Kite’s Nest is a center for liberatory education in Hudson, NY. It is our mission to build the collective capacity of young people in our community to bring about healing, personal transformation, social connection, and systemic change. We work in a deeply collaborative environment that is committed to embodying the values that we seek to foster in the world. Everyone who joins our staff is part of a family of educators, activists, thinkers and artists who are committed both to our work with young people and to nurturing a healthy and supportive organizational culture.
Note: Kite’s Nest is an equal opportunity employer and strongly encourages Black, Indigenous, and people of color, people identifying as LGBTQIA+, people with disabilities, formerly incarcerated people, immigrants, and people with working class backgrounds to apply. If you’re excited about a role, but not sure if you meet all the qualifications, apply anyway! We look forward to learning about you.
We are currently hiring for the following positions:
Operations & Admin Coordinator: Seeking someone with organizational gifts, a great attitude, and a multi-faceted skillset for this new, full-time salaried position.
Director of Youth Power: Seeking an experienced educator to lead our SJLA (Social Justice Leadership Academy) program and youth-led organizing campaigns.
If you’re interested in volunteering with us, please fill out our volunteer application form and we’ll be in touch as volunteer opportunities arise. We also have several paid teen employment positions open each season, which you can learn about here. Join our mailing list to be the first to know about future opportunities. Coming to community events is a great way to build relationship and get to know us.
Operations and Admin Coordinator
Location: In-person, Hudson, NY
Position: Full-time
Schedule: 40 hours/week; see bottom for details
Start Date: January 2026
Applications Due: November 24, 2025
Kite’s Nest is a center for liberatory education in Hudson, NY. We are a small organization, currently run by a core team of 5 full-time staff members; each semester we are joined by a crew of contract educators and volunteers. We are looking for an Operations and Admin Coordinator to join our team.
We are looking for someone with organizational gifts, a great attitude, and a multi-faceted skillset. The role requires working independently while also engaging in a deeply collaborative environment. The person stepping into this role must be adaptable, positive, consistent, and comfortable interacting with children, teens, families, and other members of the Kite’s Nest community.
The Kite’s Nest Operations and Admin Coordinator will support essential day-to-day tasks associated with organization administration, operations, communications, and engagement. The person in this role will report to the Operations Director and will work closely with our two Co-Executive Directors and the Kite’s Nest program team. This role will also require collaboration with youth staff. This is a new role at Kite’s Nest and does not directly supervise any positions.
Kite’s Nest is experiencing an exciting moment, as we prepare to begin construction (December 2025) on a new building that we are expecting to move into in 2027. The person stepping into this role will help support this transition.
60% Admin and Operations
Regularly checking and maintaining site inventory, submitting purchasing requests and/or directly ordering and purchasing supplies as needed
Contributing to daily health and function of the team and programs by ensuring our space is tidy and organized; ensuring systems are clear, well-maintained, and accessible, and sometimes doing tasks like cleaning/organizing our shared fridge and food systems or very occasional laundry
Collaborating to identify and meet site needs, which might include completing small scale repair and maintenance tasks, coordinating volunteers, or contacting contractors/tradespeople to gather quotes, secure purchase approval and coordinate services; site care includes tending to and maintaining office equipment (printers, cameras, etc)
Providing hands-on program support including support with logistics, food coordination including grocery shopping, school bussing and field trip transportation arrangements, supply coordination and purchasing, and supporting emerging on-the-ground program needs as assigned
Performing program administration tasks such as preparing program rosters and binders for educators, taking attendance during programs, contacting guardians or the school during check-in time, maintaining program records, and more
Supporting with youth transportation (rides home 2-3 days a week after programs during Spring and Fall semesters) and occasional field trip transportation/support
Supporting with seasonal events (expos, youth showcases, fundraising events and more) including food and supply purchasing, generating cost comparisons, gathering vendor info for hiring, event set-up and breakdown, and outreach; occasionally working weekend and evening events
Supporting with basic HR tasks, including gathering contractor W9s and other vendor and hiring paperwork
Coordinating, writing and mailing campaign thank you letters (with youth and volunteers)
Performing administrative-level fundraising tasks, including mailing list upkeep and communicating with donors to ensure their payment info is up to date
Creating and sending tuition invoices and generally communicating with families about tuition, coordinating with ED’s about tuition assistance requests, and coordinating with bookkeeper about tuition payments and records
Supporting with billing and record-keeping related to the ReGen compost business and teen-led market business
Managing receipts associated with any assigned errands or spending
Regularly checking and processing mail, directing bill pay to bookkeeper and documenting incoming donations
Occasionally substitute in programs as needed/when available
Assisting with transition planning for moving into our new building (estimated completion in 2027); supporting the move-in process and opening of the campus, setting up and implementing campus operational systems
25% Communications and Engagement
Managing our general inquiry email inbox and website contact form submissions; answering the Kite’s Nest phone line and responding to phone-based inquiries; monitoring and responding to social media communications
