Assoc. Dir. of Education and Rec Programming - Chicago, United States - Heartland Alliance

Description

Job Description

Title: Associate Director of Education & Recreation Programming
Location: Bronzeville
Shift: On-site Job - Monday to Friday (8:00am-4:30pm)

Summary:

Are you passionate about making a positive impact on the lives of young people? Join us as the Associate Director of Education and Recreation Programming at our dynamic organization Under the guidance of the Managing Director of Supportive Services, you will lead efforts to support the educational, mental, social, physical, and spiritual needs of our program participants across all our service locations.

In this role, you will oversee the daily management and coordination of all aspects of our education and recreation programming. You will develop policies and programs, ensuring operational effectiveness and compliance with funders. Your work will directly contribute to therapeutic engagement with youth through educational, social, and recreational activities.

If you are motivated, passionate, and ready to make a difference, we invite you to apply

Why Join Us:

Make a Difference: Be a part of an organization that is deeply committed to creating positive change in the lives of individuals and communities.

Professional Growth: Take on a leadership role where you can develop and implement asset management systems, supervise a dedicated team, and contribute to ongoing education initiatives.

Comprehensive Benefits: Enjoy a range of benefits, including medical, dental, vision insurance, 401(k) match, paid maternity and paternity leave, commuter benefits, student loan assistance, and more.

Our Benefits:

• Medical insurance.
• Dental insurance.
• Vision insurance.
• 401(k) match.
• Paid maternity leave.
• Paid paternity leave.
• Commuter benefits.
• Student loan assistance.
• Tuition assistance.
• Disability insurance

Essential Functions:

Duties & Responsibilities

• Establishes education, recreational, youth engagement, and outing related program standards, such as operating procedure, best practices, trainings, reference guides, and up-to-date curricula.
• Ensures effective strategic planning and visioning for the department and ensures the development and implementation of effective educational and recreational programming.
• Provides guidance and direction to staff and programs to ensure their success – including collaborative partnerships with program directors, oversight of all educational staff, and indirect oversight of program managers supporting education and recreational services.
• In partnership with program staff, sets-up, implements and conducts large, small group and 1:1 recreation program, and works with teams to develop and implement monthly educational and recreational schedules.
• Manages accountabilities for all staff performing educational and recreational activities, working within a framework of proactive and therapeutic youth engagement, and quality educational and recreational service provision.
• Oversees compliance with all funder requirements as well as best practice associated with educational, recreational, mentorship and similar activities. Collects pertinent data and ensures reporting.
• Develops volunteer network to support activities as appropriate, helps establish partnerships in coordination with Senior Leadership and the Volunteer and Community Engagement Specialist.
• 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:

• Residential Instructors, Lead Residential Instructors, Certified Teachers.
• Program Managers (shared oversight with Directors).

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree or Master's degree (M.A.) in Education, or in Recreation, Social Services, or related fields.
• A minimum of 5 years' experience in education, recreation, program planning and development, social service administration, or policy development and implementation.
• At least 3 years of which is with the same or similar populations served by Youth Residential programs.
• Bilingual is strongly preferred.

Certifications/Licenses:

• Field related certifications preferred, but not required.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities (K/S/A):

• Ability to speak and fluency in a second language preferred, but not required.
  1. Ability to read and interpret documents such operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals.
  2. Ability to write routine reports and correspondence.
  3. Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of organization.
• Access to regular, dependable and timely transportation
• Ability and comfortability working with people of varying socioeconomic backgrounds.
• Excellent communication skills. Strong networker, convener, relationship builder and communicator with experience collaborating with diverse work teams and stakeholders.
• 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.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Internet Explorer, Outlook/Exchange; Windows operating systems; and other software routinely used by Heartland Alliance.
• 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.

Leadership Competencies:

In order to perform the job successfully, and individual should demonstrate the following leadership competencies:

• Strategic Agility - Sets a vision and creates strategies amid a complex, uncertain, and changing environment; Thinks big picture to make long-term decisions; Thinks innovatively to improve processes and services; Inspires innovative thinking and helps the organization adapt to change and face adversity.
• Communication - Delivers honest, clear, persuasive, and timely information; Collects (i.e., actively listens) and synthesizes information; Communicates in an inclusive and respectful way; Communicates appropriately and effectively in written and verbal form to various stakeholders (e.g. participants, staff, partners, funders); Represents HA externally with the power to inspire and influence others.
• Teamwork & Collaboration – Delivers honest, clear, persuasive, and timely information; Collects (i.e., actively listens) and synthesizes information; Communicates in an inclusive and respectful way; Communicates appropriately and effectively in written and verbal form to various stakeholders (e.g. participants, staff, partners, funders); Represents HA externally with the power to inspire and influence others.
• Managerial Courage - Challenges group-think and creates an environment welcoming diverse perspective; Identifies, diffuses, and rectifies unethical, unsafe, or uncomfortable situations; Engages in courageous communication and critical thinking to balance differing views across teams and the organization; Manages challenging situations and conflicts in a professional manner even if it requires an unpopular stance.
• Talent Development - Builds capacity of future leaders and empower teams; Leverages unique backgrounds, experiences and strengths to develop a cohesive team and create an inclusive environment; Manages employees with understanding and empathy (i.e. displays emotional intelligence); Supports employees' well-being by understanding and working to address work stress and vicarious trauma; Provides timely feedback that is authentic, direct, and actionable.

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 regarding scheduling and work location.
• Program sites are located throughout the Chicago area, including the North and South sides of Chicago. 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

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.