Friends of the Children is looking for an extraordinary professional to join our National Program Team. Our model is proven to impact generational change by empowering youth who are facing the greatest obstacles through relationships with salaried professional mentors – 12+ years, no matter what. We are seeking a National Program Director to join a small, nimble, and mighty team to help us as we expand our model to new communities and support our network of independent community-based chapters. In this role, you will also provide hiring support for new chapters.

Reporting to the Chief Program Officer, this position offers the opportunity to be a part of scaling and expanding learning to new chapters within our growing network. As National Program Director you would truly make a significant impact setting up new chapters for success. You will build internal and external bridges and provide creative, collaborative, and energetic support to our network of independent community-based chapters.

The ideal candidate will have held a key leadership position within a Program that serves children and families. This role will require some travel and can be done remotely.

Are you this amazing leader? Here's what we have to offer you:

• Opportunity to help grow and support an organization that demands equity from ourselves and from our community.
• Opportunity to partner with a diverse, growing network of independent chapters across the country to implement long-term, sustainable change.
• Most of all, you get to lead meaningful initiatives for an exceptional organization that helps children facing incredible odds change their life stories every day.
• A comprehensive benefit package. (401k with 4% match, Health, Dental, Vision, Life)

Curious to learn more? See the details below.

Basic Function / Position Objective:

The National Program Director is responsible for training and assisting new sites with hiring, and development of Friends and Program Directors. The National Program Director supports new chapter management, acts as a team facilitator and organizational motivator, and facilitates effective communication throughout the organization. They will identify training and developmental needs and drive suitable training initiatives that build loyalty to the organization’s culture. The National Program Director must have program leadership experience as a Team Leader or above at Friends of the Children; know, understand, honor and support the organization’s mission, vision, values and principles; be able to clearly articulate the organization’s function; and have demonstrated success as a supervisor in the organization.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

• Participate in recruiting and hiring of Friends and Program Directors, including: interviewing candidates, organizing and/or presenting training sessions.
• Work with Chief Program Officer to define, coordinate, and effectively manage network trainings.
• Identify and assess future and current training needs.
• Deploying a wide variety of training methods.
• Monitor and evaluate the training program’s effectiveness, success and ROI. Periodically analyze and report on program training.
• Maintain a keen understanding of training trends, developments and best practices.
• Understand and support the organization’s mission, vision, values and principles and be able to clearly articulate the organization’s function.
• Promote a learning culture by facilitating Network-wide collaborative spaces i.e., program-specific workgroups
• Assist with Program tasks associated with expansion into new communities
• Ensure compliance with and accountability to organization’s policies, procedures, and practices as outlined in the Employee Manual and Friends Handbook. Responsible for developing and implementing trainings that move the organization to one of increased accountability and professionalism.
• Perform other responsibilities as requested.

Additional Responsibilities:

• Know and understand the needs and issues of children served by the program. Monitor Program Performance Scorecard outcomes for locations. Help identify areas of improvement and growth and work with Chief Program Officer to ensure that children are served with quality across the program.
• Develop and sustain honest and trusting relationships with colleagues, and inspire and motivate team members within the national team and across the network. Serve as a role model both for effective Friend/child relationships and as a professional, ensuring a positive and professional work environment.
• Act as a collaborative leader for network management by providing support and resourceful solutions to concerns and challenges.
• Support network in holding chapters accountable for work performance: adequacy of time spent with children, quality and diversity of activities with children, and administrative responsibilities, providing continuous constructive feedback and coaching as necessary. Work with HR and the Chief Program Officer to resolve issues as needed.
• Actively participate as a member of the national team, participating in making, implementing, and upholding decisions or policies related to the operations of the organization. Effectively lead and support organizational change.
• Work collaboratively with network and national management to determine areas of improvement and develop the necessary trainings that support the advancement of the program. Monitor implementation and adoption.
• Communicate effectively and appropriately throughout the organization regarding organizational issues, concerns, policies and procedures. Raise and resolve issues appropriately. Advocate for Friends, representing the best interests of the team and children, doing so in an appropriate and timely manner. Understand, implement and support organizational policies and procedures.
• Work collaboratively with the Chief Program Officer to ensure that current programming is sustained and that new programming is developed to serve current and future needs of the organization.

