Afterschool Group Leader

2026–2027 Afterschool Programs Group Leader

Position Summary

Immigrant Social Services, Inc. (ISS) is seeking enthusiastic, dependable, and compassionate individuals who are passionate about making a positive difference in the lives of children and families. Group Leaders play an important role in creating safe, engaging, and inclusive afterschool environments where students can learn, build confidence, develop meaningful relationships, and discover their strengths.

Serving students in Pre-K through Grade 5, Group Leaders facilitate homework support, enrichment activities, recreation, and evidence-based social-emotional learning experiences that promote academic success and healthy youth development. Every interaction—from helping a student solve a challenging homework problem to leading a cooperative game or supporting a child through a difficult moment—is an opportunity to foster resilience, confidence, and lifelong skills.

Group Leaders receive comprehensive training and ongoing coaching to facilitate evidence-based curricula that strengthen students' social-emotional competencies, build protective factors, and promote healthy decision-making. Group Leaders are more than activity leaders—they are mentors, educators, and trusted adults who help children develop the skills they need to thrive both in and beyond the classroom.

About ISS Afterschool Programs

Serving students in Pre-K through Grade 5, Immigrant Social Services (ISS) operates afterschool programs at public school sites throughout Manhattan’s Lower East Side and Chinatown. We see the out-of-school time space as an opportunity to reimagine learning, achievement, and youth development in ways that respond to the lived realities, strengths, and aspirations of immigrant students and their families.

Social-emotional learning (SEL) forms the core of our afterschool programs. Through evidence-based SEL experiences, students develop the skills and mindsets they need to navigate relationships, manage emotions, solve problems, make responsible decisions, and build confidence and resilience. Whether helping a student work through a challenging homework problem, facilitating a cooperative game, or supporting a child through a difficult moment, every interaction is an opportunity to strengthen social-emotional skills and promote healthy development.

Our work is grounded in Positive Youth Development (PYD), which recognizes young people as capable, resourceful individuals with strengths, ideas, and contributions to make. We create environments where students can build meaningful relationships with adults and peers, develop a sense of belonging, exercise agency, explore their interests, and experience success. Rather than focusing only on what young people need to overcome, our programs intentionally cultivate the protective factors, relationships, and opportunities that help children thrive.

Within this SEL and Positive Youth Development framework, group leaders facilitate homework support, enrichment, recreation, and hands-on learning experiences that promote academic success and whole-child development. Program activities and curricular content integrate language arts and literacy, STEM, social studies, the arts, health and fitness, and social and emotional development—while creating space for curiosity, creativity, critical thinking, collaboration, and compassion.

Core Responsibilities

Create Safe, Inclusive, and Supportive Learning Environments

Group Leaders help create spaces where every child feels physically and emotionally safe, welcomed, and valued.

Responsibilities include:

• Supervise students and ensure their safety and wellbeing throughout all afterschool activities.
• Foster a welcoming, culturally responsive, and trauma-informed environment where children feel respected, included, and encouraged to participate.
• Build caring, supportive relationships that promote trust, belonging, and positive youth development.
• Encourage cooperation, responsibility, and respect through positive behavior support,and developmentally appropriate classroom management.
• Model professionalism, empathy, patience, and positive communication in all interactions with students, families, school staff, and colleagues.
• Recognize and respond appropriately to students' individual developmental, social emotional, and behavioral needs.

Support Students Throughout the Afterschool Experience

Every afternoon is different. Group Leaders help create a smooth, engaging, and supportive afterschool experience by confidently guiding groups of students through a variety of activities, settings, and learning experiences. Success in this role requires flexibility, sound judgment, and the ability to adapt to students' changing needs throughout the day.

Group Leaders are responsible for:

• Guiding students through the many parts of the afterschool day, including arrival, snack, homework, enrichment, recreation, and dismissal.
• Supervising students in a variety of settings, including classrooms, cafeterias, gymnasiums, playgrounds, hallways, and other shared spaces.
• Leading safe, organized, and positive transitions between activities while maintaining student engagement and appropriate behavior.
• Providing academic support and facilitating homework support in both small- and large-group settings.
• Recognizing when students need additional encouragement, redirection, or emotional support and responding with patience, empathy, and professionalism.
• Creating opportunities throughout the afternoon for students to practice leadership, cooperation, communication, and responsible decision-making.

Facilitate Social-Emotional Learning 

ISS believes children develop important life skills through meaningful relationships, engaging learning experiences, and opportunities to practice positive behaviors every day. Group Leaders play an active role in helping students build the knowledge, skills, and confidence needed to succeed in school and life.

After completing ISS training and receiving ongoing coaching, Group Leaders facilitate evidence-based Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) curricula while reinforcing these skills throughout daily interactions, activities, and routines.

