The Role
Directs shelter operations, personnel, facilities, budgets, client services, regulatory and contractual compliance, funding relationships, and community partnerships. Supervises department heads and ensures staff training, quality assurance, accurate reporting, and safe resident services. The role requires extensive experience serving homeless or vulnerable populations, behavioral health knowledge, NYC shelter-system expertise, crisis management skills, and advanced education or equivalent experience. The position is primarily on-site, follows a Monday-through-Friday schedule, and requires approximately 5% travel.
Summary Generated by Built In
Highland Park Community Development Corporation
Job Description
Position: Program Director
Reports to: Director of Programs
Classification: Exempt
GENERAL STATEMENT OF POSITION RESPONSIBILITES:
The Program Director is responsible for supervising the shelter/program under his/her jurisdiction. This includes supervision of personnel, facility management, fiscal management, client services, liaison with funding sources, and community relations. Adhere to and comply with ALL contract requirements.
The essential functions of the job include but are not limited to the duties listed in the job description.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Exercise overall responsibility for the safe operation and effective results of all program operations at the facility
- Maintain a healthy and safe environment for residents and staff while ensuring that residents all are moving towards attainment of independent living, or an appropriate living status beyond the Tilden Hall Residence shelter.
- Operate the facility and programs within the approved limits established by the annual budget.
- Serve as the primary program liaison to DHS.
- Work alongside the Human Resources Department in 1) adhering to the HR Policies and Procedures established in the Employee Handbook and 2) the selection process in filling vacant positions.
- Responsible for maintaining effective communication and interaction with staff in all areas of the shelter while ensuring the staff receives the necessary training and professional development that will equip them to be successful in their job descriptions.
- Assure the shelter remains in compliance with City and State regulations and that the program and the facility are maintained at a level of excellence that will surpass the requirements of all inspections.
- Assess program needs and identify potential funding streams to enhance services.
- Serve as liaison to local service providers and community leaders to ensure a good relationship with the community.
- Assure that the physical environment of the shelter is maintained and respond to quality assurance questions in a timely manner.
- Ensure shelter maintains its contractual compliance regarding program goals and objectives.
- Direct supervision of the following personnel: Social Services Director, Client Care Coordinator Supervisor, Security Supervisor, Childcare Supervisor, Intake Specialist and Maintenance Facility Manager.
PERSONNEL AND FACILITY MANAGEMENT
- Direct supervision of department heads.
- Conduct and ensure provision of relevant training programs for staff (orientation, career development, on-going training)
- Perform and review all aspects of personnel management (hiring, terminations, performance reviews, progressive discipline, etc.)
- Ensure implementation of and adherence to all Quality Assurance initiatives.
FISCAL MANGEMENT
- Ensure timely submission of all financial reports.
LIAISON WITH FUNDING SOURCES
- Review program sub-contracts with Administrative Director as applicable.
- Liaison between contract holder and Highland Park Community Development Corporation.
CLIENT SERVICES
- Supervise all client services.
- Ensure confidentiality of all client program records and files.
COMMUNITY RELATIONS
- Develop and maintain community linkages in which the shelter/facility is located.
- Establish and maintain relationships with support agencies and facilities (day treatment programs, victim services, vocational/educational programs, community-based services, etc.)
- Attends Highland Park Community Development Corporation Advisory Council Meetings, and local community board meetings as required.
- Establish and maintain shelter/program Community Advisory Board.
- Develop Volunteer Programs.
Employee may be required to carry out additional duties as assigned by Supervisor.
Qualifications:
- A minimum of 7-10 years’ successful experience in the fields of: services to homeless people; clinical social work with medically frail, mentally ill, or at-risk populations; or in senior-level shelter administration. In addition, successful experience with budget management is strongly desired. Skills of a Shelter Director:
- Excellent computer skills including proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Cares and ADP Workforce now platform or similar platforms.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills, with emphasis on face-to-face, empathetic communication with shelter residents.
- Exceptional leadership skills in dealing with both staff and residents coupled with a personal commitment to serving the poor and disadvantaged.
- Experience with MICA. Mentally ill and chemical abuse.
- Master’s degree or higher in Social Work, Mental Health Counseling, Non-profit Operations Nursing, Public Health, Public Policy, or a related field with a related License. A minimum of 3 to 5 years post-masters work experience in the behavioral health and criminal justice field with progressively increasing responsibilities, preferably with the target population
- Knowledge of mental illness and serious emotional disturbances and substance use disorders
- In depth knowledge of NYC behavioral health and community support programs and systems
- Knowledge of homeless resources, NYC shelter systems, and MTA transit systems
- Experience working with homeless and precariously housed populations.
- Knowledge of treatment, rehabilitation, and community support programs as they relate to consumers/residents, families, and staff
- Knowledge of multi-disciplinary team experience preferred
- Knowledge of techniques for identifying and preventing potentially violent behavior, including crisis management techniques
- Ability to prepare accurate and timely reports
- Ability to manage multiple projects and ask for help when needed
- Ability to communicate effectively with stakeholders
- Competency in written, interpersonal, verbal, and computational skills to present and document records in accordance with program standards
- Available to work a flexible schedule in response to participant and staff needs
- This position will require travel as needed
Preferred Education of a Shelter Director:
- Masters level in Social Work or Non-Profit Business Operations, or appropriate, equal experience.
COMPETENCIES:
To perform the job successfully, an individual demonstrates the following competencies.
- Customer Service Orientation: Manages difficult or emotional situations with internal and external stakeholders; Responds promptly to customer needs; Responds to request for service and assistance. Maintains and communicates a positive “can do” attitude with internal and external stakeholders.
- Problem Solving: Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner; Gathers and analyzes information skillfully; Uses reason when dealing with emotional topics.