Essential Skills and Abilities:

• Know and understand the needs and issues of children served by the program. Monitor Program Performance Scorecard outcomes for locations. Help identify areas of improvement and growth and work with Chief Program Officer to ensure that children are served with quality across the program.
• Develop and sustain honest and trusting relationships with colleagues, and inspire and motivate team members within the national team and across the network. Serve as a role model both for effective Friend/child relationships and as a professional, ensuring a positive and professional work environment.
• Act as a collaborative leader for network management by providing support and resourceful solutions to concerns and challenges.
• Serve as Interim Program Director during site leadership transition or Program Director leave
• Conduct local and national presentations that promote program initiatives and best practices
• Support network in holding chapters accountable for work performance: adequacy of time spent with children, quality and diversity of activities with children, and administrative responsibilities, providing continuous constructive feedback and coaching as necessary. Work with HR and the Chief Program Officer to resolve issues as needed.
• Actively participate as a member of the national team, participating in making, implementing, and upholding decisions or policies related to the operations of the organization. Effectively lead and support organizational change.
• Work collaboratively with network and national management to determine areas of improvement and develop the necessary trainings that support the advancement of the program. Monitor implementation and adoption.
• Communicate effectively and appropriately throughout the organization regarding organizational issues, concerns, policies and procedures. Raise and resolve issues appropriately. Advocate for Friends, representing the best interests of the team and children, doing so in an appropriate and timely manner. Understand, implement and support organizational policies and procedures.
• Work collaboratively with the Chief Program Officer to ensure that current programming is sustained and that new programming is developed to serve current and future needs of the organization.

Essential Skills and Abilities:

• Strong interpersonal skills, including the demonstrated ability to resolve conflict, and help others do the same;
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; organizational and time management, delegation and follow-up skills;
• Strong training and presentation skills;
• Effective, appropriate and professional supervisory and leadership skills and behaviors;
• Demonstrated ability to influence the behavior of others to achieve necessary results;
• In depth understanding of the role of a Friend, as well as of the issues faced by our program children;
• Ability to use creativity and initiative in guiding others to plan activities that continually develop children;
• Ability to work as a team player, as well as the ability to lead a team;
• Demonstrated ability to exercise excellent judgment related to maintaining confidentiality and communicating appropriately within the workplace, and to hold others accountable for the same;
• Proficient computer and keyboarding skills, proficiency with e-mail systems, familiarity with MS Outlook and Access (or other database applications); and
• Ability to exercise good judgment independently, in various situations and environments, and under varying levels of stress, and to develop others to do the same.

Required Education, Experience, and Abilities:

Bachelor’s degree, plus five to seven years’ experience working/volunteering with children, including at least two years in a Friends of the Children program leadership role.

Compensation and Benefits:

• $70K-$90K (Compensation commensurate with experience and geographical location)
• Medical, Dental, Vision (Organization pays up to the employee only rate)
• Life Insurance (Organization paid)
• 401k with 4% match Location

Location

• Remote/Virtual

Applications without cover letters will not be considered; please use this as an opportunity to convey why you want the role and express your passion for the mission and fit for the role.

Friends of the Children is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to addressing discriminatory practices, and to working toward racial equity. The equal employment opportunity policy of Friends of the Children provides fair and equal opportunities for all employees and job applicants regardless of race, color, religious creed, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, marital status, familial status, disability, or genetic information, in compliance with applicable federal, state and local law. Friends of the Children hires and promotes individuals solely on the basis of their qualifications for the job to be filled.

Friends of the Children is growing rapidly as communities across the country are experiencing the power of how “One” changes a child's story: One Friend. One Child. 12+ years. No matter what. #ThePowerOfOne

To learn more go to https://friendsofthechildren.org/