ABOUT COMMONPOINT:
At Commonpoint, community is at the heart of everything we do. With more than 90 program sites and flagship locations in Little Neck, Bayside, Forest Hills, East Elmhurst, and Jamaica, we proudly serve over 125,000 individuals each year. From early childhood to older adulthood, we support people from all walks of life on their journeys from crisis to stability and empowerment. Our wide range of programs, spanning social services, education, and recreation, reflects our mission to build a more connected, inclusive, and thriving community for all.
ABOUT THE ROLE:
The Content Specialist serves as the instructional lead for the program, supporting high-quality service delivery through curriculum development, instructional coaching, professional development, and inclusive instructional practices. Working closely with the Program Director, this role ensures programming aligns with DYCD requirements, school-day priorities, and Commonpoint standards while serving as the program's designated Inclusion Coordinator.
The Content Specialist strengthens instructional quality, builds staff capacity, and promotes equitable access to learning by supporting inclusive, trauma-informed, and strengths-based programming. In the designated Inclusion Coordinator role, the Content Specialist supports the implementation of accommodations, inclusive practices, and participant support processes in collaboration with the Program Director.
Across the agency, our seasonal and part-time staff play a crucial role in driving our initiatives forward by supporting daily operations, program delivery, and organizational goals.
Reports to the Program Director.
ROLE RESPONSIBILITIES:
Agency Expectations:
- Support agency initiatives by carrying out assigned duties accurately and efficiently, while following established processes and contributing to basic data collection, reporting, or documentation as required.
- Use agency resources responsibly by following established procedures, safeguarding equipment and materials, and/or supporting cost-effective operations.
- Work effectively with supervisors, coworkers, and cross-department teams to ensure clear communication, timely task completion, and a positive, respectful work environment.
- Follow all safety protocols, policies, and procedures to maintain a safe work environment for staff, partners, and the public, and promptly report concerns or incidents.
Role Expectations:
Curriculum, Program Quality & Youth Development:
- Lead curriculum selection, lesson planning, and alignment with DYCD-required content areas, school-day learning, and Commonpoint standards.
- Ensure high-quality implementation of curriculum and enrichment activities while adapting instruction to support diverse learning needs and inclusive participation.
- Observe staff and provide coaching on instructional practices, activity delivery, classroom management, and participant engagement.
- Identify staff development needs and facilitate ongoing professional learning through coaching, modeling, and instructional support.
- Monitor instructional quality through observations, participant feedback, and data to support continuous quality improvement.
- Provide instructional leadership and support across assigned program sites (approximately 9 hours per week per site, supporting up to three programs).
Inclusion & Student Support- Serving as the program's designated Inclusion Coordinator:
- Support implementation of participant accommodations and inclusive practices in collaboration with the Program Director.
- Maintain required participant support documentation, including Individualized Accommodation Plans (IAPs), behavioral support documentation, and referral records.
- Coach staff on differentiated instruction, inclusive classroom strategies, trauma-informed practices, restorative approaches, and positive behavior supports.
- Collaborate with families, school personnel, and community providers to support participant success and equitable access to programming.
- Communicate participant needs, instructional recommendations, and emerging trends to the Program Director to support coordinated planning and follow-up.
Impact & Data Strategy:
- Monitor curriculum implementation, instructional quality, participant engagement, and participant support outcomes.
- Utilize observations, participant data, surveys, and quality reviews to identify trends and recommend instructional improvements.
- Support Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) through instructional coaching and data-informed decision making.
- Maintain accurate instructional records, participant support documentation, and quality monitoring tools.
People & Talent Development:
- Coach, mentor, and support Group Leaders, Activity Specialists, Youth Workers, and program staff in instructional practices, classroom management, and inclusive programming.
- Plan and facilitate professional development aligned with DYCD priorities, instructional quality, SEL, literacy integration, inclusion, and positive behavior supports.
- Model effective instructional strategies and provide ongoing coaching and feedback to strengthen staff performance.
- Support onboarding and continuous development of instructional staff.
