DISTRICT MANAGER - HUMAN SERVICES - City of Chicago

Job Number:

JOB ANNOUNCEMENT

DISTRICT MANAGER

Department of Family and Support Services

Number of Positions: 1

(Additional vacancies possible pending budget approval)

Starting Salary: $80,628.00

Applications for this position will be accepted until 11:59pm CDT on 12/2/2024

Description

Mission

Working with community partners, we connect Chicago residents and families to resources that build stability, support their well-being, and empower them to thrive.

Background - Department of Family and Support Services (DFSS)
DFSS is the largest human and social service funder in the City of Chicago. The department serves approximately 500,000 vulnerable Chicagoans every year through 7 service areas: children and youth services, human services, workforce, seniors, domestic violence and homelessness. The department provides critical services through its network of 350 not-for-profit agencies with an operating budget of $481 million in federal, state and local funding.

Human Services Delivery

The goal of the Human Services Delivery Division is to support the well-being of Chicago households at all stages of life and sets of circumstances. DFSS’ Human Service Delivery Division priorities are addressed through six Community Service Centers (CSC) located throughout the city that helps individuals and families access a wide range of resources. CSC services range from assistance with rental assistance and emergency food provisions; application assistance for public benefits; referrals to emergency shelter and employment programs; information-sharing on affordable housing options; ex-offenders and reentry services, linkages to other social service programs, including health care and childcare; and ongoing case management. Visitors participate in an initial assessment to identify their needs and some basic services that can be provided immediately.  Clients with multiple or complex issues are assigned a case manager.  The goal of the CSCs is to build programs in a community setting that connect Chicagoans to vital resources that build security and stability. 

In addition to the various on-site services, the CSCs serve as warming and cooling centers during extreme hot or cold weather condition to keep residents safe.

Currently, DFSS has one opening for a District Manager of Human Services at a Community Service Center within our network.

District Manager Position

Each CSC is led by a District Manager who is responsible for the day to day activities of the center. This work includes scheduling staff time off and caseloads, managing client wait times, developing community partnerships, ensuring program compliance with funder requirements and responding to any community concerns.  The District Manager will have an Assistant District Manager that reports to this position as well as a staff of Social Worker, Case Managers, and Administrative Assistant. This position reports to the Director of Field Operations.

Key Functions
Under the direction of the Director of Field Operations, the District the Manager isresponsible for daily management of the center and staff. Position responsibilities include: 

Manage Program Initiatives and Staff – 35%

Provide direct services to clients and establishing program goals and objectives in compliance with overall departmental goals and funder requirements as they relate to the improving the well-being of vulnerable populations.  In addition, this position is responsible for setting strategy and ensuring resources are available to those in need as well as ensuring program service quality and effectiveness through, problem solving, measuring accomplishments against objectives, and implementing performance improvement actions to maintain and enhance operational effectiveness.  The District Manager supervises 4 to 6 staff and assigns and reviews their work for accuracy and appropriateness against program eligibility guidelines. 

Data, Reporting and Program Compliance– 20%

Programmatic reports are due monthly, quarterly and annually. Examples of these reports include metrics on center performance, client demographics, the amount of client cash benefits our clients received and available funding remaining for rental assistance programming. The District Manager is responsible for ensuring that staff are correctly entering data into the various data systems including the Homeless Information Management System (HMIS), Electronic Case Management (ECM) and State data system: Single Tracking and Reporting System (STARS). Additionally, the District Management will work with the staff to analyze the data, review trends, understand gaps and make performance improvement adjustments to strengthen program delivery. As necessary, the District Manager may need to gather output data from non-profit partners that provide services within the CSC and participate in audits and program reviews by funders. The District Manager will also review staff files to ensure they meet funder requirements and take the lead for preparing their CSC for audits.

