Program Manager of Social Service

PROGRAM MANAGER
- Chicago Lights Social Services Center Job Description

Classification:
Exempt

Status:
Regular, Full Time

Reports to:

Program Director of Social Services

The Chicago Lights Social Service Center connects with over 1,700 adults to encourage self-development, deep connections, and brighter futures through case management, enrichment programming, and food and clothing services.

The Program Manager supports the Program Director and Associate Director in ensuring coverage for all operational aspects of the Social Service Center drop-in program.

The drop-in program runs Tuesday-Friday from 9:30-11:30 and involves the distribution of food and clothing items to approximately 160 participants a week. During the drop-in program, the Program Manager supports all aspects of programing including but not limited to checking in participants, monitoring service delivery, tending to participant concerns, de-escalating conflicts, and supporting volunteers.

The Program Manager will oversee all operations of the food pantry including but not limited to ordering food, managing food delivery days, restocking shelves, and ensuring that food safety protocols are strictly adhered to.

The Program Manager will ensure that the food pantry and clothing closet spaces are organized and well-stocked with supplies necessary.

Attention to detail and strong organizational skills are required.

Additionally, the Social Service Center has a rotating base of 30-50 regular volunteers who support programming operations. This position does not directly supervise staff, but it does provide day-to-day leadership and oversight to volunteers.

The Program Manager is responsible for overseeing volunteer recruitment, orientation, training, and engagement for all programming activities. The Program Manager will get to know all volunteers and ensure that their dedication to the Social Service Center is acknowledged and celebrated.

The Program Manager will ensure that volunteer shifts are appropriately staffed and that all new volunteers are provided with an orientation. The Program Manager will mediate all volunteer concerns that arise to ensure the needs of the program, and volunteers are met.

Throughout the year, the Social Service Center also hosts corporate and non-profit volunteer groups.

The Program Manager will work with volunteer groups to establish an agreed upon schedule and will lead all volunteer groups through a successful day of service.

The Social Service Center closely partners with several corporate partners to provide donations to the program.

The Program Manager will work with all current partnerships to ensure positive working relationships/ordering deadlines and will research and recruit new program partners who are interested in supporting Social Service Center operations with material goods.

The Program Manager role will spend their time in the following ways:
Programs Operations & Participant Services (40%), Food Pantry/Clothing Operations (25%), Volunteer Management (25%), and Partnerships & Resource Development (10%).The primary responsibilities for the Program Manager include but are not limited to:

• Supports all aspects of drop-in program operations Tuesday through Friday from 9:30-11:30 AM.
• Work with Program Director and Associate Director to de-escalate any incidents that take place during programming hours and complete timely documentation of any incident notes.
• Oversee all aspects of the food pantry including ordering food, unloading food delivery, organization of shelves, and adherence to food safety protocols.
• Serve as the primary contact for all individual and group volunteer experiences at the Social Service Center.
• Recruit, train, manage, and foster positive working relationships with all program volunteers. Ensure that all SSC programs are fully staffed with volunteers, and that volunteers have meaningful volunteer experiences.
• Manage the SSC volunteer recruitment account through posting volunteer positions and confirming, coordinating, and training all volunteers.
• Regularly research and engage in volunteer recruitment opportunities through the…