Partnerships & External Relations:
- Collaborate with the Program Director, school staff, families, and community providers to support instructional quality, participant success, and inclusive programming.
- Coordinate with educational vendors and enrichment partners to enhance program offerings and participant experiences.
- Support family engagement activities that reinforce academic success, SEL, and participant development.
- Participate in cross-site collaboration and agency initiatives to promote consistency and share best practices.
Cross-Department Collaboration & Communication:
- Maintain consistent communication with the Program Director regarding instructional quality, participant needs, and program implementation.
- Collaborate with agency departments and support teams to strengthen program quality and participant outcomes.
- Participate in staff meetings, professional learning communities, and agency initiatives.
Operations, Safety & Risk Management:
- Support compliance with DYCD, DOH, NYSED (where applicable), and Commonpoint requirements through high-quality instructional practices, participant support documentation, and program implementation.
- Support monitoring visits, quality reviews, and corrective action planning.
- Maintain accurate instructional, inclusion, and program documentation.
- Perform additional duties as assigned to support program and agency operations
QUALIFICATIONS & KEY ATTRIBUTES:
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor's degree in Education, Special Education, Social Work, Child Development, Psychology, Human Services, or a related field required.
- Minimum two (2) years of experience in curriculum development, instructional coaching, youth development, education, or inclusive programming.
- Experience supporting staff through coaching, professional development, or instructional leadership.
- Knowledge of positive youth development, social-emotional learning (SEL), differentiated instruction, trauma-informed practices, and inclusive programming.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, and online data management systems.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- New York State Teaching Certification and/or Master's degree in Education or a related field preferred.
- Experience working in a DYCD-funded afterschool or school-based program.
- Previous experience in a Commonpoint role is a plus.
- Bilingual skills are welcomed.
KEY ATTRIBUTES:
- Strong instructional leadership, coaching, and facilitation skills.
- Excellent communication, relationship-building, and collaboration skills.
- Strong organizational and problem-solving skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
- Ability to build staff capacity through coaching, mentoring, and professional development.
- Commitment to inclusive, trauma-informed, strengths-based, and high-quality programming.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, and online data management systems.
COMPENSATION & BENEFITS:
Commonpoint offers competitive base salaries benchmarked against comparable nonprofit organizations in the New York metropolitan area. Salaries are determined based on internal and external equity, as well as each position’s scope, qualifications, and organizational impact. We believe in compensating staff fairly and consistently, ensuring that all salary decisions align with our mission-driven commitment to equity and transparency.
To maintain fairness across the organization, salary offers are set according to established salary bands and are not subject to negotiation. New hires typically start near the beginning of the salary range to allow for growth based on performance, professional development, and tenure.
WORKING CONDITIONS & JOB DETAILS:
WORKING CONDITIONS:
Work is performed primarily in a school or office setting, with regular activities conducted in classrooms, gyms, cafeterias, outdoor spaces, and other program environments as needed.
- Position may require exposure to varying environmental conditions, including outdoor weather, loud noise, and other conditions associated with school-age and community-based programming.
- Requires the ability to sit, stand, walk, bend, stoop, reach, and use a computer and other office equipment for extended periods throughout the workday.
- Must be able to lift and carry materials, supplies, and equipment weighing up to 25 pounds, with occasional assistance for heavier items as needed.
- Requires flexibility to work occasional evenings, weekends, and extended hours to support program operations, special events, training, family engagement activities, and agency initiatives.
- Travel between program sites, schools, agency locations, and community events may be required based on program, operational, and funding needs. Temporary reassignment to alternate program sites, including summer program locations, may also be required to support agency operations.
JOB DETAILS:
- Location: 70-10 164th Street, Fresh Meadows, NY, 11365
- Work Schedule: Monday–Friday. Typical afterschool hours are approximately 2:00 PM–6:00 PM. Schedules may vary based on program needs and may include earlier start or end times, as well as full-day shifts during school breaks, holidays, training, meetings, and special events. Up to 19 hours per week.
- Non Union Position.
- In Person.
Commonpoint is an equal opportunity employer