Program Group Assistant

GET EXPERIENCE. BUILD CONFIDENCE. TAKE YOUR NEXT STEP.

NOW HIRING: GROUP ASSISTANTS – 8-WEEK PAID INTERNSHIP

YMCA Y Scholars Program

Want to work with kids, build real professional experience, and find out whether youth development could be the right path for you?

Start here.

The YMCA Y Scholars Program is looking for motivated people to join our team as Group Assistants in an 8-week paid internship.

You’ll spend your afternoons working directly with elementary and middle school students, learning from experienced youth development professionals, and building practical skills in leadership, communication, activity facilitation, behavior management, and teamwork.

You won’t just observe the work—you’ll do the work, receive coaching, and get better at it.

And if you demonstrate that you’re ready for more, there may be an opportunity to take the next step into a Group Leader position with the YMCA.

POSITION OVERVIEW

• Pay: $21/hour
• Job Type: Temporary Paid Internship, Part-Time, Non-Exempt
• Start Date: Immediate
• Internship Length: 8 weeks from your first day
• Schedule: At least 4 days per week, Monday–Friday
• Typical Shift: 2:00 PM–6:00 PM
• Hours: Approximately 16–20 hours per week
• Locations: Richmond, San Pablo, Pinole, El Sobrante, and Oakland
• Program Rotation: You will be assigned to a region and rotate between an elementary and middle school program.
• Map of Program Sites: http://map.ymcayscholars.org

MORE THAN A PART-TIME JOB

We created the Group Assistant internship for people who have potential but may still be building their professional experience.

Maybe you’re a college student looking for meaningful part-time work.

Maybe you’ve worked with children informally but haven’t had a professional youth development position yet.

Maybe you’re interested in education, recreation, social services, nonprofits, psychology, child development, or another people-centered career.

Or maybe you simply know that you enjoy working with young people and want an opportunity to develop your skills.

You don’t need to arrive as an expert.

You need to arrive ready to learn, contribute, and grow.

WHAT YOUR 8 WEEKS WILL LOOK LIKE

This is a hands-on internship.

You’ll work alongside Group Leaders and Site Leaders while gradually building your ability to take greater ownership of the student experience.

Throughout your internship, you’ll have opportunities to:

• Work directly with elementary and middle school students
• Support and eventually help lead enrichment activities
• Practice student engagement and group management
• Learn how to respond to challenging student behaviors
• Build professional communication and teamwork skills
• Receive coaching and feedback from program leaders
• Learn the daily operations of a school-based afterschool program
• Practice taking initiative and solving problems
• Discover your strengths as a youth development professional

Because you’ll rotate between elementary and middle school programs, you’ll also gain experience adapting your approach to different ages, personalities, and program environments.

WHAT HAPPENS AFTER 8 WEEKS?

Your internship has a defined 8-week timeline—but your opportunity with the YMCA may not end there.

Throughout your internship, we’ll be looking at your growth, reliability, initiative, relationships with students, ability to receive feedback, and readiness for greater responsibility.

At the conclusion of the internship, we’ll review your experience and discuss potential next steps.

Strong-performing Group Assistants may be considered for:

• Promotion into a Group Leader position
• Spring Break program opportunities
• Summer Camp positions
• Other available YMCA opportunities

Promotion or continued employment is not guaranteed and will depend on your performance, qualifications, program needs, and available positions.

ABOUT THE YMCA Y SCHOLARS PROGRAM

The YMCA Y Scholars Program partners with schools throughout West Contra Costa and Oakland to provide meaningful out-of-school-time experiences for young people.

Our vision is a world where every student discovers their purpose and reaches their full potential.

We bring that vision to life by creating opportunities centered around:

PHYSICAL PLAY
Helping students stay active, build healthy habits, and experience the joy of movement.

ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT
Supporting students as they learn, explore, practice new skills, and build confidence.

CREATIVE CURIOSITY
Giving young people opportunities to create, experiment, discover new interests, and express themselves.

