The Y’s Youth Safety and Violence Prevention program (YSVP) is a comprehensive, trauma- informed approach to violence prevention that looks at past exposure to trauma as a main driver of future dangerous behaviors. Our programs are designed to help our region’s most vulnerable young people become leaders in their own communities.

The Director of Program and Outreach Operations is a social service leader responsible for the overall programs, outreach, and case management oversight of the Youth Safety and Violence Prevention (YSVP) department. This role is accountability for the quality of mentoring relationships between our outreach team and youth and overseeing our case management planning process. This role assists in facilitating strategic community outreach and will be responsible for building strong relationships with families, local CBOs, and mental health agencies to enhance the necessary wrap around services YSVP youth need to be successful.

The budget for this role is $60,000-$65,000 annually

Scope of Responsibilities:

Program Operations and Case Management

Oversees the coordination and administration of YSVP programming, including the planning and delivery of the overall program and its activities in accordance with the Y’s Guiding Principles and Strategic Initiatives. In consultation with the Executive Director, establishes, implements, and monitors YSVP program delivery and alignment across centers.

• Supports continuous quality improvement and sustainable growth for YSVP programming. This includes developing project plans and tools to track progress and regularly evaluating program components to identify areas of improvement. Collaborates regularly with program leaders and other members of the YSVP team to engage in reflective practice with the goal of strengthening the quality of youth programming
• Assists with formal program assessment and evaluation including collaborating with the YSVP, Youth Development and Learning, Evaluation, and Community Impact teams to develop and disseminate scorecards, evaluation summaries, and other performance tools. Establishes routines for reviewing and utilizing program and other data to understand and improve upon program performance and team accountability
• Oversees YSVP case management services including the development and implementation of a case management system and reviewing, monitoring, and supporting the quality of case management practices across programs. This includes conducting regularly scheduled reflective supervision meetings with individual program leaders to support implementation, case review, and team-based problem-solving
• Develops new initiatives to support the strategic direction of YSVP in alignment with the Y’s Teen Programming. Connects YSVP programs to our teen strategy and our Youth Programming Framework including key program lenses that guide program development and operations (i.e., trauma-informed care, cognitive behavioral therapy, narrative therapy, etc.)
• Collaborates with team to implement and maintain standard operating processes and procedures, including operations manuals for YSVP programs. This includes implementation and/or compliance with internal procedures and protocols to effectively address participant safety and emergency response plans
• Provides YSVP program leaders and outreach teams day-to-day programmatic assistance and guidance. Leads and supports planning efforts for large program events (e.g. graduations) or other key program initiatives and operations

• Identifies, manages and motivates a high-performing team that accomplishes program objectives. Hires, onboards and trains team members and provides ongoing coaching and development in accordance with program standards and staff development plans
• Provides professional development and leadership to program leaders and team members in order to enhance reflective supervision, staff learning and development including implementing best-practice trauma-informed mentorship strategies. Facilitates team meetings and in-services where appropriate
• Establishes monitors and evaluates team and individual goals and performance standards. Evaluates team members and provides coaching and intervention as necessary. Coaches, mentors, and develops leaders and team members to optimize performance
• Manages time and attendance for current staff, ensuring that time is accurately recorded in the HRIS system

Community Outreach

Builds collaborative relationships and act as the liaison with neighborhood CBOs, institutions, schools and faith-based organizations. This includes:

• Builds collaborative relationships and acts as the liaison with school leaders. Conducts one-on-one school meetings, program visits, and school-wide events to develop a sense of shared community and urgency around trauma-informed violence prevention work
• Identifies and develops prospective partnerships with mental health organizations
• Develops a referral process for mental health services for all YSVP participants and staff, and acting as the primary liaison with mental health service agencies
• Encourages, trains and supports outreach team and leaders to take an active role in their communities to advocate for disconnected youth and families
• Supports and organizes department-wide and community-based events such as panel discussions and Q&A opportunities with local community partners

Fiscal and Resource Management

In collaboration with Executive Director and relevant departments, supports overall budget development and monitoring including expense and grants management. This includes:

• Assisting in information/data collection to prepare grant proposals and applications in partnership with Mission Advancement team
• Informing YSVP’s annual budget as well as budgets for individual grant proposals and awards
• Works with Business & Compliance Office to ensure that staff members understand and meet contractual requirements, including timely data entry into tracking systems required by funders
• Works with YSVP Leadership Team, Learning, Evaluation, and Community Impact, and Human Resources to implement a professional development program that addresses staff development needs
• Works with leadership team to inform and address YSVP’s ongoing resource needs

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work, Community Organization/Advocacy or related field required; graduate degree strongly preferred
• Minimum of five years of experience including experience with strategic program management across multiple sites, supporting mission-focused work. Experience with teen programming is essential
• Experience in mental health, violence prevention, or juvenile justice fields a plus
• Passion for and commitment to the YMCA of Metro Chicago’s mission and vision including youth violence prevention.
• Demonstrated expertise in case management best practices including developing strong partnerships to support case management efforts
• Experience leading, motivating and supporting a diverse, high-performing team including identifying, selecting, onboarding, developing and evaluating team members to drive engagement, quality and continuous improvement
• Demonstrated strategic and critical thinking skills with the ability use relevant data and information to drive decision-making and continuous improvement efforts
• Advanced PC proficiency (MS Office, management reporting tools, etc.) with the ability to learn and adapt to new technology. Experience collaborating with technical teams to develop and implement program reporting and evaluation systems strongly preferred
• Advanced verbal, written and presentation skills with the ability to adapt communications to diverse audiences and build credibility with others
• Ability to manage multiple, competing priorities with strong organizational skills and attention to detail
• Ability to travel locally to multiple YMCA locations
• Ability to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends, when needed to manage program operations
• Demonstrates evidence of YMCA Team Leader competencies in previous experience or practice.
• Meets physical qualifications required as outlined in job description. The YMCA will provide reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities

• Reporting any items that may provide a health or safety hazard to staff, members, or guests to your supervisor
• Following all policies and procedures related to keeping children safe in our facilities and programs, including those related to the monitoring and supervision of children
• Reporting any suspicious behavior and violation of policy and procedures to your supervisor
• Completing all child abuse prevention training as required

YMCA Vaccine Policy

We’re committed to the health and wellness of our employees, members, program participants, and those most vulnerable. If hired by the YMCA, you will be required to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination no later than two days prior to your start date, whichever occurs later, unless an exemption for a medical condition or sincerely-held religious beliefs is granted.