Director of Emergency Housing Services
Are you a strategic nonprofit leader with expertise in direct service? Do you want to make a difference in the lives of survivors? Do you enjoy new challenges?
Jessye Kass Consulting is supporting this search.
Job Type
Compensation: $80K-85K, great benefits package, professional development opportunities
Schedule:
- Full-time, exempt, (no overtime) with one-hour lunch breaks
- Some evenings per week required up to 8pm, as well as regular back-up coverage
- On-site work required 4x a week with one week day, Work From Home
Reports To: Assistant Director
Role Summary:
The Director of Emergency Housing Services is a key leadership position responsible for the day-to-day programmatic oversight, quality and effectiveness of Transition House’s emergency shelter for survivors of domestic violence.
The Director provides overall management, monthly, quarterly and annual compliance and reporting with contracts and grants, and supervision of staff. The Director supports, supervises & manages a team of four full-time employees: Housing Search Coordinator, Child & Family Support Coordinator, Resident Support Coordinator, and the Shelter Operations Coordinator - who also supervises the part-time staff. The Director of Emergency Housing serves in a key role as a partner and leader in the agency, working closely with the Director of Long Term Housing Programs to align services across Transition House to provide trauma-informed services. The person in this position reports to the Assistant Director and is part of a highly collaborative Management Team.
Our Culture:
Our greatest asset is our employees, encompassing a variety of origins, concepts, viewpoints, and life journeys. We've established a diverse and inclusive atmosphere filled with individuals who share a common purpose. Our leadership is characterized by openness, approachability, genuineness, and a commitment to nurturing our staff.
Transition House values diverse life experience and is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. Bilingual/bicultural applicants, survivors of domestic violence, persons of color, people with disabilities and GLBTQI people are strongly encouraged to apply.
Who we are:
Transition House’s mission is to end domestic violence in our community. Sparking social change in Cambridge, Massachusetts since 1976, we are an innovative organization that develops prevention tools and provides holistic support and a range of housing options for individuals and families surviving domestic and intimate partner violence. To learn more about us: https://www.transitionhouse.org
Who you are
- Your strengths will be highlighted as an effective communicator, self-starter, resourceful and well-organized professional with proficiency in technology and a love for supervising staff.
- Your visionary mindset, creativity and strong problem solving abilities will be recognized.
- You are committed to and passionate about being of service to others.
- You have extensive knowledge of the dynamics of domestic and sexual violence and the impact of trauma on the people we serve and our staff
- You work from a philosophy that sees people, not problems and are committed to fostering a workplace culture that is client-centered and trauma informed.
- You enjoy finding creative solutions and researching resources to new challenges and crises
Benefits to you
- Salary range is $80,000-$85,000 commensurate with experience
- Additional compensation for fluency in one or more of the following languages: Spanish, Haitian Creole, Vietnamese, Portuguese, Amharic.
- Comprehensive benefits package: Health, dental, 3% match 401K retirement plan, expansive bereavement policy, and generous paid time off, with over 10 paid holidays off.
- Ongoing professional supervision, clinical supervision, and opportunities to participate in education and training regularly throughout the year.
- A supportive workplace where your strengths are highlighted and appreciated, and a dedicated supervisor (Assistant Director) with deep experience in the field with extensive supervision experience.
A day in the life of this role:
You will be working with and leading a team of passionate and zealous staff serving survivors of domestic violence that are in imminent danger and living in an emergency shelter. You will be able to provide structure, cohesion, and life changing support to survivors of domestic violence and the staff supporting them. No two days will be the same. You will also plan and participate in team building events with your core team and across the agency.
Your office will be on the first floor of the Emergency Shelter, a congregate living environment. It is comfortable, and allows for privacy and independent work. There are available parking options at the shelter.
You will frequently utilize your experience working with individuals living with multiple stressors (addiction, mental illness and trauma), and interact on a daily basis with individuals, and families trying to build a healthy and functioning community.
Your extensive knowledge of the dynamics of domestic and sexual violence and the impact of trauma on the people we serve and our staff will serve you well in the role.
Your superb skills in communication, leadership, organization, collaboration, problem solving, data management and conflict resolution, as well as your experience planning, developing, and facilitating meetings, and training will help you maintain a healthy and productive program.
You will be supported through clinical supervision that is offered to all of our team members at Transition House.
Environment: You will have regular contact with cleaning supplies within the shelter and emotional support or service animals.
Responsibilities:
Program Operations and Service Delivery
- Ensure the provision of a positive residential living environment, and oversee the delivery of trauma-informed supportive services for all clients.
- Ensure the highest level of confidentiality, security, safety, and hygiene at the emergency shelter.
- Foster an environment that promotes conflict prevention, mediation, and resolution.
- Oversee and coordinate intake and exit processes of clients entering and leaving the emergency shelter
- Provide direct case management and housing search assistance in high acuity cases or when support is needed.
- Provide Court, housing, medical, and other accompaniment for clients when necessary.
