Since 1914, the Police Athletic League (PAL) has worked to create safe, supportive spaces where New York City youth can learn, grow, and thrive. PAL PLAYSTREETS continues this mission by transforming public spaces across New York City into supervised, engaging environments where children and families can access free recreational, athletic, and enrichment activities.
Over the course of seven weeks each summer, PAL PLAYSTREETS provides children ages 6-16 with safe and structured opportunities to participate in sports, arts, recreation, and community-building activities in neighborhoods throughout New York City. Each PLAYSTREET site is staffed with dedicated youth development professionals who serve as mentors and positive role models for participants.
The PLAYSTREETS Site Director is responsible for overseeing the daily operations of an assigned PLAYSTREETS location. The Site Director serves as the on-site leader, ensuring a safe, welcoming, and inclusive environment for youth while supervising staff, coordinating activities, maintaining program quality, and building positive relationships with families, residents, community partners, and local stakeholders.
The Site Director will supervise and support Arts Specialists and Sports Specialists while working closely with PAL leadership, NYPD partners, NYCHA representatives, and community members to create a positive and engaging summer experience for youth.
Schedule- Seasonal Summer Position
- Seven-week program
- Monday through Thursday
- 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
- Must be available to work outdoors in varying summer weather conditions, including heat and sun
$25.00 per hour
Essential Duties and Responsibilities- Oversee the daily operations of an assigned PAL PLAYSTREETS site, ensuring programming runs safely, smoothly, and effectively.
- Create and maintain a welcoming, inclusive, and positive environment for youth, families, staff, and community members.
- Supervise, support, and provide direction to Arts Specialists and Sports Specialists assigned to the site.
- Ensure staff are prepared to deliver engaging, age-appropriate athletic, recreational, and enrichment activities.
- Monitor participant safety, attendance, engagement, and overall program quality.
- Implement PAL policies, procedures, and safety protocols, including incident reporting and emergency response procedures.
- Maintain accurate program records, including attendance, activity documentation, and required reports.
- Serve as the primary point of contact at the site for PAL leadership, community partners, NYPD representatives, NYCHA representatives, and other stakeholders.
- Build positive relationships with youth, families, residents, and community members to strengthen trust, engagement, and community connections.
- Address participant behavior concerns and resolve site-level challenges using positive youth development practices.
- Ensure program supplies, equipment, and activity areas are organized, safe, and properly maintained.
- Support special events, including PAL PLAYSTREETS Borough Day celebrations.
- Encourage youth participation in sports, arts, and recreational activities that promote teamwork, confidence, creativity, and positive decision-making.
- Serve as a positive role model by demonstrating professionalism, reliability, respect, and commitment to PAL’s mission.
- Minimum of two (2) years of experience working with children and/or youth in a recreational, educational, after-school, summer camp, or community-based setting.
- Experience supervising staff, leading activities, or coordinating youth programs preferred.
- Strong ability to engage children and youth ages 6-16 in a positive, supportive, and encouraging manner.
- Demonstrated ability to create and maintain a safe, structured, and inclusive environment.
- Strong communication, leadership, and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to work effectively with diverse communities, families, youth, and community partners.
- Experience working in outdoor recreation, sports programming, youth development, or community-based initiatives preferred.
- Ability to work outdoors for extended periods and adapt to changing weather conditions.
- Ability to manage multiple responsibilities while maintaining strong attention to detail.
- Must be dependable, organized, and comfortable working in an active outdoor environment.
- Must complete all required PAL clearances and trainings prior to beginning employment.
- Bilingual candidates are encouraged to apply.
- High school diploma or equivalent required.
- Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Education, Recreation, Youth Development, Social Work, or a related field preferred.
At the Police Athletic League, we seek people who are talented, creative and passionate to help create a more inclusive city and better futures for our youth. We’re devoted to empowering communities and building the best places to work, and that goes for our own teams too.
The Police Athletic League is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected characteristic including, but not limited to, an individual’s sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy
Employment with PAL is contingent upon successful completion of all the Agency’s lawful pre-employment checks, which may include a background check.
Skills Required
- Minimum of two (2) years of experience working with children and/or youth in a recreational, educational, after-school, summer camp, or community-based setting.
- Experience supervising staff, leading activities, or coordinating youth programs.
- Strong ability to engage children and youth ages 6-16 in a positive, supportive, and encouraging manner.
- Demonstrated ability to create and maintain a safe, structured, and inclusive environment.
- Strong communication, leadership, and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to work effectively with diverse communities, families, youth, and community partners.
- Experience working in outdoor recreation, sports programming, youth development, or community-based initiatives.
- Ability to work outdoors for extended periods and adapt to changing weather conditions.
- Ability to manage multiple responsibilities while maintaining strong attention to detail.
- Must be dependable, organized, and comfortable working in an active outdoor environment.
- Must complete all required PAL clearances and trainings prior to beginning employment.
- Bilingual candidates are encouraged to apply.
- High school diploma or equivalent.
- Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Education, Recreation, Youth Development, Social Work, or related field.
What We Do
The Police Athletic League of New York City (PAL) is a non-profit organization that supports and inspires New York City youth to realize their full individual potential as productive members of society. With the support of committed staff and NYPD officers, it provides over 30,000 young people in underserved neighborhoods access to academic adventures, sports, arts, job training, and mentoring.
