Director of Programs

Director of Programs

History

Compass was founded in 2011 as a ministry of Douglas Avenue United Methodist Church to serve homeless children in Springfield Public Schools - District 186. From 2012-2016, Compass was a program of the Family Service Center and expanded the initial model to more schools, recruited additional partners, and added the Camp Compass summer learning program and Backpack Feeding Program. In 2016, Compass for Kids became an independent not-for-profit agency whose mission is to provide academic and social-emotional support to empower children and families underserved by our community. Our vision is that all children in our community experience success and reach their full potential. For more information, please visit .

Background

Currently, Compass for Kids has three main programs including Club Compass, Camp Compass, and the Youth Leadership Development Program.

1) Club Compass, the school-year program, focuses on social-emotional learning, enrichment, and volunteer-student mentoring relationships.

2) Camp Compass, the summer learning program, prevents learning loss and closes the achievement and opportunity gaps between low-income students and their higher-income peers through academic instruction and enrichment. This summer learning program, in partnership with Springfield Public Schools – District 186, has a proven track record of measurably increasing students’ reading and math skills.

3) Youth Leadership Development Program (YLDP), the program for middle and high school alumni of Club Compass will prepare middle and high school alumni of Club Compass to graduate from high school and be ready to achieve their dreams. The YLDP will do this through an evidence-based social-emotional curriculum, Life and Job Skills classes, immediate application of leadership skills at Club Compass under the supervision of a Site Coordinator, and service learning.

Job Summary

Compass for Kids is a local, volunteer-driven, community-based, 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. Compass for Kids is unique and exists to meet needs in our community that are not met by other programs/organizations. Compass for Kids has innovative programs and is committed to high standards of excellence and continuous quality improvement.

The Director of Programs is primarily focused on overseeing and ensuring the quality and effectiveness of our programs. The successful candidate will be a highly capable professional skilled in multiple areas, able to work independently with minimal supervision and take initiative, leadership, and responsibility over their work. The successful candidate will also be detail-oriented, organized, and excellent at backwards planning and project management. The Director of Programs manages both year-round and seasonal employees; effective management and leadership skills, as well as clear and effective communication skills are critical. The successful candidate will also be adaptable, creative, and have a strong drive to do what’s best for kids.

Reports to

Chief Operating Officer

Responsibilities

Program Planning & Oversight

Club Compass (15%)

• Social Emotional Learning
• Community Partners
• Backpack Feeding Program
• Family Engagement

Youth Leadership Development Program (20%)

• Social Emotional Learning
• Community Partners
• Backpack Feeding Program
• Family Engagement

Camp Compass (65%)

• Academics
• SEL / Enrichment / Field Trips
• Backpack Feeding Program

Human Resources

• Writing job descriptions and reviewing annually
• Posting job descriptions and recruiting
• Onboarding and training
• Interviewing and selection
• Performance Management - weekly check-ins, quarterly and annual reviews

Volunteer Management

• Recruitment , Onboarding, and Retention
• Policies and Procedures
• Appreciation
• Record-keeping

Data Tracking and Program Evaluation

• Collect and analyze pre - and post - assessment data from all programs
• Grant reporting

Community Outreach and Engagement

• Presentations to churches and civic groups and organizations
• Collaborations and Partnerships with businesses and organizations
• Join community networking groups and attend community events

Finance

• Assist with program and project budgets
• Assist with timesheets and payroll

Development and Fundraising

• Donor Stewardship
• Special Events (Back to School Brunch, Camp Stakeholder Event, etc)
• Thank Yous

Marketing and Communications

• Gather content for social media, newsletters, Annual Report, etc.
• Capture and write up success stories
• Program-specific marketing materials and advertising

General

• Adhere to goals outlined in the Strategic Plan
• Establish and write programmatic policies, procedures, and processes
• Continuous Quality Improvement
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications

• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal , with the ability to comfortably engage with individuals and large crowds
• Excellent relationship-building skills and high emotional intelligence
• Strong technical and computer skills (e.g. Google Sheets, Google Drive, Microsoft Office, Google Calendar), phone, copier, scanner, printer
• Excellent time management and organizational planning skills with the ability to backwards plan and to manage multiple responsibilities under pressure
• Attention to detail
• Ability to handle stress in a positive manner
• Work independently with minimal direction; a quick learner and self starter
• Ability to work with people from diverse backgrounds
• Ability to work well with different teams, as well as independently
• Ability to peacefully resolve conflict

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree, preferred
• At least three years of experience with children, required
• At least two years of supervisory experience, required
• Not-for-profit experience, preferred
• Valid driver’s license, dependable transportation, and car insurance
• Ability to pass a background check

Compensation

This is a full-time, exempt, salaried position. The pay range is between $55,000 - $60,000 per year, depending on education and experience.

Benefits Included: Paid Time Off (PTO), Retirement Plan (after one year of employment), Health Insurance, Life Insurance, FSA and Dependent Care FSA

Schedule

Regular business hours are 8:30 - 5:00 PM Monday through Friday. Evenings and/or weekends will be required during peak season and/or for special events, and those hours can be offset by flexing time.

Location

The successful candidate must reside in the Springfield, Illinois area and must be able to attend Camp Compass regularly, as well as Club Compass and the Youth Leadership Development Program on occasion. Some remote work may be permitted after meeting all performance expectations with supervisor’s approval per the terms of Compass for Kids’ Flexible Work Policy.

How to Apply

Send a cover letter and resume to:

Sarah Oglesby

1201 S. 4th St

Springfield, IL 62703