- In collaboration with the Shelter Operations Coordinator, ensure everyone answering the hotline is properly trained in offering high-quality trauma informed responses.
- Provide coverage at the emergency shelter and 24/7 hotline when necessary.
Staff Supervision and Team Leadership
- Oversee the delivery of all services for residential clients and provide weekly programmatic supervision and support to four full-time staff, namely the Housing Search Coordinator, Child & Family Support Coordinator, Resident Support Coordinator, and the Shelter Operations Coordinator
- Interview, hire, provide or coordinate training, and evaluate staff performance in compliance with agency policies and procedures.
- At times provide supervision and support to part-time Shelter Advocates
- Facilitate monthly shelter team meetings with shelter staff, monthly housing team meetings, and bi-monthly shelter house meetings with residents.
- Attend required team meetings, agency and cross-agency meetings as scheduled.
- Attend and organize agency and external training as often as possible.
Facility and Vendor Management
- Work closely with the Shelter Operations Coordinator to address facilities, maintenance, and program IT issues promptly with appropriate vendors.
- Track invoicing and ensure timely payment to vendors; maintain a tracking database for vendors
Data Management and Reporting
- Oversee program data collection and advise on outcome tracking metrics to measure efficacy and agency work.
- Provide oversight to the client record database, EmpowerDB, and maintain hard copies of client records securely.
- Monitor the program budget and collaborate with the Assistant Director and Director of Operations on reports, billing, and funder data.
- Complete quarterly board reports.
Community Engagement and Collaboration
- Participate and represent the organization at various community functions.
- Attend committee meetings, domestic violence coalition meetings, and other local meetings.
- Collaborate in developing and presenting community education and professional training to partners.
- Serve on inter-agency committees to enhance the work.
Crisis Management and Support
- In collaboration, provide support with de-escalation, crisis interventions, and post-crisis debriefs to evaluate best practices.
- Provide back-up and on-call support on a rotational basis during the week and some weekends.
- Communicate immediately to the Assistant Director and Executive Director any program violations, incidents of discrimination, harassment, or emergency services responses.
Administrative and Miscellaneous
- Document clinical, case management, and administrative services for record-keeping and team communication.
- Attend regular clinical supervision with a consulting clinician.
- Participate in ad hoc working groups focused on policy and best practices implementation.
- Additional duties as assigned by the Assistant Director.
Professional Growth & Development:
- Familiarize oneself with benefits, medical, and legal resources in the Cambridge and Somerville areas.
- Familiarize oneself with statewide resources and trends for supporting survivors of domestic violence.
- Participate in required weekly programmatic supervision, and monthly clinical supervision.
About You:
Requirements
- Education and experience in domestic violence - human services work
- 4-6 years of experience supervising staff in a social services environment
- Proven leadership experience and genuine interest in motivating and mentoring others
- Upholds the highest standards of accountability and professionalism with a commitment to excellence in all facets of program delivery
- Capacity to work independently and with a high-performing leadership team; manage multiple tasks simultaneously, takes initiative, and produce superior work on deadline
- Experience overseeing programing, budgets and putting together reports
- Demonstrated ability to provide services to people from diverse backgrounds and experience providing trauma informed support, and working with low-income and diverse populations, preferable domestic violence and trauma survivors
- Self-motivation, cultural humility, respect and value of diversity, belief in client autonomy, and ability to work collaboratively and constructively with others
- Ability to communicate clearly both in writing and verbally in English.
- High level of proficiency with the Internet, Google Suite, Canva, ZOOM, and Microsoft Office Suite.
- Ability to develop and sustain strong collaborations with colleagues and providers from multiple external community organizations
- High-level of comfort working within a diverse and multicultural environment.
- Ability to climb stairs frequently, bend, and lift items up to 30 pounds, sometimes simultaneously
We’d Like You to Have:
- Master’s Degree in related field (social work, human services administration)
- Experience working in a shelter environment
- Knowledge of affordable housing programs and processes in Massachusetts
- Knowledge of family systems, PTSD, conflict resolution, domestic violence, and crisis intervention strongly preferred as well as best practices in trauma-informed social services
- Fluency in Spanish would be great!
It is our policy to complete a Criminal Offense Record Information (CORI) background check prior to hire. Findings will not automatically disqualify candidates.
How to Apply:
Jessye Kass Consulting is assisting with this search. To apply, click here. In lieu of a cover letter, you will be asked short answer questions and will upload your resume.
The questions will be:
Describe a time when you supervised a diverse team in a high-pressure environment. How did you ensure both team cohesion and high-quality service delivery?
Describe a time when you implemented a trauma-informed approach in your work? How did it impact the individuals or families you were supporting?
Please share an example of a time you improved efficiency of a process or system. What was the process/system? What steps did you take? What was the result?
What experiences do you have working with survivors of domestic violence? What considerations do you keep in mind when working with survivors?
If you have any accessibility issues, need accommodations, or have questions, please contact Jessye Kass (jessye@jessyekassconsulting.com).
No phone calls, please.
