Title: Program Director
Location: Logan Square
Schedule: On-Site, Monday to Friday (8:30am - 5:00pm) May have to work evenings and weekends.
Summary:
TheDirector of Opportunity Youth develops and manages the professional programs of case management and residential services for program participants. This position is responsible for program design, growth and development, as well as funder requirements and quality assurance. The Director of Opportunity Youth supervises the management and staff within Opportunity Youth programs to achieve quality outcomes with justice involved youth populations.
Opportunity Youth program services include orientation, casework, case management, counseling, community and police liaison relations and management of residential services. Opportunity Youth programs engage in creative initiatives to serve vulnerable higher need participants with ongoing therapeutic support needs.
The Program Director brings, or incorporate through in-program training, an active knowledge and awareness of trauma within selves and participants, is able to express curiosity in understanding the needs of each staff and youth and incorporate input and the voice of the child.
The Program Director ensures quality services and support continuous quality improvement strategies. These include the adaptation and integration of therapeutic or child-welfare specific models, such as Heartland’s Therapeutic Youth Engagement approach and the ARC model (Attachment, Regulation, and Competencies). Program managers ensure behavior management and program services are conducted in a manner consistent with DCFS licensing standards, and funder expectations, and manage or oversee completion of funder and licensing required administrative tasks. Individual accountabilities and work volume will be established through the development of annual Success Objectives, within the framework outlined below.
Why Join Us?
- Make a meaningful impact on the lives of individuals seeking education and career pathways.
- Collaborate with a diverse and passionate team dedicated to the mission and vision of our organization.
- Providing flexibility and work-life balance.
- Participate in professional development opportunities to enhance your skills and expertise
Our Benefits:
- Medical insurance. BCBS PPO, EPO, and HSA Plans
- Dental insurance.
- Vision insurance.
- 401(k) 3% Employer Contribution.
- Paid maternity leave.
- Paid paternity leave.
- Commuter benefits.
- Student loan assistance.
- Tuition assistance.
- Disability insurance
- FSA Spending Account
- Life Insurance
- Employee Assistance Program
- Special Vendor Discounted Offerings on Travel, Amusement Parks, etc.
Essential Functions:
Duties & Responsibilities
- Develops, plans, provides, manages, monitors and evaluates a complex unit with professional services programs which meet participant, government and private funding sources and Organization needs. The Directors shall provide routine evaluative and monitoring reports and suggest corrective actions and recommendations.
- Develops and monitors the overall Unit budget and expends program funds in accordance with Organization approved policies.
- In conjunction with SAFEty Senior Leadership, coordinates and develops the long- and short-range objectives, policies and operating procedures for the program in compliance with all Organization and funder policies.
- Ensures the development, submission and negotiation of contracts with governmental agencies and designated private funding foundations to maintain current and develop new program initiatives.
- Implements Organization personnel policies to encourage professional growth and to meet program operations goals.
- Makes recommendations for hiring, promotions, terminations and work assignments of all staff at the program in conjunction with Organization policy.
- Represents the program and the Organization in internal and external liaison activities. Initiates and maintains on-going effective and efficient communications with various funder offices.
- Acts as the program’s liaison to the city Police Department, various task forces and committees, and provides systematic advocacy for the populations served.
- Participates in overall administration and management of the Organization through membership on the Organization’s cabinet and Directors’ teams.
- Reports to funders as required by contract.
- Remains current on developments in services to the targeted populations through attendance at professional development workshops, seminars, task force meetings and conferences, etc.
- Adheres to professional standards as outlined by governmental bodies, NASW (and/or other appropriate professional associations), private funding sources, Organization plans/policies and Unit guidelines.
- Participates in periodic evaluative reviews and/or in-house and external staff training to ensure understanding and continued to adherence to such standards.
- Initiates requests for assistance from Managing Director to address new issues or complex concepts affecting adherence to professional standards.
- On call duties will include carrying an Agency cell phone and responding to crisis situations 24 hours a day.
- Other duties may be assigned.
Supervisory Responsibilities (if applicable):
- Manages subordinate Managers and Supervisors who supervise employees in the program.
- Is responsible for the overall direction, coordination, and evaluation of these units.
- Also directly supervises non-supervisory employees. Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization's policies and applicable laws.
- Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems.
- Demonstrates and fosters staff and manager capacity and leadership in the application of child welfare practices, effective crisis intervention, and therapeutic interventions for justice involved and high need youth in care.
