Group Leader
Harlem Grown
Summary
The Group Leader supports Harlem Grown’s DYCD COMPASS after school and summer programs by under the guidance of Activity Specialists to support the facilitation of food, farm, STEM, cooking, wellness, arts, and enrichment activities for youth. Group Leaders help create a safe, inclusive, and supportive environment through positive behavior management, homework assistance, youth engagement, and day to day classroom support while helping maintain program expectations, safety procedures, and DYCD and DOH compliance standards. Additional responsibilities include assisting with administrative tasks, snack distribution, attendance tracking, and leading student pick up from partner school sites and safely transporting participants to Harlem Grown program locations.
Qualifications
- High School Diploma or equivalent
- 18 years or older
- Minimum 2 years of experience teaching, coaching, or facilitating programs with children under age 13 years.
- Necessary content knowledge, experience, and skills to effectively implement activities as required
- Ability to engage and motivate youth across grades K–5.
- Strong classroom management and communication skills.
- Comfort working outdoors and doing hands on garden work
- Ability to bend, kneel, and lift up to 50lbs of gardening and programming supplies
- Energetic, reliable, and team-oriented; able to work independently and collaboratively.
- Commitment to Harlem Grown’s mission.
- Meet OCFS background check requirements.
Preferred
- Strong connection to Harlem or similar urban communities.
- Associate’s degree in education, youth development, social work, or related field.
- Familiarity with DYCD COMPASS program standards and OCFS SACC regulations.
- Experience integrating sustainability, urban farming, or nutrition education into instruction.
- Bilingual (Spanish fluency a plus)
Duties
Program Delivery & Youth Engagement
- Lead student pick-up from local Public Schools to Harlem Grown after-school site
- Assist with prep and delivery of activities that prepare youth for academic success. (i.e.: Homework Help)
- Maintain child safety and classroom management
- Provide active supervision of participants during all program activities, transitions, meals, field trips, and dismissal to ensure youth safety and engagement.
- Maintain the area environment that facilitates the achievement of youth development outcomes.
- Assist in facilitating engaging standards-aligned STEM activities rooted in food, farming, sustainability, nutrition, wellness, cooking, and environmental education.
- Collaborate with Activity Specialists and Program Management to ensure activities are well-organized, inclusive, developmentally appropriate, and aligned with program goals.
- Build strong relationships with youth and their families and contribute to a supportive program space
- Follow and model a positive behavior management approach that promotes guidance, reinforces Harlem Grown’s values, and supports a respectful, nurturing environment.
- Participate in training and professional development sessions.
Program Implementation
- Assist with preparation, setup, and cleanup for daily programming.
- Maintain a safe, structured, and engaging program environment by adhering to Harlem Grown’s internal protocols, DYCD requirements, and all relevant health and safety guidelines.
- Maintain accurate daily attendance records for all participants, ensuring timely entry, tracking, and follow up
- Participate in staff meetings, training, and program events.
- Represent Harlem Grown at community events, school visits, or farm-based learning experiences.
- Support data collection, reflection, and continuous improvement efforts as directed by program leadership.
- Other duties as assigned
