SENIOR DIRECTOR, SAFEty
SAFEty Initiatives (Securing Advancement, Freedom and Empowerment)
MISSION AND BACKGROUND To achieve freedom from want, fear, and injustice for people marginalized by poverty, displacement, or situations of vulnerability by developing and providing a continuum of services that meet basic needs, build strengths, safeguard human rights, and provide opportunities for positive change. Heartland Human Care Services celebrates our 130 year anniversary addressing situations of extreme poverty and injustice and supporting individuals as they build on their strengths to thrive and secure their dreams. We cover basic needs for today, like housing and healthcare, while providing job and financial training for tomorrow. Because we have seen it, we believe that with support and hope, lives change. HHCS is one of four subsidiaries of Heartland Alliance. The goal of all the Heartland entities is to end poverty through programs that meet participants where they are and to provide them with the tools they need to move into financially sustainable, healthy lives free from fear and persecution. All programs are developed through a human rights lens focusing on self-empowerment. HHCS is led by Executive Director, David Sinski with the support of three senior directors: SAFEty, Housing & Health and Pathways to Success and a Chief
Operating Officer. HHCS has an overall operating budget of approximately $58M. The HHCS team is committed to human rights and delivering programming and advocacy related to poverty alleviation through services to the homeless; women and family programs; resettlement for immigrants and refugees; youth development; educational and employment programs; residential programs; Travelers Aid; and, Supportive housing. The Senior Director of SAFEty (Securing Advancement, Freedom & Empowerment) Initiatives is responsible for approximately $40M, and a staff of 400. Currently, there are seven direct reports to the Senior Director of SAFEty Initiatives including the Executive Director of Child Welfare, Managing Director of Community Programs and the Directors of Business Operations, Operations, Development Expansion and Business Accountability, Clinical Services and Finance. The SAFEty programs include: Residential programming for unaccompanied children
which includes operation of nine distinct centers around the City of Chicago augmented by home study and postrelease services for unaccompanied children. Referrals for these two programs are exclusively through the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR). Other programs include a group home setting that serves as a juvenile justice alternative to detention, violence recovery services, freedom from trafficking services and programming for pregnant and parenting teens. Of particular note is that the SAFEty unaccompanied children program prides itself on being one of the only programs in the country serving children from around the world. The program staff speak more than 30 different languages and deliver high quality, inclusive and culturally competent programming. The new Senior Director will inherit a strong portfolio that is well positioned to continue its lead providing best in class services to immigrant children and families and other under-served communities.
SENIOR DIRECTOR, SAFEty THE OPPORTUNITY The SAFEty program represents more than 50% of the budget and staff for HHCS. While this demands a leader with exceptional operational skills, it also requires visionary talent and an innovative approach to growth and development. The operational components for much of the SAFEty program are highly regulated by government funders and the policies around these programs change regularly and rapidly. In the midst of this, the real focus and opportunity is for the SAFEty program to be an essential partner in setting and achieving a broader organizational strategy for HHCS. Heartland is committed to integrating and collaborating across the Alliance and partnering with others who can propel the work forward.
The staff are deeply committed to their work and the participants that they serve. Continuing to coach and mentor the team resulting in professional growth is another major priority. Maintaining skilled staff for the residential facilities is an ongoing need. Working in partnership with the Heartland Alliance Human Resources department to develop a pipeline of talent for these roles is an opportunity going forward. HHCS is also implementing a strategy to ensure that we are a best place to work and the SAFEty leadership has a critical role in championing these efforts. The culture and philosophy of HHCS is a vital component of the organization’s success. The organization’s culture is rooted
in empathy and programmatic excellence. Heartland Alliance and HHCS are recognized for the ability to develop fruitful and mutually beneficial relationships with the community, maximizing community benefit through constructive collaboration and strategic partnerships. Meaningful opportunities remain to enhance key areas of organizational culture and operations, including: n Leveraging the full talents of the SAFEty staff; n Integrating the programs across HHCS; and, n Inspiring innovation and excellent practices to achieve our vision, and n Continuing to develop excellent relationships with key funders.
