Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Youth Program Developer

🎯 Role Definition

As a Youth Program Developer, you will design, implement and lead impactful programs that support the personal, academic, social and career development of young people. You will collaborate with community partners, schools, families and youth themselves to create inclusive, safe and engaging program experiences. You will oversee all phases of program lifecycle — from planning, funding and resource management to delivery, evaluation and continuous improvement. Your goal is to help youth build skills, connect with positive role models, engage in meaningful experiences and prepare for success in life.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Youth Program Coordinator or Youth Outreach Specialist
Community Engagement Officer working with young people
After‑school Program Facilitator or Recreation Specialist

Advancement To:

Senior Youth Program Developer or Youth Services Manager
Director of Youth Engagement or Youth & Family Services
Head of Youth Development Strategy or Non‑profit Program Director

Lateral Moves:

Youth Mentor/Coach Specialist
Community Partnership Manager (Youth Focus)
Grant Writer or Program Evaluation Specialist for youth services

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Lead the development and planning of youth‑focused programs, including life skills workshops, mentoring, academic enrichment, leadership development and career pathways.
Collaborate with schools, community organizations, parents/guardians and youth stakeholders to assess needs, identify resources and design tailored program content and strategies.
Create program curriculum and lesson plans that engage diverse youth populations, incorporate culturally responsive practices, and align with organizational mission and youth development outcomes.
Manage program budgets, resources and schedules; allocate staff, volunteers, materials and facilities effectively to deliver high‑quality services.
Recruit, train, supervise and mentor youth workers, volunteers and interns to deliver productive, positive youth experiences in line with best practices and organisational standards.
Implement outreach and engagement strategies to recruit youth participants, build rapport, foster trusting relationships and encourage sustained involvement.
Oversee program delivery: lead group sessions, individual mentoring, field trips, special events and community service opportunities that enhance youth growth and engagement.
Monitor and evaluate program outcomes: collect and analyse participation data, feedback, impact metrics and continuously refine activities to improve youth impact, retention and success.
Ensure program environments are safe, inclusive, accessible and supportive; maintain compliance with relevant policies, safeguarding standards, child protection regulations and risk management procedures.
Develop and maintain partnerships with external stakeholders such as community agencies, local government, business sponsors, educational institutions and youth networks to expand program reach and resources.
Coordinate grant applications, donor relations and funding opportunities to secure external support for youth programs and manage reporting requirements to funders.
Design and implement marketing, communication and promotion plans (including social media, community events, outreach campaigns) to raise program awareness among youth, families and partners.
Lead program evaluation, prepare reports for senior leadership and funders, share success stories, identify challenges and propose program improvement actions.
Maintain accurate records, registration data, attendance logs, incident reports, financial documents and participant progress trackers to ensure accountability and transparency.
Promote youth voice and leadership by creating opportunities for young people to co‑design activities, share feedback, lead projects and serve as peer mentors.
Facilitate workshops and training sessions for youth and their families on topics such as career readiness, financial literacy, digital skills, health and wellness, civic engagement and entrepreneurship.
Respond to crises, behavioural issues or acute needs of youth participants; provide appropriate referrals to support services, manage incident follow‑up and maintain a safe space for youth.
Coordinate summer programs, after‑school initiatives, evening/weekend programming and special events tailored to youth development goals and calendar demands.
Build and maintain youth development frameworks, program standards, policies and procedures; incorporate evidence‑based practices, research findings and youth development theory.
Lead continuous improvement: conduct needs assessments, scan emerging trends in youth services, integrate best practices, pilot new program models and scale successful initiatives.
Foster a positive, inclusive culture by modelling professional behaviour, promoting youth empowerment, celebrating achievements, and upholding organizational values.

Secondary Functions

Support ad‑hoc data requests and exploratory analysis of youth program metrics or community trends.
Contribute to the organisation’s youth strategy and program roadmap, helping priorities for growth, expansion or diversification.
Collaborate with business units and community partners to translate youth development needs into program specifications and engineering of service models.
Participate in planning sessions, staff meetings and agile review cycles for program iteration and improvement.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Strong program design and curriculum development skills focused on youth populations, including life‑skills, leadership and civic engagement.
Experience in youth outreach, recruitment, engagement strategies and youth retention practices.
Proficiency in data collection, monitoring and evaluation methodologies, measurement of youth outcomes, analytics and reporting to stakeholders.
Budgeting and resource management skills including oversight of program expenses, grants, contracts and staff/volunteer deployment.
Knowledge of youth development theory, age‑appropriate pedagogy, inclusive practices and risk‑management for youth services.
Competence in partnership development and stakeholder management: building collaborations with schools, community agencies, businesses and funders.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills: able to produce program reports, funding proposals, marketing materials, and engage youth, parents and partners.
Proficient with digital tools, MS Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), database systems and program management software.
Ability to facilitate workshops, training sessions or group activities for youth and families on a variety of topics (career readiness, financial literacy, digital skills).
Familiarity with grant writing, donor relations and funding processes for non‑profit youth programs.

Soft Skills

Empathy and passion for working with young people from diverse backgrounds; strong role‑modeling and mentoring presence.
Excellent interpersonal and relationship‑building skills: able to engage youth, families, volunteers and community partners effectively.
Leadership and team‑management capabilities: supervise staff/volunteers, build culture, coach and develop others.
Strategic thinking and initiative: able to align program goals with organisational strategy, anticipate youth needs and implement proactive solutions.
Adaptability and flexibility: able to adjust programming to changing community contexts, youth interests and resource constraints.
Problem‑solving and critical thinking: able to identify challenges in program delivery, propose solutions and implement changes.
Time‑management and organisation: juggle multiple programs, events, stakeholders and deadlines with efficiency.
Cultural sensitivity and inclusion: foster an environment where all youth feel valued, respected and empowered.
Communication under pressure: manage crises or behavioural issues calmly and act decisively when required.
Collaboration and facilitation: work across teams, engage volunteers and youth participants in shared ownership of programs.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Bachelor’s degree in Youth Development, Education, Social Work, Psychology, Community Development or a related field.

Preferred Education:

Master’s degree in Youth Studies, Non‑Profit Management, Education Leadership or similar, and/or certification in youth work, program management or community engagement.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Youth Development & Leadership
Education or Social Work
Psychology or Human Services
Community Development and Non‑Profit Management

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

3–5 years of direct experience designing and managing youth programs, outreach or youth services.

Preferred:

5+ years of progressive experience in youth program development and leadership, with track record of delivering measurable outcomes, securing funding, managing partnerships and scaling programs.