Director of Learning & Life Skills

ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION

The Ali Forney Center (AFC) is the nations largest nonprofit organization dedicated to LGBTQ+ youth experiencing homelessness. Founded in 2002, AFCs mission is to protect LGBTQ+ youth from the harms of homelessness and empower them with the tools needed to live independently. AFC provides a comprehensive continuum of housing, healthcare, educational, vocational, and supportive services through affirming, trauma-informed, and youth-centered programs that promote safety, stability, well-being, and long-term independence.

SCHEDULE: Monday - Friday 10 am-6 pm

LOCATION: Manhattan

WORKPLACE FLEXIBILITY: 4 days in and 1 day remote

POSITION SUMMARY

The Director of Learning & Life Skills provides leadership and oversight for AFCs education, workforce development, career readiness, credentialing, and life skills services. The Director ensures young people have access to coordinated opportunities that support educational achievement, industry-recognized credentials and certifications, employment, career development, independent living, and successful transitions into adulthood.

The Director oversees the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of learning and life skills programming and supervises staff responsible for education, workforce development, employment services, navigation, and related programming. The Director also oversees credentialing pathways and partnerships with schools, colleges, training providers, workforce programs, and other community-based organizations to expand educational, vocational, and career opportunities for young people. The role ensures that services are responsive to the individual goals, strengths, and needs of LGBTQ+ young people experiencing homelessness and housing instability.

The Director works collaboratively across AFC programs and with external educational and workforce partners to ensure that learning, education, credentialing, employment, and life skills services are integrated with young peoples broader service plans. The Director develops and maintains partnerships that strengthen pathways to education, training, credentials, and employment, while ensuring barriers affecting participation and progress are identified and addressed.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Program Leadership & Management

- Provide leadership and oversight of AFCs education, workforce development, career readiness, credentialing, and life skills services, ensuring programming is responsive to the goals and needs of young people.

- Establish departmental priorities, service standards, workflows, and annual goals while overseeing program development, implementation, and continuous improvement.

- Monitor program performance, identify service gaps, and strengthen client outcomes while supporting departmental planning, budgeting, resource allocation, and organizational priorities.

Staff Supervision & Development

- Provide direct supervision, coaching, and performance management to Learning & Life Skills staff, including regular supervision, team meetings, and performance evaluations.

- Establish clear expectations for service delivery, documentation, client engagement, and accountability while promoting collaboration across the team.

- Support staff development and capacity building in youth engagement, education and workforce navigation, facilitation, life skills instruction, and trauma-informed practices.

Learning, Life Skills & Curriculum Development

- Develop, oversee, and continuously improve curricula, workshops, and learning opportunities focused on independent living, financial literacy, workplace readiness, digital literacy, self-advocacy, and other essential life skills.

- Ensure programming is engaging, accessible, trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and tailored to the diverse needs, learning styles, and readiness levels of young people.

- Incorporate client feedback and identified needs into program development while promoting experiential, peer-led, and community-based learning opportunities.

Education, Credentialing & Workforce Development

- Oversee educational navigation and support, including high school completion, postsecondary education, vocational training, and pathways to industry-recognized credentials and certifications.

- Lead workforce readiness and career development services, including career exploration, job search preparation, interviewing, and individualized support toward education and employment goals.

- Monitor client progress and outcomes related to educational enrollment, credential attainment, training completion, employment, and other identified goals.

Partnership & Pathway Development

- Develop and maintain partnerships with educational institutions, vocational training providers, employers, workforce programs, and community-based organizations to expand opportunities for AFC youth.

- Identify and establish new pathways to education, credentialing, internships, training, and employment, ensuring effective referral and coordination processes.

- Represent AFC in external partnerships while monitoring the accessibility, quality, and effectiveness of opportunities to support successful client outcomes.

Youth Engagement, Assessment & Goal Development

- Oversee individualized assessments and goal-setting related to education, employment, credentialing, and life skills, ensuring alignment with each client's strengths, interests, readiness, and broader service plan.

- Promote trauma-informed, harm reduction, strengths-based, and affirming approaches to client engagement, addressing barriers to participation and supporting individualized pathways to success.