Education and Experience:
- A Master's Degree from an accredited school of social work or in a human services field with at least three years of work experience with children. A minimum of two of those years must be in institutional or other residential group care programs
- OR; Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university with at least five years of work experience with children. A minimum of three of those years must be in institutional or other residential group care programs
- Must have experience in staff supervision, program planning and development, social service administration, fiscal management and policy development and implementation.
Knowledge/Skills/Abilities (K/S/A):
- Language Skills: Excellent oral and written communication skills. Demonstrated competency in public speaking and strong interpersonal skills required. Speaks clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations. Ability to read, analyze, and interpret most complex documents. Ability to respond effectively to the most sensitive inquiries or complaints. Ability to write speeches and articles using original or innovative techniques or style. Ability to make effective and persuasive speeches and presentations on controversial or complex topics to top management, public groups, and/or boards of directors.
- Computer Skills: Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Internet Explorer, Outlook/Exchange; Windows operating systems: and other software routinely used by Heartland Human Care Services.
- Problem Solving: Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner; gathers and analyzes information skillfully; develops alternative solutions; works well in group problem solving situations; uses reason even when dealing with e motional topics.
- Leadership: Exhibits confidence in self and others; inspires and motivates others to perform well; effectively influences actions and opinions of others; accepts feedback from others; gives appropriate recognition to others.
- Ethics: Treat s people with respect; keeps commitments; inspires the trust of others; works with integrity and ethically; upholds organizational values.
- Organizational Support: Follows policies and procedures; completes administrative tasks correctly and on time; supports organization's goals and values; benefits organization through outside activities; supports affirmative action and respects diversity.
- Judgment: Displays willingness to make decisions; exhibits sound and accurate judgment; supports and explains reasoning for decisions; includes appropriate people in decision making process; makes timely decisions.
- Motivation: Sets and achieves challenging goals; demonstrates persistence and over comes obstacles; measures self against standard of excellence; takes calculated risks to accomplish goals.
- Planning/Organizing: Prioritizes and plans work activities; uses time efficiently; plans for additional resources; sets goals and objectives; organizes or schedules other people and their t asks; develops realistic action plans.
- Professionalism: Approaches others in a tactful manner; reacts well under pressure; treats others with respect and consideration regardless of their status or position; accepts responsibility for own actions; follows through on commitments.
- Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness; looks for ways to improve and promote quality; applies feedback to improve performance; monitors own work to ensure quality.
- Safety and Security: Observes safety and security procedures; determines appropriate action beyond guidelines; reports potentially unsafe conditions; uses equipment and materials properly.
- Dependability: Follows instructions, responds to management direction; takes responsibility for own actions; keeps commitments; commits to long hours of work when necessary to reach goals; completes tasks on time or notifies appropriate person with an alternate plan.
- Interpersonal Relations: comfortable and effective in managing inter-personal relationships with diverse stakeholders including board members, volunteers, management, colleagues, sponsors, donors, foundations, public opinion leaders, community residents, service vendors, and others; demonstrates emotional maturity and sensitivity in dealings with others.
- Teamwork: Balances team and individual responsibilities; exhibits objectivity and openness to others' views; gives and welcomes feedback; contributes to building a positive team spirit; puts success of team above own interests; able to build morale and group commitments to goals and objectives; supports everyone's efforts to succeed.
Work Arrangement:
This role is not eligible for remote work. All hours will be worked in person. This position has an active presence at all assigned programs on a rotating basis.
Work Environment:
- The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
Physical Demands:
- The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear.
- While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit; stand; walk; use hands to handle or feel and reach with hands and arms.
- The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
Equal Opportunity Employer Statement
Heartland Human Care Services makes all hiring and employment decisions, and operates all programs, services, and functions without regard to race, receipt of an order of protection, creed, color, age, gender, gender identity, marital or parental status, religion, ancestry, national origin, amnesty, physical or mental disability, protected veterans status, genetic information, sexual orientation, immigrant status, political affiliation or belief, use of FMLA, VESSA, military, and family military rights, ex-offender status (depending on the offense and position to be filled), unfavorable military discharge, membership in an organization whose primary purpose is the protection of civil rights or improvement of living conditions and human relations, height, weight, or HIV infection, in accord with the organization's AIDS Policy Statement of September 1987.
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