- Systems Thinking: Demonstrates an ability to (a) see how organizational systems (e.g., internal/external conditions, processes, people) interact and influence each other, and (b) how these systems create and contribute to specific issues (e.g., high voluntary turnover) and strengths (e.g., strong customer focus).
- Planning / Organization: Prioritizes and plans work activities; Uses time efficiently: Plans for additional resources; Develops realistic action plans. Leverages tools to manage workflow and reprioritizes accordingly.
- Service and Teamwork - Understands the needs and wants of the organization, customers, co-workers, and supervisors in order to provide accurate, complete and timely service and to further the mission, values and goals of the organization.
- Oral Communication: Speaks clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations; listens and gets clarification.
- Written Communication: Writes clearly and informatively; Edits work for spelling and grammar; Varies writing style to meet needs; Presents numerical data effectively; Able to read and interpret written information.
- Ethics: Treats people with respect: Inspires the trust of others; Works with integrity and ethically; Upholds organizational values.
- Dependability: Follows instructions; Responds to management direction; Takes responsibility for own actions; Keeps commitments.
- Computer Skills:
- Proficient in computer software programs (Word, Excel, Power Point, CARES, etc.)
- Language skills:
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Reads and comprehends simple instructions, short correspondence, and memos; Writes simple correspondence; Presents information in one-on-one and small groups situations outside stakeholders, clients, and other employees.
- Bilingual is preferred
GENERAL PHYSICAL REQUIRMENTS AND WORKING CONDITIONS:
- GENERAL WORKING HOURS:
- Generally, this position is Monday through Friday.
- WORKING FROM HOME:
- Most essential functions of this job cannot be completed working from home.
- TRAVEL:
- May be required to travel about 5% of the time to purchase items or to attend a training or go to the post office as needed.
- PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
- The physical activity for the Staff is:
- Reaching. Extending hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction.
- Walking. Moving about on foot to accomplish tasks and has an ability to navigate from one location to another.
- Lifting. Must raise objects from a lower to a higher position or move objects horizontally from position to-to-position.
- Feeling. Must be able to perceive attributes of objects, such as size, shape, temperature, or texture by touching with skin, particularly that of fingertips. Assesses potential safety threats, such as by exposure to chemicals and heat from malfunctioning equipment.
- Talking and hearing. Able to express and exchange ideas by means of the spoken word. Ability to receive detailed information through oral communication and to make the discrimination in sound.
- Repetitive motions. Substantial movements (motions) of the wrist, hands, and and/or fingers.
- Physical requirements for the staff:
- Sedentary work: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and / or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time, with walking and standing required only occasionally.
- The visual acuity requirements for the Staff (including color, depth perception and field vision).
- Required to have close visual acuity to perform an activity such as preparing and analyzing data and figures, transcribing, viewing a computer terminal; extensive reading; visual inspection to determine the accuracy, neatness, and thoroughness of the work.
- The Staff will be subject to the following conditions in this position:
- The worker is subject to inside environmental conditions, protected from weather conditions but not necessarily from temperature changes.
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the Essential Functions. Reasonable accommodations may be made upon an employee’s request.
This Job Description is not intended, and should not be construed, to be an exhaustive list of all Job Functions, Competencies, Skills and Work Environment/Conditions associated with this job. It is meant to be an accurate reflection of principal job elements useful for recruiting and selecting employees, assigning work, and evaluating performance. Additional responsibilities may be assigned, and management retains the right to change this Job Description at any time. Acceptance of this Job Description does not constitute an employment agreement or contract. The Company is an at-will employer and reserves the right to terminate employment for any reason or no reason, with or without notice to the employee.
JOB DESCRIPTION ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND ACCEPTANCE
_________________________________________________________________ _______________________
Employee Signature Date
_________________________________________________________________ _______________________
Supervisor’s Signature Date
Skills Required
- 7–10 years of successful experience serving homeless people, conducting clinical social work with medically frail, mentally ill, or at-risk populations, or administering shelters at a senior level
- Experience with budget management
- Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, CARES, ADP Workforce Now, or similar platforms
- Strong verbal and written communication skills, including empathetic communication with shelter residents
- Exceptional leadership skills and commitment to serving poor and disadvantaged populations
- Experience with MICA, including mental illness and chemical abuse
- Master’s degree or higher in social work, mental health counseling, nonprofit operations, nursing, public health, public policy, or a related field, with a related license
- 3–5 years of post-master’s experience in behavioral health and criminal justice with progressively increasing responsibilities
- Knowledge of mental illness, serious emotional disturbances, and substance use disorders
- In-depth knowledge of NYC behavioral health and community support programs and systems
- Knowledge of homeless resources, NYC shelter systems, and MTA transit systems
- Experience working with homeless and precariously housed populations
- Knowledge of treatment, rehabilitation, and community support programs
- Multidisciplinary team experience
- Knowledge of techniques for identifying and preventing potentially violent behavior, including crisis management
- Ability to prepare accurate and timely reports
- Ability to manage multiple projects and seek assistance when needed
- Effective communication with stakeholders
- Competency in written, interpersonal, verbal, and computational skills
- Availability to work a flexible schedule based on participant and staff needs
- Willingness and ability to travel as needed
- Master’s degree in social work or nonprofit business operations, or equivalent relevant experience
- Bilingual communication skills
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The Company
What We Do
Highland Park Community Development Corporation is a Brooklyn-based nonprofit serving communities across New York City’s five boroughs. It works with community representatives and local organizations to improve residents’ quality of life, with a focus on housing and social services. Its stated commitments include helping people experiencing homelessness access healing, education, housing and employment, and supporting recovery from addiction through medical care and healthy relationships.