POSITION DESCRIPTION This role will provide programming vision and leadership to Heartland Human Care Services and serves as a strategic advisor and advocate regarding safety as a core component of mitigating poverty. This role will assist in the direction, planning, implementation, and maintenance of the SAFEty programs. Key priorities include developing annual plans that incorporate maintaining high quality and fiscally sound programming, developing strong funder relationships and seeking growth opportunities that are aligned with the mission of HHCS. The Senior Director will ensure that SAFEty
programs are professionally managed and fiscally viable relative to meeting the needs of participants and the community, and is responsible for the overall budget for the department. The Senior Director is responsible for leading and managing the SAFEty administrative and programming teams, and for working with the Heartland Alliance Business Services (HABS) functional areas to ensure that Human Resources, Finance, Compliance, Risk Management and IT are integrated and supporting the work of the entire SAFEty team.
SENIOR DIRECTOR, SAFEty CORE COMPETENCIES n Visionary Leadership with a
capacity to translate vision into effective action and an ability to see opportunities for strategic initiatives and new areas for program development n Strategic Management to
motivate, develop and lead a large, diverse, geographically dispersed staff as well as program and budget development, oversight and management n External Relations to have deep knowledge of the communities
served by the SAFEty programs and represent Heartland Alliance, HHCS and SAFEty to external constituencies n Development to represent SAFEty programs to funders and strategic public and private partners
CANDIDATE PROFILE The candidate we seek is a strategic and creative leader with an unwavering commitment to human rights. Qualified individuals will be active in human services and immigrant services, ideally both locally and nationally. S/he will be a recognized leader in addressing the needs of vunerable communities. The candidate must be a highly motivated, self-starter with energy and tenacity, a track record of leadership, business acumen, innovation and sound financial control at a senior level. Demonstrated success establishing and cultivating strong relationships with staff, board of directors, community members, public and private funders, the media and elected officials is required. A track record of building effective relationships with external partners, including donors, business and government at the highest level is required. Success in managing and motivating a team and a successful fundraising track record is essential. The successful candidate will have high emotional intelligence; will be an exceptional manager of people; and, will demonstrate the ability to be a leader amongst leaders. The abilities to balance team and individual responsibilities; exhibit objectivity and openness to others’ views; build a positive team spirit and morale and build a diverse workforce are needed. The ability to
give clear, effective, empathetic, sensitive and consistent leadership with good attention to detail is a must. An ability to understand financial statements to plan, monitor and evaluate finances is required. An understanding of business principles applied to a nonprofit enterprise, including a background of good budget management, is necessary. The candidate must possess excellent communication, negotiation, and advocacy skills with the ability and presence to represent HHCS externally. Integrity, resilience, passion, decisiveness, empathy, optimism, and a well-developed sense of realism is required. S/ he will need to be poised and confident, both when working with Board and staff, as well as with external constituencies. An action-oriented, adaptable, and innovative approach is essential. A senior leadership role with expertise in youth and family development is strongly desired. A track record of influencing others to action and the ability to develop and create excitement for a vision is sought. A Bachelor’s Degree in human services or a related field is required, Master’s Degree preferred. A minimum of fifteen (15) years of experience in non-profit leadership and managing teams and a workforce of 100+ employees needed.
HOW TO APPLY Please click here to send a current resume and letter of introduction to Noetic Search. If interested, please submit a current resume and cover letter to the above email address. For more information, visit www. noeticexsearch.com or www.heartlandalliance.org. Noetic Search 150 N. Michigan Ave. Suite 2800, Chicago, IL 60601 (312) 863-8577 Heartland Alliance makes all hiring and employment decisions without regard to race, creed, color, age, gender, marital or parental status, religion, ancestry, national origin, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, immigrant status, political affiliation or belief,
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,
or HIV infection, in accord with the Organization’s AIDS Policy Statement of September, 1987. Individuals with disabilities requiring accommodation should contact the Human Resources and Administration Office at (312) 6601433