- Develop strategies to strengthen client engagement, retention, and self-determination while incorporating youth voice, feedback, and leadership into program development and service delivery.

Cross-Program Collaboration & Service Coordination

- Collaborate with AFCs housing, drop-in, case management, clinical, and other program teams to coordinate services and integrate education, employment, credentialing, and life skills goals into individualized service plans.

- Establish effective internal referral, communication, and service coordination processes to address client needs, barriers to participation, and access to supportive services.

- Monitor client engagement and retention trends, adjusting programming and outreach strategies while participating in interdisciplinary planning to strengthen service delivery and client outcomes.

Data, Outcomes & Continuous Improvement

- Monitor key performance indicators, including client participation, engagement, educational progress, credential attainment, training completion, employment outcomes, and overall program effectiveness.

- Ensure accurate, timely, and complete program documentation, data collection, and reporting, and regularly evaluate performance against established goals and deliverables.

- Use program data, client feedback, and outcome trends to identify service gaps, implement improvements, and collaborate across departments to strengthen program quality and measurable client outcomes.

Qualifications

QUALIFICATIONS

- Bachelor's degree in Education, Social Work, Human Services, Workforce Development, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant professional experience.

- Minimum of five (5) years of relevant experience in education, workforce development, youth development, or human services, including at least three (3) years of supervisory or program management experience.

- Demonstrated experience in program development and implementation, including curriculum design, service delivery, program evaluation, and continuous improvement.

- Strong knowledge of educational and workforce development pathways, including vocational training, credentialing, career readiness, and employment services.

- Experience developing community partnerships, managing program operations, supervising staff, and using data to monitor outcomes and improve service delivery.

- Knowledge of trauma-informed, strengths-based, harm reduction, and culturally responsive practices, with a demonstrated commitment to LGBTQ+ affirming and youth-centered services.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

- Master's degree in a related field.

- Experience working with LGBTQ+ young people, particularly those experiencing homelessness or housing instability.

- Experience managing government- or foundation-funded programs and developing education, workforce, or employer partnerships.

- Lived experience relevant to the communities served by AFC is valued.

WORK ENVIRONMENT & PHYSICAL DEMANDS

- Ability to work on-site four (4) days per week, with one (1) remote day, and flexibility to attend occasional evening or weekend meetings and events as needed.

- Ability to move throughout program spaces, facilitate workshops and meetings, and occasionally travel to other AFC locations or community partner sites.

- Ability to perform essential job functions, including prolonged periods of sitting, standing, computer use, and communicating with staff and clients, with or without reasonable accommodation.

- Must maintain professionalism, sound judgment, and attentiveness in a dynamic, fast-paced service environment.

CORE & ROLE-SPECIFIC COMPETENCIES

AFC Core Competencies

- Mission alignment and commitment to LGBTQ+ affirming, youth-centered practices.

- Cultural humility and ability to work effectively with diverse LGBTQ+ youth populations.

- Trauma-informed, strengths-based, and harm reduction approaches to service delivery.

- Clear communication, professionalism, collaboration, and accountability.

- Adaptability, sound judgment, and effective decision-making in dynamic environments.

Role-Related Competencies (examples)

- Strategic program leadership, development, implementation, and continuous improvement.

- Effective staff supervision, coaching, team development, and performance management.

- Knowledge of education, workforce development, career readiness, credentialing, and independent living skills programming.

- Ability to develop curricula, establish community partnerships, and expand educational and employment opportunities.

- Strong organizational, budget management, data analysis, and program evaluation skills.

- Ability to collaborate across departments, manage competing priorities, and drive measurable client outcomes.

BENEFITS & TOTAL REWARDS

- Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance

- 401(k) with up to a 5% employer match (vested after five years)

- Generous Paid Time Off, Sick Leave, Personal Leave, and 12 Paid Holidays

- Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

- Professional Development Opportunities

- Mission-driven, inclusive workplace culture

Thank you for your interest in the Ali Forney Center. Due to the high volume of applications received, only candidates selected for further consideration will be contacted. We encourage you to apply for any positions for which you meet the qualifications .

Ali Forney Center is an equal opportunity employer committed to a workplace where all employees feel respected, supported, and able to thrive. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected status.