Our Commitment to You
The NYCUDL is firmly committed to equal employment opportunity for all in all phases of employment, including the application process. We know that applying for a new job can be a daunting process. But we encourage all candidates with interest in joining our organization to apply. You may be just the person we need. If you have any questions about your application or the interview process, please email us at jobs@debate.nyc.
NYCUDL Mission
The New York City Urban Debate League (“NYCUDL”) unlock the transformative power of debate for New York City public school students to develop the next generation of informed, compassionate, and courageous leaders.
NYCUDL Description
The New York City Urban Debate League is a nonprofit organization dedicated to expanding access to competitive debate across New York City, with a focus on teaching underserved students. To advance this mission, the NYCUDL provides comprehensive support for students, educators, and schools—including year-round instructional coaching for educators, student workshops, over 35 annual debate tournaments, four weeks of Summer Debate Institute, and the development of original curriculum, including more than 100 lesson plans for educators each year. The League has experienced significant growth in recent years. Since the 2018–2019 school year, student participation has grown by nearly 80%, from 2,260 to just over 4,000 students annually. The number of participating schools increased by 60%, from 160 to 250, and the number of Title I schools served nearly doubled. With active partnerships in all five boroughs, the NYCUDL is proud to be the largest urban debate league in the country and remains deeply committed to teaching debate, fostering student voice, and supporting academic confidence and civic leadership across New York City.
Position Overview
Coordinator, Programming: Curriculum, Professional Learning & Dream Team assists with the administration of NYCUDL curriculum, professional learning programs, NYCUDL Summer Debate Camp, and any other special events. This role serves as the key administrative support for debate curriculum preparation, including topic research, slide and lesson plan creation for coaches. They will also lead the organization’s Dream Team, a group of students who travel to national tournaments and perform other duties as assigned. The Coordinator will report directly to the Manager, Programming: Curriculum, Professional Learning & Dream Team.
Key Responsibilities
- Develop and maintain Public Forum and Parliamentary debate curriculum, under the supervision of the Program Manager and Director, across Open League, Districts, and NYC Reads, ensuring materials are appropriately scaffolded for each program’s format and student experience level.
- Partner with coaches and program staff to adapt lesson plans, drills, and case materials to the distinct needs of Open League, Districts, and NYC Reads, incorporating current topics and tournament trends.
- Train and support coaches on curriculum rollout across all three programs, gathering feedback from the field to continuously refine PF and Parli content.
- Lead NYCUDL’s Dream Team program (approx. 15% of role), coordinating travel, tournament preparation, and coaching for the select group of students competing at national tournaments.
- Plan and run Forensics Fridays, weekly workshops offering direct instruction that allows students to dive deeper into current topics alongside NYCUDL staff.
- Coordinate professional development opportunities within Forensics Fridays, connecting students with outside experts across relevant fields to enrich topic-specific learning.
Qualifications & Requirements
- Education: Bachelor’s degree required
- Experience: Strong experience in speech and debate programs
- Technical Skills: Some awareness of tournament software (Tabroom.com), cloud software (Google Workspace, Office 365), and AV presentation tools.
- Working Conditions: Ability to work extended hours and weekends during peak debate season (September–May) and travel to national tournaments as needed.
Work Week
Employees are expected to work in-person, 5 days a week (a majority of Mondays & Fridays are remote in practice). This role involves Saturday tournament administration (approximately 2 per month during the school year) and evening events. Comp time is offered for weekend tournaments.
Compensation
- Salary Range: $68,500 to $72,000
- Health & Wellness: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage with no employee contribution for individual plans
- Commuter Bonus: Monthly subway pass (OMNY/MetroCard) provided
- Time Off: 21 days of total annual leave (10 vacation, 5 sick, 5 personal, and your birthday), plus major holidays and additional wellness benefits
The NYCUDL is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in its employment decisions, in accordance with state and federal law. We are committed to a diverse workplace and to supporting our staff with ongoing career development opportunities. Send questions to jobs@debate.nyc. All inquiries are confidential.