Director Of Program & Services

Why SOS Illinois?

At SOS Illinois we are committed to keeping brothers and sisters in foster care together by providing safe, stable, and loving homes. We do this by offering an innovative approach to traditional foster care. Our model of care provides a private, single-family home, access to a community center, and support from professionally trained Foster Parents and staff. With this, the children we serve benefit from the stability of remaining with their siblings as well as the support of neighboring SOS Illinois Foster Parents and the entire community.

• Work for an impactful organization with a purpose
• Corporate culture that supports diversity, equity, and inclusion
• Hybrid/flexible work options to help balance work and life
• PTO (paid time off in the form of personal days, sick time, vacation days, and paid company holidays
• Employee Referral Bonuses

Employee Well-Being Benefits

• Competitive Healthcare plans through BCBS for you and your dependents (eligible the first of the following month after 30 of FT employment)
• Vision/Dental/Life Insurance offerings
• Flexible PTO
• Access to an Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• 403b Retirement Savings Plan (nonprofit version of 401K). Able to contribute immediately upon full-time employment. In addition, the organization will contribute 4% to your savings plan after 12 months of full-time employment regardless of whether or not you are contributing (no match required).
• Part of the federal student loan forgiveness program
• Access to financial advisors and financial education tools
• Tuition reimbursement options
• Opportunities for further education as well as time to attend trainings/workshops/etc. for personal/professional development

The Role:

The Director of Programs& Services is responsible for the overall day-to-day supervision and guidance of Village programs and services to children and Professional Foster Parents.

The Director of Programs& Services strategically directs the staff at the Village to facilitate positive and healthy connections among Village members and leads in the creation and implementation of Programming to enhance the Village community for all involved, while keeping a focus on the operational success and outcomes of the program.

Responsibilities:

1. Provides leadership to assure Village census goals are met or exceeded, including achieving a significant revenue increase and stabilization of Program funding, and that the Village maintains a strong sense of community is cohesive, and high standards of client care are maintained. Facilitates positive and healthy connections among village members.

2. Provides oversight to all Village programs assuring program effectiveness and systems are in place to track successes and identify areas of improvement. Works to improve program deliverables. Acts as primary support in the communication of quality standards to Village team for program and services. Assures records are maintained as required by the agency, COA, DCFS, Human Resources, IL state and federal law. In collaboration with COO, convenes and directs meeting with appropriate staff to ensure supportive services are operating effectively to enhance service quality to the Village clients.

3. Develop new programs to support the needs of clients and the strategic direction of the organization.

4. Leads the selection and admission process for intake of children following all state and organizational guidelines. Meets regularly with the COO and other team members to review guidelines, admissions and placement issues related to the well-being of the children. Completes all associated DCFS required paperwork in a timely fashion and handles internal communication, including 906, 1420 and 1425.

5. Responsible for the selection, training and development of Professional Foster Parents to assure homes are adequately staffed with appropriate trained personnel, with support from and in coordination with other departments.

6. Develops, executes, and oversees volunteer leadership programming. Works closely with Advancement and Recruitment to develop a plan for volunteer engagement program.

7. Design, deliver, and evaluate programs that meet the needs and interests of youth and families to enhance quality of life.

8. Actively engages and identifies community partners to support the Village’s goals and enhance the mission.

9. Provides leadership to program staff and direct supervision of Foster Parents, Child Welfare Supervisor, Program Assistant, and other Village staff as assigned. Provides leadership and indirect supervision of Child Welfare Specialists, Education & Activities Coordinator/Specialist, and Relief Parents.

10. Develops processes and procedures, resolves staff issues, and directs decision making to the appropriate level. Sets consistent performance targets and position specific goals in coordination with the Deputy Director. Regularly monitors progress and offers feedback. Completes performance reviews for staff on time. Recognizes staff for contributions and fosters a cohesive working environment by providing needed information, tools, and resources for team to perform. Requests staff input and feedback as part of the decision making process.

11. With the approval of the COO and CHRO, employs and terminates Village program staff and works with Supervisors to employ and terminate staff as needed.

12. Assures the clinical needs of the children are met and properly documented, in consultation and with support from the Director of Behavioral Health Services.

13. Acts as liaison to DCFS and other service providers for all program and services. Acts as the primary liaison in the Village for the Day Care program (if applicable). Serves as the primary liaison to State, local government and other community service providers to promote and support programs and services related to organizational activities.

14. Works closely with the Advancement, volunteers, and other staff, in areas of new program development and funding to meet or
exceed goals. Assures development, implementation and supervision of related programs and special activities including community involvement to promote awareness and support.

15. In collaboration with COO and Business Manager works to develop and monitor annual operational budget.

16. Provides support to corresponding Director(s) and DCFS when COO is not available.

17. Comply with all SOS policies, state, federal, county and city laws, rules and regulations.

18. Attend general agency and Village staff meetings, in-service education/training, individual supervision, and other meetings and agency programming as directed by the COO.

19. Is on-call to respond to Village emergencies 24/7.

20. Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

1. Masters degree in Social Work or relevant Masters Degree which meets DCFS requirements from an accredited institution.

2. A minimum of 5 years social service supervisory experience working with children and families in the child welfare system. Program leadership preferred. LCSW or clinical experience preferred.

3. DCFS Child Welfare Employee Licensure required; 402 Licensure.

4. Experienced in team building, implementing behavior modification plans and needs assessment.

5. Ability to work with DCFS, courts and other social service systems.

6. Ability to pass DCFS required criminal background check including CANTS/SACWIS, Drug Screen and SORS.

7. Ability to provide required DCFS Medical Report/TB test.

8. Valid Illinois driver's license with acceptable driving record; insured and reliable transportation.

9. Sensitivity to the cultural and socioeconomic characteristics of clients and staff.

10. Ability to relate to the Agency staff and to the public in a courteous and professional manner.

11. Strong communication, organizational and computer skills.

12. Ability to exercise discretion and independent judgment.

13. Ability to handle sensitive and confidential materials.

14. Ability to work flexible hours including some weekends.

15. Ability to work in an alcohol, tobacco and drug-free environment.

16. Commitment to SOS Children’s Villages Illinois philosophy and mission.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• Specific vision requirements include the ability to see at close range, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear
• Possess the ability to fulfill any office activities normally expected in an office setting, to include, but not limited to: remaining seated for periods of time to perform computer based work, participating in filing activity, lifting and carrying office supplies (paper reams, mail, etc.)
• Frequently required to stand, walk, sit, use hands to feel, and reach with hand and arms
• Occasionally lift and/or move up to 20-25 pounds
• Fine hand manipulation (keyboarding)
• At times, may require more than 40 hours per week to perform the essential duties of the position

LANGUAGE SKILLS:

• Ability to read, write and speak English proficiently
• Ability to read, write and speak Spanish is helpful

ADA DISCLAIMER/STATEMENT: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by the person assigned to this position. Position responsibilities are intended to describe those functions that are essential to the performance
of this job. This position description does not state or imply that the above are the only duties and responsibilities assigned to this position. Employees holding this position will be required to perform any other job-related duties requested by management. All requirements are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with a disability.

SOS CHILDREN’S VILLAGES ILLINOIS is an equal opportunity employer. Employment, assignment, and promotion practices are carried out in accordance with all applicable laws, rules, regulations and orders without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sexual orientation, physical handicap, social handicap, sex, age, or ancestry.