Veronica Arts Media

About Veronica Arts Media: Veronica Arts Media Inc.  is a nonprofit organization dedicated to addressing issues that impact youth, families, and seniors. VAM serves hundreds of students each year through after-school programs, summer camps, and cultural arts opportunities. 

Veronica Arts Media offers students access to arts, sports, leadership, STEM, and academic opportunities through after-school programs that foster positive youth development, teach new skills, and encourage learning through exploration. Our programs provide an environment where students learn to think critically and communicate confidently; a place where students develop the tools necessary to realize their individual talents and embrace the larger world through meaningful opportunities for experiential education, service learning, and community building.

Visit us at www. veronicaartsmedia.org

Position Overview

The Content Specialist supports the planning, development, and implementation of high-quality programming for a DYCD-funded elementary school after-school program. This role is responsible for managing program content across required areas, including academic support, literacy enrichment, STEAM, media arts, physical fitness, wellness, social-emotional learning, arts, leadership, and enrichment activities that support the whole child.

The Content Specialist will help ensure that program activities are developmentally appropriate for elementary-aged students and aligned with DYCD, SACC, school, and organizational expectations. This role supports Activity Specialists, Group Leaders, and Youth Workers through lesson planning, observation, coaching, training, and professional development.

This is a part-time position requiring 18 hours per week. The Content Specialist reports to the Program Director and Executive Director. The Content Specialist cannot also serve as the Program Director.

Key Responsibilities

● Select, organize, and manage program content across DYCD-required content areas.
● Support high-quality elementary programming in literacy, STEAM, media arts, physical fitness, wellness, SEL, arts, leadership, and academic enrichment.
● Ensure activities are age-appropriate, safe, structured, joyful, and aligned with the developmental needs of elementary school students.
● Review, adapt, and create lesson plans and curriculum materials as needed.
● Support Activity Specialists, Group Leaders, and Youth Workers in delivering engaging and meaningful activities.
● Conduct observations of program activities and provide staff with coaching, feedback, and support.
● Assist with staff training and professional development focused on youth engagement, classroom routines, behavior support, lesson delivery, and positive program culture.
● Support literacy enrichment and reading-based activities aligned with school and program goals, including NYC Reads-related initiatives where applicable.
● Help staff create strong routines for transitions, group management, hands-on learning, and student safety.
● Support inclusion practices for students with diverse learning, behavioral, physical, and social-emotional needs.
● Collaborate with the Program Director to ensure program activities align with DYCD COMPASS requirements and VAM’s mission.
● Support family engagement activities, culminating events, student showcases, and community-building experiences.
● Maintain organized curriculum materials, activity calendars, lesson plans, and program quality documentation as needed.
● Help ensure the program promotes student confidence, creativity, academic growth, teamwork, and social-emotional development.

Requirements

● Bachelor’s degree required.
● At least one year of experience in a supervisory, oversight, coaching, curriculum, or program quality role.
● Experience working with elementary-aged children in an after-school, school-based, nonprofit, community-based, camp, or youth development setting.
● Experience supporting or developing child-centered enrichment activities in areas such as literacy, STEAM, arts, media, wellness, sports, SEL, or academic support.
● Ability to support, coach, and guide staff in lesson planning and activity facilitation.
● Strong understanding of elementary student development, behavior support, and safe program routines.
● Must complete required clearances, including DOE fingerprinting, Statewide Central Registry clearance, and Department of Health/SACC-related requirements, as applicable.
● The Content Specialist may not serve as the Program Director.

Qualifications

● Knowledge of DYCD COMPASS program expectations preferred.
● Experience supporting after-school or expanded learning programming for elementary students.
● Ability to create engaging, hands-on, and developmentally appropriate activities.
● Strong coaching, communication, organization, and problem-solving skills.
● Experience supporting staff observations, lesson planning, and program quality improvement.
● Commitment to educational equity, student safety, family partnership, and culturally responsive practices.
● Experience with literacy enrichment, project-based learning, media arts, STEAM, physical fitness, or SEL programming strongly preferred.

Approach to Work

● Strong commitment to educational equity and whole-child development.
● Passion for working with elementary students in under-resourced communities.
● Warm, patient, structured, and student-centered approach.
● Ability to support staff with professionalism, encouragement, and clear expectations.
● Commitment to creating safe, joyful, inclusive, and engaging learning environments.

Pay and Benefits

● Commensurate with experience.
● Part-time schedule, 20 hours per week.
● Sick and Safe Leave, as applicable.
● Select DOE holidays, depending on OST program operating schedules.

Veronica Arts Media Inc. is an equal-opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws.

This policy applies to all employment practices within our organization, including hiring, recruiting, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, leave of absence, compensation, benefits, training, and apprenticeship. Veronica Arts Media Inc. makes hiring decisions based solely on qualifications, merit, and business needs at the time.