Youth Guidance is hiring a
About Our Organization: At Youth Guidance, we believe that no matter what challenges a young person faces, they are more likely to succeed when they have caring adults in their lives. Our highly-trained staff guides kids to overcome the life and academic challenges facing Chicago’s youth. We meet kids where they are — physically and emotionally — to help them focus on their education, make positive choices, and remain on the right path toward life success.
Position Summary: The Program and Partnerships Manager of Community Connections is responsible for overseeing case management, crisis support, and resource provision for Youth Guidance students and families. The manager works with the Director of Counseling to set the strategic vision for Community Connections and supervises a team of resource specialists who provide case management, resource provision, crisis interventions, and short-term clinical support. They are responsible for overseeing the planning, development, coordination, implementation, and evaluation of all program activities, staff, and outcomes within the Community Connections program. They will also take the lead in establishing partnerships with other community-based organizations, including organizations that provide support to youth and families affected by gender-based violence.
Essential Duties/Responsibilities:
Administrative leadership and professionalism:
Budgeting and Fundraising:
Collaborates with the Director of Counseling and Finance Department to plan and manage regional program budget, monitor spending to ensure expenditures are aligned with budget scope, and address issues that impact program goals.
Assists the Director of Clinical Counseling in developing, negotiating, and managing contracts to meet all terms and deliverables.
Reviews grant proposals, manages grant/contract deliverables for active awards, and meets reporting deadlines.
Client/Stakeholder Management:
Serves as primary liaison and communicates with school personnel, social service agencies, community groups, and public officials regarding program goals and objectives.
Understands the political landscape and manages relationships between government agencies, public partners, Youth Guidance departments/programs, and outside vendors to ensure clear communication.
Seeks and leads opportunities for Youth Guidance to be a regional and national expert in the field of school-based clinical and counseling support for youth.
Supervisory:
Minimum Qualifications
Education/Experience/Training
Master’s degree in social work, counseling, or related human services field from an accredited college or university
Current Illinois licensure (LCSW, LCPC, LSW, LPC) strongly preferred
Five years of work experience as a counselor, social worker, case manager, or similar role providing services in a school or community-based setting
Experience in program management and administration including experience managing budgets and contracts
Two years experience providing clinical or case management supervision
Experience working with youth and families affected by domestic violence/gender-based violence
Demonstrated knowledge of case management provision, including resource identification, partnership building, and culturally responsive service provision
Experience creating and providing clinical training to address specific counselor training needs and ensure competent service provision
Skills/Abilities
Demonstrates knowledge of social/emotional and crisis interventions for youth.
Makes independent decisions and exercises sound judgment.
Leads a team with a vision incorporating the goals of the organization and the program objectives.
Manages, understands, and analyzes data.
Demonstrates cultural competency, including understanding the effects of institutional racism and systemic oppression on marginalized populations, and recognition of personal biases.
Demonstrates commitment to continuous growth, including the ability to receive and integrate constructive feedback from leadership, peers, and supervisees.
Engages in continuous improvement of service quality in alignment with the organization's mission.
Demonstrates flexibility and adaptability, including willingness to handle difficult situations and unforeseen tasks in a timely manner.
Creates systems and policies to ensure that staff from a variety of backgrounds are provided opportunities to develop and thrive.
Maintains a client-centered, solution-focused perspective.
Demonstrates passion and dedication to the agency’s mission.
Our Leadership Core Competencies:
Continuous improvement-minded: Takes initiative to identify and execute strategies and processes to continuously improve one’s leadership to strengthen the organization’s overall impact.
Develops and motivates others: Motivates others and supports their development through strong coaching and mentoring. Effectively stewards self and others through both small and large-scale change.
External representation and relationship building: Represents the organization among external stakeholders, and builds strong, trusting relationships with stakeholders
Leads with vision: Has an inspiring vision for the future of the organization, beyond the status quo, and communicates it effectively; leads with courage and willingness to take risks in service of impact
Manages with data: Understands data; analyzes data and identifies insights and implications
Strategic thinking and resource management Considers the future of the organization proactively and responsively; weighs diverse inputs to inform strategies; identifies innovative opportunities when relevant; makes and communicates decisions that effectively balance tradeoffs between financial sustainability and impact
Team**-building:** Builds strong relationships with teams and colleagues; fosters effective teams and collaborative interactions
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
Work Environment
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounter while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
DEI Statement
At Youth Guidance, we understand that diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) are fundamental to realizing our vision of bright and successful futures for all young people. We celebrate the diversity of youth and recognize them as empowered leaders, problem-solvers, and experts of their own experiences. At the same time, we acknowledge that many systems and institutions meant to support youth are inequitable and unjust.
As such, we are committed to advancing DE&I through our words and our actions, both internally and externally, by:
Youth Guidance is an equal-opportunity employer and proudly values diversity. Youth Guidance does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law and is committed to creating a dynamic work environment that values diversity along all of these lines. People of all backgrounds are encouraged to apply.
EOE/M/F/D/V/SO