Director of Family & Youth Development

Summary

Cornell University Cooperative Extension–New York City (CUCE-NYC) invites applications for a Director of Family and Youth Development, a senior leadership role for an innovative, equity‑centered scholar‑practitioner eager to drive meaningful change for children, youth, and families across New York City’s five boroughs.

CUCE-NYC is part of Cornell University’s land‑grant mission and a vital hub for research‑based, non‑formal education, engaging more than 30,000 New Yorkers annually in programs focused on youth development, parenting education, nutrition and health, urban agriculture, and STEM learning. With program offices in the South Bronx and Queens, a Brooklyn presence, and close ties to Cornell’s Manhattan site and Ithaca campus, CUCE‑NYC operates at the dynamic intersection of university research and community impact.

An Opportunity at a Pivotal Moment
The Family and Youth Development (FYD) program area is entering a period of intentional transition and reimagining. The incoming Director will join at a formative moment—actively participating in a structured onboarding process that includes strategic visioning, community input, and collaboration with a newly established FYD Advisory Committee. This role offers a rare opportunity to co‑create the future direction of youth and family programming in one of the most complex and vibrant urban environments in the world.

 

Qualifications

Required qualifications include:

• A master’s degree in family and youth development, education, human development, social work, public health, or a related field
• 5–7 years of progressively responsible experience designing and leading non‑formal education programs
• Demonstrated success in grant writing, program evaluation, and staff supervision
• Strong partnership‑building skills across community and institutional contexts

Preferred qualifications include:

• An earned doctorate (PhD or EdD)
• Experience in university‑based Extension or outreach systems
• Familiarity with New York City communities and culturally responsive practice
• Experience serving as PI or Co‑PI on externally funded projects
• Advanced proficiency in Spanish or other locally spoken languages
• A demonstrated commitment to belonging, equity, inclusion, anti‑racism, and community wellbeing

Duties

Reporting to the Executive Director and serving on the CUCE‑NYC Program Leadership Team, the Director of Family and Youth Development provides strategic, programmatic, and administrative leadership across areas such as 4‑H/Youth Development, Parenting Education, and related initiatives.

The Director will:

• Lead the vision, design, implementation, and evaluation of research‑informed, community‑responsive programming
• Serve as Principal Investigator on funded projects and drive new grant development
• Build and sustain partnerships with community organizations, government agencies, elected officials, Cornell faculty, and Extension colleagues statewide
• Supervise and mentor program staff while strengthening organizational capacity
• Represent CUCE‑NYC locally, statewide, and nationally
• Contribute to broader organizational leadership, belonging, equity, and inclusion efforts

The position is based full‑time in New York City, with periodic travel to Cornell’s Ithaca campus, Albany, and professional conferences.

Who We’re Looking For
We seek a collaborative, forward‑thinking leader who combines academic rigor with deep community engagement and who thrives in complex, team‑based environments.