Afterschool Counselor (Part Time)

Do you love working with kids, bringing creativity and fun to every day, and making a positive impact in your community? The Summit Area YMCA is hiring Afterschool Counselors to support our school-based programs located directly inside local elementary schools and at our YMCA Branches. This role has availability at both our branches and offsite locations. Our current availability is at Summit YMCA, Berkeley Heights YMCA, Hughes, Salt Brook, Mary Kay McMillin, and Woodruff Schools, where we provide a safe, engaging, and enriching environment for children after the school day ends.

As an Afterschool Counselor, you’ll play a crucial role in creating a welcoming, safe, and exciting environment for kids during out-of-school hours. You’ll actively lead games, crafts, sports, and other activities that promote learning, confidence, and social skills. You’ll ensure the well-being of every child and serve as a caring mentor and role model.

You May Be the Right Person If You:

• Love working with children and helping them learn and grow
• Are patient, compassionate, and positive, even on busy days
• Bring energy and enthusiasm to everything you do
• Enjoy being creative and planning engaging activities
• Are a great communicator and team player
• Stay calm and flexible when plans change
• Value inclusion and respect for people from all backgrounds
• Are dependable, responsible, and proactive

What You’ll Do:

• Engage children in fun, age-appropriate activities
• Supervise and ensure safety at all times
• Teach and uphold program rules and positive behavior expectations
• Keep accurate records, including sign-in/out and incident reports
• Communicate effectively with parents and the Program Director
• Help maintain a clean and organized program space
• Attend all staff meetings and training sessions

Salary & Benefits:

The salary for this position starts at $17.00 - $19.50 per hour, based on experience. This position is part-time, scheduled to work Monday - Friday 2:30 pm - 6:00 pm. Position runs on the local school calendar, but staff are also expected to work holiday care during school vacations.

The Summit Area YMCA offers generous employee benefits. Part-time benefits include a free YMCA membership, discounts on Y family membership, and a 12% contribution to the YMCA retirement plan upon eligibility.

At the Summit Area YMCA, we are committed to equal opportunity employment regardless of gender, age, disability, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or religious affiliation. Our main purpose is to strengthen community. Every day, we work side-by-side with our neighbors to make sure that everyone can reach their full potential, and we strive to live our cause with purpose every day. No matter who you are or where you’re from, we believe that we’re stronger when we come together.

• Must have experience and/or interest in working with young children.
• Must possess planning and organizational skills,
• Must have strong leadership skills, flexibility and patience.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills required.
• Must have or complete prior to active work NJCCIS trainings.
• Current CPR/ AED & First Aid certifications or ability to obtain within 90 days.

About the Summit Area YMCA:

We were founded as the Young Men's Christian Association in 1886, but today, we are The Y. Part of a world-class organization, we are one of the area’s leading nonprofits, that values, and is made stronger by, its diverse people. The Summit Area YMCA is committed to strengthening community by connecting all people to their potential, purpose, and each other. Working locally, we focus on empowering young people, improving health and well-being, and inspiring action in and across communities. By bringing together people from different backgrounds, perspectives, and generations, we ensure that we all have access to the opportunities, relationships, and resources necessary to learn, grow and thrive.