Managing enrollment-based communications with youth and families, including sending acceptance and welcome letters, collecting enrollment materials, and generally acting as first point of contact for program applicants
Supporting with outreach including program and event outreach (fliering, tabling at school and other events, calls and emails to families, and more), and outreach and coordination with volunteers and organizational partners
Processing photos and maintaining documentation archives; updating and maintaining elements of our Squarespace website and social media platforms
If applicable to candidate skill set: taking photos and documenting events and programs; generating content, posting to social media and maintaining an active online presence
15% General Organizational Participation
Participation in monthly staff meetings and more frequent small team, project-focused meetings (ad-hoc and ongoing working groups)
Participating in seasonal reflection and feedback cycles, staff celebrations, trainings, planning and visioning sessions
Participating in group fundraising tasks such as email/phone/text banking efforts
Attending annual team-wide workaway/retreat for planning the upcoming year
Occasional attendance at/participation in local community events
Occasional participation in capital project events and community engagement sessions
Professional development
The successful candidate will demonstrate:
Alignment with Kite’s Nest core values
A personal commitment to anti-oppression and social justice work
A love of and respect for young people, and ability to collaborate with them in a multi-generational workplace
Clear, direct, kind, and principled communication skills
Experience building healthy relationships and communication within multiracial teams
Interest in cultivating workplace dynamics of care, healing, joy, and creativity
Ability to work both independently and as part of a collaborative team
Attentiveness to detail and love for organizing resources in support of a group
Strong written and verbal communication skills including being a timely, respectful, and consistent communicator within a team
Comfortable and experienced in giving and receiving constructive feedback
Willingness to help with a range of tasks and a shifting workflow throughout the year
Creative problem-solving skills and energy for learning, researching, experimenting
Comfort asking for help as needed
Comfort with technology and learning how to use new tools and platforms. Kite’s Nest regularly uses: Google Suite, Slack, Airtable, Mailchimp, Canva, Nationbuilder, Squarespace, Square, Instagram and Facebook, Adobe design suite tools, and more. The person in this role will regularly create and maintain spreadsheets and databases, maintain computers and printers, use social media and other digital communications platforms, set up projectors and digital meeting systems, etc.
A valid driver’s license and clean driving record. This role requires running errands and supporting with things like driving for field trips or transporting youth home
Preferred qualifications include:
Personal connection to/lived experience within the Hudson community
Fluency in languages other than English (especially Spanish or Bengali)
Skills in graphic design, photography, and/or social media storytelling
Experience with collaborative decision making processes and transformative justice practices
2-3 years of experience working in operations, education, administration, or admissions
Experience working in a youth organization or school-setting
Compensation: This is a full time exempt position. Pay is $60,000/year with a full-time benefit package, including paid vacation, $200/month housing stipend, wellness/sick days, professional development funds, wellness fund, & employer-funded ethical 401(k) plan. Fully-covered health, vision, dental, life, and accident insurance.
Schedule:
40 hours per week on a mutually agreed upon schedule, which seasonally fluctuates M-F 8am-4pm or 9am-5pm (summer), 10am-6pm (Winter and off-semester times) and occasionally 11am-7pm (during Spring and Fall semesters when supporting with youth rides home), with optional remote work days depending on the season. 4-day work weeks January - February.
Once a month required staff meetings (usually on a Monday from 10:30am-1:30pm)
Occasional weekend and evening events (to be scheduled in advance)
Seasonal reflection and celebration events
How to apply: Please complete this form. The form will ask you to upload a cover letter and resume in a PDF format. If you have any questions, contact Sam at hello@kitesnest.org.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: Applications received by November 24, 2025 will be prioritized.
Director of Youth Power
Location: In-Person, Hudson, NY
Position: Full-time
Schedule: M-F with occasional weekends
Start Date: January 2026
Applications Due: November 24, 2025
Kite’s Nest is a center for liberatory education in Hudson, NY. We are a small organization, currently run by a core team of 7 full time staff members; each semester we are joined by a seasonal crew of contract educators and volunteers. We are looking for a full-time Director of Youth Power to join our team.
Kite’s Nest runs the Social Justice Leadership Academy (SJLA), a year-round political home for teenagers, including both a weekly after school space and 5-week summer intensive. Now in its 12th year, SJLA combines transformative political education and hands-on arts programming, bringing youth together to connect, create, grieve, heal, learn, play, and organize. The program centers youth of color, immigrant youth, queer youth, low-income youth, and court-involved youth in our community.
The Director of Youth Power leads this powerful program and supports youth-led organizing and campaigns throughout the year. The Director of Youth Power will work closely with our experienced team of educators to coordinate all aspects of SJLA and our youth organizing programming: overseeing the program schedule and teaching staff, collaborating on the development of and working within the parameters of the SJLA program budget; collaborating to design creative curriculum and political education workshops for teens; leading group activities during after school and summer sessions; building meaningful relationships with youth; providing one-on-one mentorship to youth organizers; and supporting youth-led campaigns throughout the year. We are seeking someone with a passion and talent for supporting the creative power, collective leadership, and joy of youth.
