The Urban Warriors Program Director is responsible for the execution and operations of YSVP Urban Warriors program. The Program Director facilitates structured communications between referred youth who have experience high levels of trauma and recruited veterans to enable mutually beneficial relationships. This position plays a key role in YSVP’s broader effort to provide trauma informed mentoring to youth who have experienced interpersonal and community violence and reduce the cycle of harm that interrupts healthy adolescent development. The Program Director will supervise the service provision, documentation and reporting of his or her direct reports and will manage all documentation and reporting as it relates to the youth served. This also includes accountability for monitoring and assurance that the program’s deliverables are in compliance with the stated deliverables. The Program Director is accountable for veteran recruitment and participation and provides training and support to veterans and YSVP program staff. The Program Director serves as the primary liaison between Urban Warriors program and the Learning, Evaluation and Community Impact Team (LECI).
Program Development and Implementation
Monitor and manage program implementation, utilizing a trauma informed approach and practices to support youth and veteran interactions.
- Serves as a general advocate for youth and veterans as it pertains to mental health and legal system and such subsidiaries, with a proven ability to assess participant needs, and create safe spaces and conversations for youth and other diverse stakeholders
- Oversees veteran outreach, engagement, and support
- Writes and revises curriculum in partnership with curriculum design team convened by LECI
- Coordinates Urban Warriors program expansion and refinement strategies.
- Develops working relationships with community partner and city/government agencies.
- Coordinates with Program Coordinators and Site based teams to facilitate the implementation of Urban Warriors alumni events.
Team Leadership and Management
Identifies, manages and motivates a high-performing team that accomplishes program objectives. This includes:
- Providing leadership to Urban Warriors Coordinators and team members to enhance staff learning, career development and operational effectiveness.
- Hiring, onboarding and training team members and ensuring ongoing training and development in accordance with program standards and staff development plans.
- Establishing, monitoring and evaluating team goals and performance standards. Evaluates team members and provides coaching and intervention as necessary. Coaches, mentors, and develops team members to optimize performance.
- Contributing to Professional Learning Communities convened to deepen youth development practices across the Y’s program
- Managing time and attendance for current staff, ensuring that time is accurately recorded in the HRIS system according to YMCA time and attendance policies.
- Using data to assess performance of team and modify service provisions as needed to achieve the best possible outcomes for youth
Urban Warriors Operations
- Implements strategies to maximize the synergies between Urban Warriors and other YSVP program areas
- In collaboration with the YSVP Business Office, Senior Manager of Operations and Executive Director, monitors the budget and makes purchases in alignment with approved budget for programming
- Works with Executive Director and Director of Program Operations to communicate program objectives and metrics, and to make consistent and progressive steps toward organizational and programmatic consistency and sustainability
- Works with Learning and Evaluation as well as YSVP staff to track Urban Warriors evaluation surveys and strengthen documentation
- Supports program quality improvement through continuous assessment and planning with data
- Identifies additional funding sources that will supplement and enhance existing Urban Warriors and Urban Warriors Alumni funding streams
- Assists with all Urban Warriors related grant writing efforts undertaken by the YSVP team in conjunction with Mission Advancement
- Supports the mission and vision of the YMCA and YSVP as assigned.
Child Abuse Prevention:
Supports the YMCA’s commitment to child abuse prevention by:
- 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
- At least three years of professional experience related to youth safety, violence prevention and/or juvenile justice. Program knowledge of issues and trends in safety, violence prevention and juvenile justice essential. Prior supervisory experience is strongly preferred.
- Demonstrated success in developing and operationalizing innovative programs
- Proven ability to establish constructive relationships and interact as a positive role model with youth and others.
- Commitment to and a passion for the YMCA of Metro Chicago’s mission and vision with demonstrated integrity and reliability
- Intermediate proficiency in PC skills including management reporting tools and experience working with information technology staff to develop and implement program reporting and evaluation systems
- Strong project management skills. Demonstrated ability to manage complex, multi-faceted projects resulting in measurable successes and program growth
- Demonstrated ability to build credibility and relationships with a collaborative, constructive peer group and other stakeholders.
- Ability to manage, develop and motivate teams to accomplish team goals and objectives
- Demonstrates evidence of YMCA Leader competencies in previous experience or practice.
- Meet physical qualifications required as outlined in job description. The YMCA will provide reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities.