Program Director chez Heartland Human Care Services

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 Director 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 the Managing Director of Youth and Residential Services and the Executive Director of Child Welfare Programs, 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. The Director 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 the Department of Homeland Security, the Office of 
• Refugee Resettlement, Division of Unaccompanied Children’s Services, and the Department of Children and Family Services.  
• 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 of 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 the 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 as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities (if applicable): 

• Manages subordinate Associate Directors, Managers and Supervisors who supervise employees in the program.

Education and Experience: 

• Bachelor's degree plus five (5) years of experience in child welfare administration, child protective services, program management, or as director of a licensed childcare program.
• Master’s degree in social work (MSW) or an equivalent degree in education, psychology, sociology, or other relevant behavioral science preferred.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities (K/S/A): 

• Demonstrated ability to handle confidential and sensitive information possessing skills to handle situations in a professional and diplomatic manner.
• A high degree of collaboration and emotional intelligence, self-motivation, and analytical ability.
• Demonstrated ability to influence, lead and manage projects in a heavily matrixed environment.
• Excellent communication skills. Strong networker, convener, relationship builder and communicator with experience collaborating with diverse work teams and stakeholders.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Internet Explorer, Outlook/Exchange; Windows operating systems; and other software routinely used by Heartland Human Care Services.
• Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. 
• Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
• Ability to work independently and remain self-motivated with minimal direct supervision.
• Strategic thought partnership and consultancy skills.
• Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. 
• Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
• Multi-language knowledge and/or ability.

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 noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
• Each program site operates on a 24/7 basis, 365 days per year. To meet both the needs of our participants and contractual obligations, employees are required to be flexible in regard to scheduling and work location.
• Program sites are located throughout the Chicago area, including the North and South sides of Chicago, as well as the suburbs. Employees may be required to report to any one of our locations on a temporary or permanent basis. 

Physical Demands:  

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear.
• The employee is regularly required to sit, stand and walk.
• The employee must be able to stoop, kneel and/or crawl.
• The employee is regularly required to use hands to key, handle, or feel and reach with hands and arms. 
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. 
• The employee must have unrestricted ability to provide physical restraint.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement