Chess Specialist

Job description

# Chess Specialist > Harlem Children's Zone · New York, United States · Part-time · Posted 2026-06-03 **Salary:** USD 25–30 **Workplace:** on_site **Department:** PA I Afterschool 245 ## Description Harlem Children’s Zone (HCZ) a world-renowned education and poverty-fighting organization based in New York — seeks an enthusiastic, dedicated, and mission-aligned Activity Specialist at Harlem Children’s Zone. The Activity Specialist will bring a passion for the mission of Harlem Children’s Zone: break the cycle of intergenerational poverty with comprehensive, on-the-ground programming that builds up opportunities for children and families to thrive in school, work, and life. We are looking for enthusiastic part-time Activity Specialists across various disciplines to guide our students in after-school activities. Our students are brimming with creativity, and Harlem Children's Zone provides the tools to lead them to success. During the day, our students are engaged in learning the basics! After school is the time to develop any special interests! As an Activity Specialist, you will facilitate weekly lesson plans, activities, and creative projects related to your specialty. You will also teach, facilitate, and promote lifetime decision-making, identifying values, communication, critical thinking, etc. For more information, check out [Want to Work at Harlem Children's Zone? Here Are 7 Things You Need to Know](https://hcz.org/our-stories/want-to-work-at-harlem-childrens-zone-heres-7-things-you-need-to-know/). ## Requirements **Minimum Qualifications** - High School Diploma or GED (degree preferred) - 1+ years of teaching experience **Feel free to apply if you specialize in:** - Beginner Chess Instruction - Intermediate & Advanced Strategy - Chess Puzzles and Problem Solving - Tournament Play & Match Facilitation - Chess for Youth Development - Chess for Cognitive & Social Skill Building **Grade-Level: K-12** - **Elementary/Middle** - **High School** **Who you are** - A commitment to Youth Development and the mission and programs of HCZ - The ability to create lesson plans related to the class subject matter and implement project based learning in the curriculum - Conservatory training and/or university-level education and practical experience in the content area is preferred (college students currently pursuing degree-level work are also encouraged to apply) - Must have at least one year of teaching experience - Passion and experience with arts education involving youth, along with Flexibility, creativity, and enthusiasm for young people - Excellent planning, organization, communication, and time management skills - Ability to provide consistent and positive instruction as well as receive constructive criticism - Experience working in youth development and teaching well-developed enrichment courses, social consciousness, self-identity, and efficacy - Energetic, motivated self-starter and a team player - Must be able to work independently as well as collaboratively on projects with staff and students and full curriculum **What you’ll do** - Prepare and develop age, and skill-appropriate curriculum, lesson plans, activities, and special projects that fuse the arts and academic competencies to be reviewed by supervisors before being taught - Plan and facilitate a project-based unit, and attend weekly meetings - Work with program participants to develop their artistic, educational, and leadership potential - Engage youth in the following areas through the arts: critical thinking; evaluation; risk-taking; rehearsals; hands-on project-based learning; documentation of work; community-building, and activism - Coordinate subject-related trips, guest speakers, special events, student exhibitions, and college trips - Share knowledge of the history and current state of African, African-American, and Latino issues and be able to interpret that into diverse learning opportunities - Ability to communicate the progress of students and share insights discovered with team members on a regular basis - Act as a role model for all students - Perform other duties as assigned by management **Schedule** - Promise Academy After School: On Site, Monday-Friday any time from 2 pm-7:30 pm. - Peacemaker Program: On-Site: Monday-Friday 2 PM-6 PM - A Cut Above: Monday-Thursday, 3 pm- 7 pm & Friday's 12 pm-6 pm - ACE, ETC, CCCC (Zone High School, After school) Monday-Thursday 3 pm-8 pm & Friday's 2 pm-6 pm - Summer Hours: Monday–Friday, on-site five days a week (40 hours total). Work hours may fall anywhere between 7:00 a.m. and 6:30 p.m., depending on the site you’re hired with. ## Benefits As a member of the Harlem Children's Zone team, you will join a supportive and inclusive community dedicated to helping children, families — and our staff — thrive. Please take a look at our Part-Time benefits below. Our exceptional Part-Time benefits include: - Career advancement - Paid sick leave - Employee referral bonus - Physical wellness discounts - Commuter benefits - Additional Benefits (Discounts on flights, hotels, theme parks, concert tickets, and more.) The salary range for this position is $25-$30 per hour. To be considered, interested applicants should apply directly through the posting. No telephone inquiries or recruiters, please. Replies will only be sent to qualified applicants. Harlem Children's Zone and Promise Academy Charter Schools does not provide work visas for candidates who require employer sponsorship to ensure work authorization in the United States. Harlem Children’s Zone is an EOE. ## Apply [Apply at Harlem Children's Zone](https://apply.workable.com/harlem-childrens-zone/j/1A9F034433/apply) --- Powered by [Workable](https://www.workable.com)