Friends of the Children

Friends of the Children- He Sapa is looking for a passionate, committed Program Director to take the lead in coordinating, implementing, and sustaining our program.  Our model is proven to break the cycle of generational poverty for Wakanyeja (children), who face the most barriers, by providing paid professional mentors to thousands of youths nationwide. The Program Director will be relentlessly driven to establish and expand our innovative, evidence-based model while grounding in Lakota lifeways. They will be a fierce advocate for children facing systemic and institutional barriers and will effectively communicate the urgency of our mission and the success of our outcomes. They will also develop close relationships with caregivers and the partner organizations who serve them, maximizing our program impact across both generations. The Program Director will work with community leaders and partner with organizations to change the way the world treats and views our most sacred resource, our children.  They will lead and inspire mentors, implement the child selection process, and cultivate and maintain relationships with schools, families, tribes, and the community.

The ideal candidate will have a strong understanding of Indigenous cultures, a smart head for data, and be an innovative leader deeply connected to the communities we serve.  They will be proactive, results-driven, and possess a sense of urgency while at the same time looking to focus their entrepreneurial talents to make a real difference for children facing the highest risks. The Program Director will work closely with the Executive Director and help guide the organization through our planned implementation and expansion. The right leader will be fiercely committed to the equity of future generations and will ensure that every aspect of the organization’s mission is executed with full engagement of communities impacted by our work.

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

• Opportunity to enhance the circle of resources available to Indigenous youth in the He Sapa.

• A committed Executive Director who will partner with you to establish and grow the organization.

• The ability to implement and supervise a proven, evidence-based mentoring model.

• Oversee the coordination of critical issues and adverse experiences that arise with youth and make appropriate referrals to community resources.

• A strong, cohesive National team committed to innovation and high standards.

• A team of talented employees passionate about working together to create an extraordinary organization.

• Respect for work-life balance for yourself and others. You’ll bring your full self to work and lead by example by integrating work and personal life with attention to self-care so that your work schedule is not depleting.

• A comprehensive benefits package.

• Salary range: $70k-$80k, depending on experience

• Most of all, you get to lead an exceptional organization that helps children facing incredible odds change their life stories every day.

At Friends of the Children – He Sapa (“Friends – He Sapa”), you will get to think globally and act locally.  You will be part of an established, growing national network that provides professional mentors to thousands of children nationwide.  As the He Sapa Program Director, you’ll receive expert support from our National team, headquartered in Portland, Oregon.  You’ll also work with a talented team of leaders from other locations across the country who collaborate to support the implementation of the model and our award-winning national scaling plan.

 Are you ready to use your skills to make an impact in Rapid City?

The following statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work to be performed by individuals assigned to this position.  They are not intended as a comprehensive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. 

Basic Function/Position Objective:

The Program Director is a member of the senior management team and is expected to keep other senior management members informed about the program's status.  The Program Director is expected to interact constructively and proactively with community members, tribes, partner schools, and potential donors and other third parties when asked by the Executive Director.

Essential Functions/Core Job Accountabilities:

• Actively participate as a senior management team member in leading the organization, participating in strategic planning and budgeting, and making, implementing, and upholding decisions or policies related to the organization's operations.  Effectively lead organizational change.

• Establish priority partnerships and programming that are responsive to the needs and goals of our children and families.  Utilize all resources that provide feedback, e.g., ETO reports and annual caregiver and youth evaluation assessments.

• Lead efforts to effectively reach children and families in urban centers and outlying rural and tribal communities.

• Hire, supervise, inspire, develop, and evaluate the efforts of Friends.  Serve as a role model and mentor for Friends, ensure they have the resources necessary to perform their jobs, act as a team facilitator and organizational motivator, and facilitate effective communication in all directions.   

• Manage Friends' performance, including completing and conducting annual and semi-annual performance appraisals. Hold Friends accountable for work performance, the adequacy of time spent with children, the quality and diversity of activities with children, and administrative/reporting responsibilities.   

• Work with National program staff to implement initial Friends training, as well as ongoing training and other required professional development and performance improvement activities. 

• Know and understand the needs and issues of the families served.  Meet with each Friend one-on-one each month and review Roadmaps and Transition Plans for each child monthly.  Assure that each Friend has helped to identify and develop a specific area of interest or talent for each child.

