacher professional development workshops, ensuring NYC educators are equipped with scaffolded resources to build inclusive and sustainable debate programs.

Tournament Management & Operational Strategy

• Oversee the Events, Outreach & Volunteer Manager and programming staff to ensure the seamless execution of all NYCUDL tournaments and events.
• Manage resources to accommodate the league's scale and diversity while also creating scaffolds to ensure equitable access to debate.

Senior Leadership & Partnerships

• Manage a departmental budget to ensure fiscal health and programmatic growth.
• Maintain, deepen and expand partnerships with NYC Reads, NYCPS Community School Districts (including Districts 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 13, 15, 16, Transfer Schools), and city leadership.
• Utilize data to refine programming and report insights directly to the CEO.
• Cultivate and maintain key relationships as a lead representative for the league.
• Collaborate as part of the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) to drive organizational goals and culture.

Qualifications for Success

• Experience: 10–15 years of experience with 5 years of senior leadership experience in K-12 education, academic administration, or in a youth development/ education nonprofit.
• Academic Credential: Master’s degree required; Ph.D. or Ed.D. in Education or Public Administration is highly desirable.
• Metropolitan Education Expertise: Deep working knowledge of the public school system and a proven ability to partner with leadership in high-needs school communities.
• Proven track record in curriculum design and development, with the ability to translate complex concepts into engaging content.
• Debate Fluency: While a "debate background" is not strictly required, you must have a deep appreciation for academic debate, willingness to learn, and the ability to oversee all programmatic functions.

Work Week

• Employees are expected to work in-person, 5 days a week (a majority of Mondays & Fridays are remote in practice). This role involves Saturday tournament oversight (approximately 2 per month during the school year) and evening events. Comp time is offered for weekend tournaments.

Compensation & Benefits

• Salary range: $160,000 –$180,000, commensurate with experience
• Health & Wellness: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage with no employee contribution for individual plans
• Commuter Bonus: Monthly subway pass (OMNY/MetroCard) provided
• Time Off: 21 days of total annual leave (10 vacation, 5 sick, 5 personal, and your birthday), plus additional wellness benefits

Equal Opportunity & Growth

The NYCUDL is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in its employment decisions, in accordance with state and federal law. We are committed to a diverse workplace and to supporting our staff with ongoing career development opportunities.

Please submit your application through this link.