GREATER SOMERSET COUNTY YMCA·Somerville, New Jersey
Counselors are responsible for supervising preschool-aged children and leading age-appropriate activities such as arts, crafts, and games. They also assist with daily routines, maintain a safe environment, and build positive relationships with children and their families.
Description An exciting opportunity to join the team of a progressive YMCA located in vibrant Somerset County, New Jersey. The YMCA is one of the nation’s leading nonprofit organizations dedicated to strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. With a 150-year-old history, Greater Somerset County YMCA (GSCY) is a pillar of the community and has seven locations across three counties, which collectively serve upwards of 30,000 individuals. GSCY has 100 full-time and 950 part-time employees along with operating revenues to $22+ million.
The Y empowers everyone—no matter who they are or where they are from.
To fulfill our purpose of strengthening community for all, GSCY is committed to being an inclusive organization and leveraging our collective impact to address social inequities.
To learn more about GSCY, visit our website: http://gscymca.org Somerville YMCA is seeking caring, energetic, and dependable individuals to support preschool-aged children in our Before and After Care program.
Counselors will help create a safe, nurturing, and engaging environment where children can play, learn, and build positive relationships.
This position is fully on-site and is not remote.
Essential Functions · Actively supervise preschool-aged children and maintain a safe, welcoming environment. · Lead age-appropriate activities, including arts and crafts, stories, music, games, sensory play, and outdoor activities. · Assist children with daily routines, transitions, handwashing, toileting, snack time, and cleanup. · Encourage positive behavior, cooperation, independence, and social-emotional development. · Build positive relationships with children and families. · Set up, organize, clean, and disinfect program spaces, toys, and equipment. · Communicate behavioral, health, or safety concerns to the Site Supervisor. · Follow YMCA policies, emergency procedures, child-abuse-prevention guidelines, and New Jersey childcare licensing requirements.
Must be at least 17 years old. Must have a high school diploma or be a high school senior. Experience working with preschool-aged children in a structured setting is preferred. Must be patient, dependable, and able to respond calmly to challenging situations. Must have strong communication skills and the ability to work effectively with children, families, and staff. Must complete all required background checks, training, and certifications.
Hours: Before Care: 7:00am-8:15am After Care: 2:15pm-6pm Candidates may work Before Care, After Care, or both shifts based on availability and program needs.
of working part-time at GSCY include: FREE Individual Membership Access to any YMCA in the Nation. 10% Discount on most programming at Greater Somerset County YMCA. Access to one of the leading retirement programs "Y Retirement Fund" from the first day of employment. Opportunities for professional development, mentoring, growth, and promotion throughout the YMCA Movement. Supportive and inclusive community for people of all backgrounds and access to Employee Resource Networks. Greater Somerset County YMCA is a drug free work environment. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information who share our values of Caring, Honesty, Respect and Responsibility.
Market context
In New Jersey, seasonal camp and recreation roles often draw steady interest when they require lifeguarding and safety credentials. This type of position is competitive because employers look for candidates who already have, or can quickly obtain, Red Cross Lifeguarding, CPR, and First Aid certification; the listed sign-on bonus and training support can help offset that. Review the AI-summarized requirements and benefits here to save time, then confirm your certifications and apply early.
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