Cosmetology Teaching Artist - Middle (MS 124, South Ozone Park)

Cosmetology Activity Specialist at MS 124, Queens (Part-Time Position)
South Asian Youth Action (SAYA)

South Asian Youth Action (SAYA) is committed to providing its employees opportunities for growth in a supportive community environment. As an Activity Specialist, you will receive access to external opportunities and have considerable autonomy in designing and implementing new projects and curricula. With a school-day schedule and a generous benefits package, SAYA provides its employees a healthy work-life balance in a fast-growing youth development nonprofit.

SAYA: Belong. Grow. Thrive.

Organization Description:

South Asian Youth Action (SAYA) is an inclusive, South Asian-focused 501(c)3 youth development organization. Through our innovative, holistic approach, we work toward educational equity by providing opportunities and resources to less privileged New York City youth, ensuring they are empowered academically, emotionally, and socially to become engaged community members.

Established in 1996, SAYA provides valuable life skills and holistic, impactful programming to underserved New York City youth. As one of the first South Asian organizations created in the United States, SAYA is the only organization of its kind in the NYC metropolitan area providing inclusive and secular comprehensive youth development services while centering our community’s experiences. Today, SAYA provides programming at eight elementary, middle, and high schools in Queens and Brooklyn, along with our Elmhurst-based community center - serving a growing number of youths across all sites each year.

A key tenet of our work is cultivating vital social and emotional learning (SEL) skills such as belonging, confidence, and self-efficacy through intentionally designed, research-based curricula. Across our organization, services tailored for different age groups include leadership and identity development, academic support that bridges learning gaps, comprehensive college preparation, and activities that nurture creativity and build positive peer connections.

Position Summary:

The Activity Specialist will be responsible for developing and facilitating an engaging hands-on cosmetology and personal care curriculum for middle school students. Designed to promote creativity, self-care, and positive self expression. This program introduces youth to foundational beauty practices including age-appropriate skincare, non-heat hair styling, nail art, color theory, and personal hygiene. broad range of enrichment activities that promote creativity and self-expression. South Asian Youth Action (SAYA) seeks a skilled instructor with expertise in the beauty industry and youth development who can leverage cosmetology to build self-confidence, support social-emotional learning (SEL) competencies, and foster an inclusive environment in the middle school after school program at MS 124 in Queens.

Reports to: Program Director

Compensation: $30-$45 an hour, commensurate with experience and qualifications. This is an in-person position for the school year from November through June with potential rehire for summer and the following year.

Responsibilities:

• Design and execute a structured, age-appropriate cosmetology curriculum covering non-heat hair styling techniques (braiding, updos, styling basics), nail design and care, skin wellness, hygiene, and creative visual design.

• Teach in an engaging, creative and responsive manner.

• Facilitate interactive, step-by-step demonstrations and hands-on workshops tailored to middle school developmental levels and varying skill abilities.

• Develop and implement lesson plans of age-appropriate activities and themes that will support the development of social-emotional learning competencies, seek to build imagination and encourage artistic exploration.

• Build positive relationships with youth and adults and serve as a role model with respect to demeanor, communication and overall attitude.

• Assist Program Coordinator with ordering and maintaining equipment and/or supplies.

• Actively participate in training sessions, designated meetings and special events.

Qualifications:

• Cosmetology degree/certification preferred.

• Minimum of 2 years of cosmetology experience or training.

• Knowledge and understanding of youth development, after school and public education.

• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively and manage multiple priorities, people and projects effectively

• Demonstrated skills and competency as an instructor and artist.

Key Competencies

Ideal candidate will excel in the following areas:

• Communication: The candidate will have the ability to communicate effectively with a broad range of people including youth, teachers, school administrations, parents, and other staff. They will be able to work as part of a team with the school community and other SAYA programs. They will be able to consider situations from multiple perspectives in order to avoid and manage conflict.

• Flexibility: The candidate will be comfortable adapting to changing circumstances. They will be able to work with youth of various cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds.

SAYA is an Equal Opportunity Employer.