Community and Outreach Engagement – 20%

The District Manager is required to create new and maintain existing relationships with the local community organizations and stakeholders including other social service providers that are located near the CSC.  The District Manager is responsible for attending community engagement meetings on a monthly basis so that local resources can be shared with staff, clients and visitors at the CSC. In addition, position is responsible for coordinating on- site presentations by local non-profit partners at the CSC on a monthly basis and developing a monthly calendar of events to be shared with the community. 

Mass Care – 15%

Serving in a supportive role to senior leadership at DFSS for the DFSS in emergency preparedness as it relates to human and social services within the City and the Office of Emergency Management and Communications.  This position will be responsible for managing the warming and cooling centers during extreme hot and cold weather. Responsibilities include standing up a shelter due to a natural disaster or weather emergency, opening a mass care reunification site, or working at the Emergency Operations Center during critical periods.  This may mean working extended hours during the week or weekend coverage. 

Other – 10%

• Set the strategic directionfor new programs and initiatives that can support identified gaps and opportunities.
• Pilot new program initiatives to help support client self-sufficiency.
• Collaborate with DFSS program divisions, city departments, sister-agencies and the City’s vast network of community partners to deliver a comprehensive strategy to serve Chicago residents.
• Respond to a variety of inquiries and concerns from the community, outside agencies and senior leadership
• Participate in the RFP review and evaluation selection process for new delegate agencies
• Work with the DFSS administrative and support divisions including finance, contract management, grants, human resources, monitoring, policy and communications.
• Represent DFSS leadership at various meetings or training sessions 

Performs related duties as required.

Department of Family and Support Services 

Location: 4314 S. Cottage Grove Ave.  King Center

Hours:     9:00am-5:00pm             

THIS POSITION IS EXEMPT FROM THE CAREER SERVICE

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's degree in the Social Sciences, Public Administration, Business Administration, or a directly related field, plus five years of community or social service experience, of which two years are in a supervisory role related to the responsibilities of the position; or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience

Licensure, Certification, or Other Qualifications

A valid State of Illinois driver's license is required

Selection Criteria

This position requires applicants to complete an interview. The interviewed candidate(s) possessing the qualifications best suited to fulfill the responsibilities of the position, based on the oral part of the interview will be selected

Preference will be given to candidates possessing the following:

• Master’s degree
• Previous experience with project management
• Previous experience managing social service programs in community engagement and collaborative services
• Previous experience planning, developing and implementing social service programs

APPLICATION EVALUATION:Initial evaluation will be based on information provided on the application and the documents submitted. Department of Human Resource staff will review applications after the final posting date. Staff will follow any and all required Employment/Hiring Plan provisions, federal, state and local laws, and Collective Bargaining Agreements when applicable. Staff will apply hiring preferences as required by the municipal code. Placement on an eligibility list is not an offer or guarantee of an interview nor employment with the City of Chicago.

COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY:To further our commitment to hiring applicants with diverse experience the City of Chicago has adopted the following ordinances 2-74-020 and 2-74-075. The ordinances provide a preference to applicants who meet minimum qualifications and who are veterans of the Armed Forces, and/or residents of Socio-Economically Disadvantaged Areas (SEDA) and/or Chicago Public School (CPS) high school graduates to be referred to departments for consideration. These hiring preferences do not apply to bidders, as Collective Bargaining Agreements define the hiring process for bidders. For positions covered by a collective bargaining agreement, bidders will be considered before external candidates. To learn more about our hiring practices click here.

ALLREFERENCES TO POLITICAL SPONSORSHIP OR RECOMMENDATION MUST BE OMITTED FROM ANYANDALLAPPLICATION MATERIALS SUBMITTED FORCITYEMPLOYMENT.

   The City of Chicago is an Equal Opportunity and Military Friendly Employer

The City of Chicago is committed to providing fair chance hiring and welcomes applicants with past convictions, recognizing the value of a diverse workforce and the potential for growth and positive change.

City of Chicago

Brandon Johnson, Mayor

Job Posting

Pay Basis