After School Activity Instructor / Leadership Trainer

Join our dynamic team for the 2026-2027 school year!

Engaging, resilient, flexible, proactive, and punctual- these are just a few of the qualities you’ll bring to the role of Leadership Trainer.

Leadership Trainers bring mentoring, creative enrichment, and facilitation grounded in our unique student-centered approach to NYC public schools. We’re looking for resourceful and tenacious motivators who are passionate about helping young people build confidence, explore their interests, and develop as leaders.

You’re comfortable working in different settings, taking initiative, and can work both independently and as part of a team. Most importantly, you bring joy, creativity, and a willingness to learn and grow.

We serve elementary, middle, and high school students in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, and occasionally Manhattan. We strongly encourage multilingual candidates to apply, particularly those proficient in Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese, Haitian Creole, Bengali, or Russian.

Most new Leadership Trainers begin with at least one recurring placement. Additional assignments may become available throughout the school year, but the number of placements is not guaranteed.

Priority Opportunities

For the 2026-2027 school year, we are prioritizing candidates who can reliably work in the following communities:

• Mott Haven, Bronx


• Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn


• Borough Park/Mapleton, Brooklyn


• Gravesend, Brooklyn

We are especially seeking candidates who can facilitate Sports, Martial Arts, Dance, Chess, Financial Literacy.

We welcome candidates who can facilitate visual arts, theater, music, drumming, cooking, STEM, media, leadership development, college and career readiness, and other engaging enrichment activities.

What You’ll Do

• Plan and facilitate engaging, age appropriate programming based on your skills and experience


• Learn and incorporate TLP’s student-centered leadership-development methodology


• Create a safe, structured, inclusive, and joyful environment


• Serve as a mentor and positive role model


• Recruit and retain students as needed


• Build positive relationships with students, school staff, and team members


• Arrive prepared and on time for every scheduled session


• Set up program spaces and manage activity supplies


• Attend required meetings, training, and professional development


• Submit attendance, activity logs, and other required documentation accurately and on time


• Support special projects and activities involving students and school communities

What You’ll Bring

• At least two years of experience working with school-age children in a school, after school program, community organization, camp, arts program, or similar setting


• The ability to independently plan and facilitate programming in your area of expertise


• Strong communication, collaboration, and classroom management skills


• A dependable, adaptable, and resourceful approach


• The ability to work autonomously while remaining connected and accountable to your team


• Comfort using email and online systems to submit required documentation


• The ability to travel reliably to your assigned school site


• A bachelor’s degree in education, the arts, or a related field—or an equivalent combination of relevant experience and training is preferred.


• Current fingerprint clearance through the NYC Department of Education is also preferred but is not required at the time of application.

Don’t meet every single qualification? Don’t worry! If you’re passionate about working with young people and believe you would be a strong fit, we want to hear from you. Tell us how your experience, skills, and values would contribute to our community in your Cover Letter.

Employment and Compensation

Leadership Trainers are part-time employees of The Leadership Program. Placements are assigned based on school needs, qualifications, activity expertise, availability, and location. Because our partnerships and programming needs may change, schedules and placements can vary from one school year to the next.

• All newly hired Leadership Trainers start at $43.34 per hour


• After school programs typically run for three hours


• Advanced assignments and trainer levels carry increased rates


• Three required Unit Plans completed during the school year are compensated separately through stipends


• Employees are paid biweekly


• Required new hire Orientation is paid $20 per hour

Growth Opportunities

All new Leadership Trainers begin by facilitating after school and lunchtime enrichment programs. Leadership Trainers who demonstrate consistently strong performance may become eligible for additional opportunities, including in-class instruction, family workshops, professional development workshops, and special projects.

Advanced assignments carry increased rates based on the Leadership Trainer’s approved level and the type of work. Eligibility is based on performance, experience, completion of required training, and program needs. Additional assignments are not guaranteed.

What to Expect

Candidates moving forward will participate in:

1. A phone interview


2. A facilitation demonstration


3. Two days of required, paid Orientation

Candidates must be available to attend both Orientation dates in-person in their entirety:

• Thursday, September 17, 2026


• Friday, September 18, 2026

Final placement is contingent upon successful completion of the hiring process, required employment documentation, references, and applicable school clearances.

Please note: The Leadership Program does not provide visa sponsorship. Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States at the time of application and throughout their employment.