Group Leaders help students develop:

• Self-awareness and self-confidence
• Self-management and emotional regulation
• Responsible decision-making
• Positive relationship skills
• Social awareness and empathy
• Communication and conflict resolution skills
• Problem-solving and critical thinking
• Leadership, teamwork, and cooperation

By integrating these skills into homework support, enrichment activities, recreation, and everyday interactions, Group Leaders help children build habits that contribute to long-term academic success and healthy development.

Collaboration & Professional Responsibilities

High-quality afterschool programs are built through teamwork, communication, and a shared commitment to helping children succeed. Group Leaders work closely with Site Directors, fellow staff, school personnel, and families to provide a consistent, supportive experience for every student.

Responsibilities include:

• Collaborate with Site Directors, school staff, and fellow Group Leaders to provide engaging, high-quality programming.
• Communicate professionally with colleagues, families, and school personnel to support student success and well-being.
• Promptly report concerns related to student safety, attendance, behavior, or well-being to supervisory staff.
• Participate actively in staff meetings, trainings, coaching sessions, and professional development opportunities.
• Maintain accurate attendance, lesson implementation records, and other required program documentation.
• Carry out responsibilities in accordance with ISS's mission, positive youth development philosophy, and organizational values.

Qualifications

We're looking for individuals who enjoy working with children, are eager to learn, and are excited to make a positive impact in their community.

Required Qualifications

• Currently enrolled in college or have completed some college coursework.
• At least 18 years of age.
• Experience working with children in schools, afterschool programs, camps, tutoring programs, childcare settings, or other youth-serving organizations.
• Experience leading activities or facilitating groups of children.
• Ability to work during afterschool hours throughout the school year.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Dependable, professional, and committed to creating a positive experience for children.

Preferred Qualifications

• Ability to build supportive relationships with children and families from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds.
• Effective classroom management and positive behavior support skills.
• Strong situational judgment and adaptability, with the ability to recognize what each moment calls for—whether supporting an individual student, guiding a small group, managing transitions, or leading engaging activities for a larger group.
• Comfortable working in an active, fast-paced environment where schedules, settings, and student needs change throughout the afternoon.
• Willingness to receive coaching and implement evidence-based curricula with fidelity.
• Commitment to continuous professional growth and reflective practice.
• Bilingual in Mandarin, Cantonese, Fujianese, or Spanish preferred.
• Experience working with immigrant, multilingual, and underserved communities is highly desirable.

Why Join ISS?

At ISS, you'll do more than supervise children after school—you'll become part of a mission-driven organization dedicated to strengthening immigrant communities through education, prevention, and youth development.

As an ISS Group Leader, you'll gain valuable professional experience while making a lasting impact on the lives of children and families. Whether you're pursuing a career in education, psychology, counseling, social work, public health, or another care profession, this position provides meaningful opportunities to develop practical skills that will support your future career.

What You'll Gain

• Hands-on experience working with elementary-aged children in a school-based setting.
• Paid training in evidence-based Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) curricula.
• Coaching from experienced youth development professionals.
• Experience facilitating engaging lessons, enrichment activities, and group discussions.
• Leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills that transfer across education and human services careers.
• Experience working with culturally and linguistically diverse children and families.
• Opportunities to build your resume while making a meaningful difference in your community.

At ISS, we believe investing in our staff is essential to providing high-quality programs for children. We are committed to supporting your growth as a youth development professional through training, mentorship, and continuous learning.

Hours and Commitment: This is a part-time/contract position for the 2026-27 school year that follows the NYC DOE academic calendar. Must be available during afterschool hours, Monday–Friday, 2:00 pm/2:30 pm – 5:45 pm/6:00 pm (start and end times depend on location). Flexible days, but five days a week is preferred. Hiring is contingent upon passing a background check. Must be available for orientation in late August or early September 2026. 
 

Location: Our afterschool programs operate at public school sites in the Lower East Side/Chinatown neighborhood.

Payrate: $17.00 - $18.00 per hour - depending on experience

Application Process:

To apply, please email your resume and cover letter to hr@issnyc.org with the subject line: Afterschool Programs Group Leader.

About ISS

Founded in 1972, Immigrant Social Services, Inc. (ISS) is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the conditions of underserved immigrants in Chinatown/Lower East Side, New York City. The majority of immigrant families we serve are from low-income, monolingual Chinese-speaking multigenerational households.  Through programs and services centered on care, education, prevention, and community, we nurture and empower immigrant children/youth, young adults, seniors, and families to develop and restore their agency to strengthen the wellbeing of their communities. For more information, visit  www.issnyc.org.

Equal Opportunity Employment

Immigrant Social Services, Inc. (ISS) is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.