The person in this role will report to the Co-Executive Director of Liberatory Education.
Responsibilities include:
Manage all aspects of SJLA program:
Collaborate with contract educators, partners, and Youth Staff to design after school and summer curriculum, including experiential learning activities, group discussions, arts projects, campaign development, community actions, and field trips.
Coordinate program planning for SJLA, facilitating planning meetings with SJLA adult and alumni educators and coordinating with youth program advisors.
Co-develop and manage SJLA program budget with support from our Co Executive Director of Resource Mobilization; manage purchases and supply inventory within budget parameters; maintain and submit purchasing records for bookkeeping purposes
Support in interviewing, hiring, and training teen Youth Staff and young adult Alumni Staff; supervise and provide leadership development for Youth and Alumni Staff.
Hire, train, and supervise lead educators, guest educators and teaching artists. Coordinate partnerships and field trips with community partners, including youth organizing groups, social justice organizations, activists and artists in the Hudson Valley, the Capital Region, and New York City.
Help facilitate restorative and transformative practices and peer mediation as needed.
Facilitate regular feedback sessions and program evaluation with Youth Staff and young adult Alumni Staff.
Support youth-led organizing and campaigns:
Facilitate creative curriculum and political education workshops for SJLA teens to support their development as thriving youth leaders.
Partner with SJLA youth to design and lead campaigns for policy change, supporting teens to identify issues impacting their lives, co-develop and conduct Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR) projects, develop campaign strategy and goals, connect with local and statewide partners, create media, organize public actions, attend political events, and mobilize community participation.
Provide mentorship to youth organizers in our programs.
Lead occasional creative political education workshops at high schools and with other youth organizations in Columbia and Greene counties.
Represent Kite’s Nest at relevant city meetings and events related to local, regional, and statewide organizing.
General responsibilities
Develop and maintain seasonal work plans
Contribute to program reports for grant reporting, applications and end-of-year documentation
Participation in occasional organizational fundraising events
Develop and provide broad-level strategic visioning for the program, with support from the Co-Executive Director of Liberatory Education
Document and contribute social media and archival content telling the story of program activities
Optional participation in various staff committees
The successful candidate will demonstrate:
Alignment with Kite’s Nest core values
A personal commitment to anti-oppression and social justice work
A love of and respect for young people, and ability to collaborate with them in a multi-generational workplace
Clear, direct, kind, and principled communication skills
Experience building healthy relationships and communication within multiracial teams
Experience with social justice education, youth work, community organizing, and/or art as a tool for liberation (including work related to education justice, housing justice, LGBTQIA+ rights, immigrant justice, racial justice, community organizing, youth-led change, etc.)
Experience with program coordination and/or management; highly organized, and able to manage logistics and communications related to program coordination.
Experience and skill facilitating restorative and transformative approaches to conflict and communication among youth
Experience with Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR) projects
Familiarity with experiential, creative, project-based education and curriculum design; training and/or experience in group facilitation with youth.
Experience training educators, providing leadership development, and supporting others to develop facilitation skills and confidence is a plus.
An ability to work with a team as both a leader and collaborator, and a commitment to supporting healthy communication, feedback culture, and group dynamics.
Strong written and verbal communication skills including being a timely, respectful, and consistent communicator within a team
Comfortable and experienced in giving and receiving constructive feedback
A deep respect for teenagers, and joy working with teenagers; an interest in supporting young people in developing their own passions, leadership skills, and pathways forward; and a commitment to healing-centered youth engagement.
An ability to serve as a mentor and role model to youth, to build meaningful relationships, and to bring positive energy and enthusiasm to a group environment.
Preference will be given to candidates who can commit to 5 or more years in this position; we are looking for someone interested in building relationships with our youth to strengthen and grow our program for the long-term.
Compensation: This is a full time exempt position. Pay is $62,500/year with a full-time benefit package, including paid vacation, $200/month housing stipend, wellness/sick days, professional development funds, wellness fund, & employer-funded ethical 401(k) plan. Fully-covered health, vision, dental, life, and accident insurance.
Schedule: Full-time position, M-F with occasional weekends
School year program days (2 days/wk): 11:30am-7:30pm
Non-program days: 10am-6pm
Summer program days (5 days/wk, Early July - Early Aug): 8am-4pm
HOW TO APPLY: Please complete this form. The form will ask you to upload a cover letter and resume in a PDF format. If you have any questions, contact Sam at hello@kitesnest.org.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: Applications received by November 24, 2025 will be prioritized.
Kite’s Nest is an equal opportunity employer and strongly encourages people of color, trans and gender nonconforming people, people from poor and working class backgrounds, queer people, people with disabilities, parents, and women to apply.