At the center of all three is youth voice.

We want students to be active participants in their experience—not simply attendees in our program.

YOUR ROLE ON THE TEAM

As a Group Assistant, you’ll help Group Leaders and Site Leaders create an afterschool environment where students are safe, engaged, supported, and excited to participate.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Actively supervising students throughout the program day
• Building positive relationships with students
• Supporting homework, literacy, STEAM, sports, games, creative arts, and other enrichment activities
• Helping facilitate activities and group experiences
• Supporting student transitions and daily routines
• Learning and applying positive behavior management strategies
• Modeling respectful and age-appropriate behavior
• Accurately supporting attendance and program documentation
• Preparing materials and activity spaces
• Maintaining clean, organized, and safe program environments
• Supporting special events and school-site activities
• Communicating and collaborating with your program team
• Receiving feedback and applying coaching to your work
• Completing other program-related responsibilities as assigned

WHAT WILL MAKE YOU SUCCESSFUL HERE

Experience is valuable.

Your mindset matters just as much.

Our strongest Group Assistants are people who:

• Show up — Your team and students can depend on you.
• Stay engaged — You actively participate instead of standing on the sidelines.
• Take initiative — You notice what needs to be done and step in.
• Accept coaching — You listen to feedback and demonstrate improvement.
• Ask questions — You seek clarification instead of guessing.
• Build relationships — You take time to connect with students and teammates.
• Take accountability — You own mistakes, learn from them, and move forward.
• Stay curious — You look for new ways to contribute and improve.
• Bring positive energy — You help create the kind of environment students and teammates want to be part of.

We’re not looking for perfection.

We’re looking for growth.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Must be at least 18 years old
• Must have completed at least 48 college units or passed the Instructional Aide (IA) Exam
• If you have not completed 48 college units, we can provide information about the IA Exam.
• Must successfully complete DOJ/FBI criminal background clearance
• Must obtain CPR, First Aid, AED, and Child Abuse Prevention certifications within 30 days of hire

WHAT YOU’LL BUILD ALONG THE WAY

By the end of your internship, our goal is for you to leave with more than another line on your résumé.

You’ll have opportunities to develop real experience in:

• Youth development
• Activity facilitation
• Student engagement
• Behavior and group management
• Leadership
• Professional communication
• Teamwork
• Time management
• Problem-solving
• Accountability
• Giving and receiving feedback
• Working in a school-based environment

These are skills that can support future opportunities in education, youth development, recreation, nonprofits, social services, and leadership.

POSITION AND BENEFITS

• $21/hour paid internship
• Approximately 16–20 hours of work per week
• Structured coaching and professional development
• Hands-on elementary and middle school experience
• Free YMCA gym membership
• Opportunity to be considered for promotion into a Group Leader position
• Priority consideration for spring break and summer camp opportunities
• Continued leadership development and training
• Potential opportunities for future advancement within the YMCA

WORK ENVIRONMENT AND PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described below are representative of those required to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Team members must be able to:

• Demonstrate sufficient strength, agility, and mobility to supervise program activities
• Occasionally lift up to 30 pounds
• Frequently bend, stand, walk, and move throughout program spaces
• Remain active for extended periods
• Visually supervise activities in indoor and outdoor environments
• Respond quickly and appropriately during emergencies

THIS COULD BE YOUR FIRST STEP

You don’t have to have your entire career figured out.

You just need somewhere to start building it.

Group Assistant → Group Leader → Assistant Site Coordinator → Site Coordinator → Program Leadership

Eight weeks can give you the opportunity to gain experience, discover new strengths, make an impact on young people, and show that you’re ready for what comes next.

COME READY TO LEARN. SHOW US WHAT YOU CAN DO. BUILD WHAT COMES NEXT.

If that sounds like the opportunity you’ve been looking for, we’re ready to meet you.

Pay: $21.00 per hour

Expected hours: 16.0 – 20.0 per week

Benefits:

• Employee discount

Work Location: In person