POSITION SUMMARY
Sunnyside Community Services (SCS) is a multi-service settlement house located in Western Queens. Our Youth and Family Services department offers a full day Pre-Kindergarten, a variety of afterschool and community services for youth in grades K – 12, as well as High School and Job and College Readiness programming for High School youth.
The Content Specialist plays a critical dual role in curriculum design and instructional leadership within our multisite COMPASS/SONYC Afterschool, Holiday Camp and Summer Camp programs. Operating in temporary housing/shelter settings across two locations in Queens (Elmhurst and Jamaica), the Content Specialist is primarily responsible for the program in the areas of curriculum design and implementation, staff development, incorporating FUSE values and training. The Content Specialist supports the day-to-day operations of the program by working closely with the
Program Director, engaging with participants and stakeholders, and ensuring all activities uphold safety standards and comply with funding guidelines. Together, our programs will serve a minimum of 70 youth.
This position requires an empathetic, highly organized, and adaptable leader dedicated to elevating program quality, stabilizing educational routines for vulnerable youth, and fostering a trauma-informed environment.

Location: SCS Programs at Samaritan Village, Multi Site Supervision
Blvd, 79-00 Queens Blvd, Elmhurst NY 11373 and Belt, 153-90 Rockaway Boulevard, Jamaica, NY 11434
Hours: Monday – Friday 10:00am – 6:00pm, Holiday Camps and Summers at Belt location (35 working
hours a week) *Schedule may vary at times and is at the discretion of the Senior Director**
Reports to: Director

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Content Selection, Design & Curricula Management
• Select, adapt, and manage comprehensive program content mapped directly to all mandated Required Content Areas under the COMPASS framework. Content areas include STEM, Literacy, Life Skills, Physical Enrichment/Health Living, Leadership, and College and Career Development. This includes meeting requirements like incorporating SEL curricula and utilizing DYCD’s Promote the Positive framework into required activities.
• Design robust, creative lesson plans and source formal curricula when existing materials require
modification or development to meet group dynamics, including incorporating SCS’s shared values into daily lessons.
• Ensure all curricula and activities are culturally responsive, age-appropriate, engaging, and specifically structured to accommodate the unique socio-emotional needs of youth residing in a shelter setting.
• Collaborate with YFS leadership and other content specialists to ensure a consistent approach to
curriculum, tools, practices, and events that incorporate FUSE values and other shared values
• Collaborate with YFS leadership to develop outcome measurement tools and improve program
performance

2. Staff Supervision, Coaching & Professional Development
• Oversee, guide, and support the daily implementation of activities delivered by Activity Specialists, Group Leaders, and Youth Workers.
• Conduct routine, structured field observations of program activities and staff to evaluate delivery efficacy, classroom management, and youth engagement.
• Provide effective supervision, constructive feedback, one-on-one coaching, and targeted technical training to program staff to elevate instructional quality and compliance.
• In the absence of the Program Director, serve as the primary contact for shelter staff and families as well as troubleshoot issues and maintain compliance with all regulations.
• Identify professional development gaps across the 6 to 8 instructional staff members and organize or
facilitate training blocks aligned with standard youth development frameworks and SCS’s value statements.
• Coordinate with YFS leadership and other content specialists to develop and schedule program-wide/ YFS
workshops and professional development
• Coordinate with vendors to ensure all staff receive a 1-hour mental health training per year and ensure staff are trained and aware of Crisis Navigation plans (last part is optional, see note below).
• The Content Specialist must complete a 1-hour self-paced training, provided by DYCD, through
Changeuplearning.com on the following topics, strategies for accessibility and inclusion and universal
design and complete a 2-hour training, provided by DYCD, on the following topics, mental health
spectrum and mental health crises and the importance of implementing an organizational crisis navigation plan.

3. Multi-Site Operations & Camp Execution
• Maintain an active, visible pedagogical presence across both program sites in Elmhurst and Jamaica,
Queens, dynamically splitting hours to satisfy program needs.
• Commit fully to the execution of 13 Holiday Camp days and the 7-week Summer Camp Programming blocks specifically held at the Belt campus, ensuring full operational coverage, field trip integration, and specialized summer curriculum management.
• Maintain structured programmatic data, observation logs, and staff development records across all sites to ensure audit readiness for up to 2 individual COMPASS/SONYC programs.

SCS offers an Excellent Benefits Package:
• Comprehensive medical, dental and vision insurance
• 403B pension plan with employer contribution
• Flexible spending account and transit checks
• Employee Assistance Program
• Annually 26 PTO days of varying categories, 12 paid sick days, 10 paid holidays
• Life Insurance and Long-term disability