Program Director

About us
PRISM is a community supported social service organization providing dignity-centered resources for food, housing, and other basic needs. We were founded by community members concerned about their neighbors' basic needs and challenges. PRISM blends talent, passion, and abilities into opportunities that improve the lives of everyone as we build a resilient community, reflecting the spirit of the northwest suburbs.

Our vision is to lead in providing innovative and dignified services that foster resilient individuals and a healthier, more sustainable community.

PRISM strives to incorporate the core values of collaboration, innovation, dignity, and accountability into all aspects of our organization. Our programming helps low-income and basic wage-earning families meet their essential food, housing, and clothing needs. The Marketplace Food Shelf, Housing Programs, Shop for Change Thrift Shop and Children’s Programs operate in a professional and dignified manner, allowing program participants the opportunity to choose the products and resources that are most helpful for their situations. At PRISM, we understand equity and inclusion as actions, and strive to make services not only accessible but welcoming with a clear understanding of how we operate.

We are currently hiring a Program Director . This is a full-time, benefits-eligible position. The salary range is dependent upon the preferred qualifications and ranges from $65,000 - $75,000 paid in 26 bi-weekly payments throughout the year.

Our benefits include:

• A selection of health insurance options
• Health Savings Account (HSA and with high deductible health plans only)
• Dental
• Vision
• Life Insurance
• Long term disability
• IRA with up to 3% company match
• 10 paid holidays per year plus occasional additional paid days at the discretion of the Executive Director
• Over 3 weeks of PTO
• Plus additional ancillary benefits through Aflac such as short term disability, accident, hospital, cancer, additional life and other employee paid benefits.

Position Overview
The Program Director is responsible for the high-quality services across PRISM’s programs. We offer a food shelf and other hunger relief programming, homelessness prevention and housing support, and three Children’s Programs: Birthday Room, Back to School Success, and Holiday Toy Shoppe.

This leader has a high level of responsibility and must hold a consistently high level of professionalism and ethics pertaining to engagement with participants, volunteers, and other PRISM staff.

The Program Director works in tandem with the finance and advancement teams to effectively and sustainably deliver impactful services to community members in need. This is a key leadership role in the organization and the ideal candidate will have demonstrated ability to work within our values of dignity, accountability, collaboration, and innovation.

Job Responsibilities

Supervision:

• Provide quality supervision to staff, volunteers and interns who support programs.
• Consult, problem solve and provide ethical guidance and oversight to all program activities.
• Ensure best practices are implemented in service areas including intake, assessment, confidentiality/data management, reporting, and follow-up.
• Identify and facilitate training needs of staff.
• Maintain electronic and hard copy files ensuring systems of accountability, storage and reporting are in place.

Programs:

• Primary contact for program audits, contract assessments, reports, etc.
• Understand applicable laws and regulations including funder mandates, state and government regulations, and agency policies.
• Respond to participant concerns in timely, respectful manner.
• Manage food shelf inventory including ordering, receiving, storage, distribution; ensure timely, organized and healthy management of food and other products.
• Ensure systems of facility oversight including repairs, maintenance, professional display of food.
• Make recommendations and identify new interventions to support exceptional program quality and community impact.
• Ensure program guidelines and rules are being followed.
• Develop and nurture relationships with other non-profits, vendors, civic groups, businesses and individuals to expand opportunities and share the power of helping others.
• Represent PRISM at community meetings, educational sessions, and other external events.
• Provide presentations to the community as needed.
• Organize and lead the Birthday Room, Back to School Success (school supply distribution), and Holiday Toy Shoppe.

Evaluation:

• Responsible for program data collection and cleanliness including training, checking, correcting, updating, etc.
• Work in collaboration with fundraising and support team to gather information for reports, grants, annual reports, and more.
• Identify program and agency related indicators to demonstrate efficacy and efficiency.
• Gather feedback ongoing from participants about strengths, needs, and opportunities.

Required

• A valid driver’s license and clean driving record.
• Basic computer and internet skills.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

• 1-3 years in non-profit program leadership.
• Ability to speak Spanish.
• Familiar with food shelf or food service operations.
• Supervision experience with paid staff and/or volunteers.
• Strong attention to detail; organizational and project management skills.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks/projects across different teams and timelines.
• Exceptional problem solving and customer service abilities.
• Excellent written and oral communications skills through a variety of channels.
• Strong computer skills and comfortable with technology.
• Willingness and ability to routinely lift 50 pounds.
• Ability to work evenings and occasional weekends.
• Reliable transportation.
• Great sense of humor and commitment to poverty alleviation.

Physical Demands, Working Conditions

• Frequent sitting, getting up from desk and moving around to meet with program participants as needed.
• Work is performed in an office setting, where the incumbent will be exposed to noise and a regular flow of people. Headaches, eyestrain, and other related occupational hazards reflect the most common potential for injury. Work is light duty and sedentary with infrequent ability to lift, carry or push up to 50 pounds.
• This position is frequently exposed to mental effort and stress, is assigned to changing priorities, and performs work requiring attention to detail under deadlines.
• The ability to operate and interact with computers or other office equipment via keyboard, mouse, or touch screen is required.

We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status and any other characteristic protected by local, state and federal law.

We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. If you require assistance or accommodation, please let us know.