Friends of the Children

Basic Function/Position Objective:  

The Program Director must exhibit perseverance and an entrepreneurial spirit in their pursuit of establishing and growing the Friends of the Children program in West Los Angeles. This position oversees the management of programming including designing, implementing, and sustaining programming, as well as research, supervising, evaluating the efforts of all professional mentors (“Friends”), and for the overall integrity of the program. The role leads in the child identification and selection process and   maintenance of relationships with schools and community members.  

The Program Director is a member of the senior management team, who is expected to interact constructively with members of the community, partner schools, and other key stakeholders, including potential donors and other third parties.  

Essential Functions/Core Job Accountabilities:  

• Actively participate as a member of the senior management team in leading the organization, participating in strategic planning, and development of policies related to the operations of the organization. Oversee the process of hiring and developing Friends. Serve as role model and mentor for Friends providing guidance and effectively communicating.  
• Manage the performance of Friends, including completing and conducting annual and semi-annual performance appraisals.  
• Work with Program Directors in the network and National program staff to design and implement initial Friends training, as well as ongoing training and other required 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 on a monthly basis.  
• Lead and facilitate effective, weekly staff meetings ensuring focus on child and Friend progress. Ensure focus on the communication of organizational information or issues to team and solicit feedback from team.  
• Solicit and obtain feedback from a minimum of two parents of children per month. Document and maintain all feedback and include in Quarterly Report.  
• 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 to allow for effective program implementation and sustainability. Design and implement a process to ensure others are trained/developed to work in this capacity.  
• Utilize program data to help the operations of enrichment activities and program excellence. Ensure the quality of program delivery at all levels.  
• Be relentlessly committed to ensuring that youth reach their long-term outcomes.  
• Work with Executive Director and Chief of Staff to ensure compliance with budgets and program guidelines.  
• Communicate effectively with Executive Director and Chief of Staff about key aspects of the program, including status of children, performance of Friends, and recommendations for improvement of the program. Develop trusting, supportive relationships with families and guardians. Comply with organization’s policies, procedures, and practices as outlined in the Employee Manual and Friends Handbook.  

Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities:  

• Strong interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills; organizational and time management, and delegation.  
• Cultivate and sustain relationships and work effectively with a wide variety of constituencies, including staff, children, parents, schools, Board members, and community partners.  
• Model positive representation of the organization to a wide variety of audiences.  
• Research, develop, and sustain programming.  
• Solve problems, work in a team environment, manage multiple issues concurrently, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.  
• Strong project management skills.  Leadership skills to achieve measurable results.  
• Strategic planning and budgeting skills.  
• Knowledge of child development and child issues, particularly those most relevant to our program youth.  
• Awareness and the ability to cultivate and sustain public resources Maintain strong relationships with children, families, and community partners.  
• Enthusiasm for and commitment to the anticipated growth of Friends –West LA. 

Education and Experience Required:  

• Bachelor’s degree in social work or related field; Master’s degree and bi-lingual in Spanish a plus. 
• Seven to ten years’ experience working with child-related programs in progressively responsible roles.  
• Three to five years in a leadership or management role with significant supervisory duties and responsibilities. Friends of the Children is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to addressing discriminatory practices, and to working toward racial equity.  

Benefits

Friends LA cares about our employees as whole people. We offer a generous vacation and sick leave policy, quarterly reset days, 12 paid holidays, summer half days, and an annual winter recess during the last week of December. Employees are eligible for medical benefits (including vision and dental), 401k retirement plan, and ongoing professional development opportunities.

Employees can add optional plans, at employee expense, which include medical coverage for dependents, EAP, Flexible Spending Accounts, supplemental life insurance, pet insurance, and more.

Friends LA is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to addressing discriminatory practices, and to working toward racial equity. The equal employment opportunity policy of Friends LA 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. While we prioritize hiring applicants with lived experience, Friends of the Children – Los Angeles hires and promotes individuals solely on the basis of their qualifications for the job to be filled.

Note: Friends LA requires COVID-19 vaccines for all employees. As of March 1, 2022, we will be expanding our in-person vaccination requirement to include booster shots. Accommodations or exceptions can be requested for medical or religious reasons.