• Understand, prioritize, and apply Indigenous knowledge in every aspect of the job. 

• Lead and facilitate effective weekly staff meetings, focusing on child and Friend successes, setbacks, issues, concerns, and ideas.  Ensure focus on communicating organizational information or issues to the team and solicit feedback from the team.

• Communicate effectively and appropriately in all directions regarding organizational data, issues, concerns, policies, and procedures.  Raise and resolve issues appropriately.  

• Solicit and obtain feedback from a minimum of two parents/caregivers of children per month.  Document and maintain all feedback and include in Quarterly Report.

• Participate in regular conference calls with Program Directors in the network, and otherwise communicate with personnel at the National office and other chapters about the program. Research, develop, implement, and sustain best practice programming to serve current and future needs of the organization as required.

• Manage the child identification and selection process; including developing and sustaining a robust, formalized process, and training and supervising process participants.

• Develop and maintain strong relationships with partner schools, tribes and/or other community partners to allow for effective program implementation and sustainability.  Design and implement a process to ensure others are trained/developed to work in this capacity as well, to further strengthen our efforts to cultivate and maintain these critical relationships.

• Utilize program data to help develop, implement, and sustain enrichment activities and program excellence.  Ensure the quality of program delivery at all levels.

• Development and implementation of culturally appropriate programing that supports positive identity growth of children and families in the program.  

• Develop, implement, and oversee other projects as required.

• Be relentlessly committed to ensuring that youth and caregivers achieve their goals and our long-term outcomes.

• Work with Executive Director to ensure compliance with budgets and program guidelines.

• Communicate regularly and effectively with the Executive Director about key aspects of the program, including the status of children, the performance of Friends, recommendations for improvement of the program, and potential issues with particular staff members or children.

 Additional Responsibilities:

• Oversee the recruiting, selection, and hiring of new Friends or other staff as required.  Assist with training.

• Develop trusting, supportive relationships with families, and guardians of the children we serve.

• Oversee the coordination of critical issues that arise with youth.

• Responsible for the quality, integrity, and timely entry of program data.  

• Ensure compliance with and accountability to the organization’s policies, procedures, and practices as outlined in the Employee Manual and Friends Handbook.  Contribute to the development of any of these as required.  Help move the organization to one of increased accountability and zero tolerance.  

• Understand and inspire others to embody the organization’s mission, vision, values, and principles and be able to clearly articulate the organization’s function.

• Serve as an effective, compelling spokesperson for the organization.

• Collaborate with and benefit from National team resources.

• Create professional development opportunities for Friends to increase their capacity to provide culturally appropriate programming and interventions for Indigenous children and families

• Other duties as assigned.

 Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities:

• Strong interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills; organizational and time management, delegation, and follow-up skills.

• Ability to cultivate and sustain relationships and work effectively with a wide variety of constituencies, including staff, program children, parents, schools, tribes, organizational supporters, Board members, and community partners.

• Ability to represent, effectively and professionally, the organization to a wide variety of audiences.

• Ability to research, analyze data, design/develop, propose, implement, and sustain culturally grounded programming.

• Ability to solve problems, work in a team environment, manage several issues concurrently, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced constantly changing work environment.

• Strong project management skills. Proven ability to manage multiple deadlines, responsibilities, and competing priorities.

• Ability to influence the behavior of others to achieve necessary results.

• Strategic planning and budgeting skills.

• Ability to work in diverse work environments.

• Knowledge of child development and child issues, particularly those most relevant to our program youth.

• Knowledge of Indigenous/Lakota lifeways and culture.

• Awareness of community resources, and the ability to cultivate and sustain relationships with these resources.

• Ability to cultivate relationships with children, families, school personnel, organizational supporters, and community partners.

• Enthusiasm for helping to plan and manage the anticipated growth of Friends – He Sapa, and commitment to developing personal skills and knowledge as appropriate to that growth.

Education and Experience Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in social work or related field; Master’s degree preferred.

• Seven to ten years of experience working with child-related programs in progressively responsible roles.  

• Three to five years in leadership or management role with significant supervisory duties and responsibilities.

Compensation: $70k-$80k

Applications without cover letters will not be considered; please use this as an opportunity to convey why you want to be the Program Director at Friends of the Children!

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 based on 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 about Friends of the Children go to: https://friendsofthechildren.org/