Director of Advocacy and Programs

JOB ANNOUNCEMENT
DIRECTOR OF ADVOCACY AND PROGRAMS

About Abby’s House
Founded in 1976, Abby’s House was one of the first shelters specifically for homeless women in the US. Our mission is “to provide shelter and affordable housing, as well as advocacy and support services, to homeless, battered and low-income women, with or without children.” Abby’s House currently has 79 units of supportive housing and 9 overnight shelter beds that are supported by advocacy services. Please visit our website at www.abbyshouse.org to learn more.

Position Overview
The Director of Advocacy and Programs is a hands-on leadership position with oversight of the daily operations of Abby’s House advocacy and programs, including the overnight shelter, residential services, the Women’s
Empowerment Center, the thrift shop, and food program. The Director of Advocacy and Programs has responsibility for the delivery of all services to women and children while increasing the beneficial impact on the lives of women with histories of homelessness, substance use, mental health, domestic violence, and trauma. She/he directly and indirectly manages 8-10 employees and 100 program volunteers, reports directly to the Executive Director, and is a senior leader in the organization.

Position Responsibilities
Delivery of Advocacy Services to Women and Children (60%)

• Foster excellence in the development, implementation, and record-keeping of women’s empowerment planning and progress and related materials/tools.
• Advance the growth and development of exceptional Women’s Empowerment Center programming to foster healing, hope, recovery, and comradery.
• Lead the development of new partnerships to strengthen clinical/non-clinical services.
• Provide advocacy support to women in crisis.
• Coach/support staff related to trauma, interpersonal violence, substance use disorders, mental health, and provide advocacy to residents/guests as needed.
• In collaboration with the Shelter Manager, review shelter intake assessments for acceptance into the shelter program.
• Collaborate closely with the Director of Housing to coordinate services for residents between property management and advocacy teams.
• Provide on-call emergency support on evenings and weekends, and support staff and/or directly manage crises during and after regular hours.
• Ensure all laws and regulations are observed related to confidentiality, releases, and abuse and neglect, and essential records are maintained.

Program Management (40%)

• Lead effective team meetings that foster reflective thinking and collaboration which builds trust, respect, and support across advocacy and program staff to best serve women’s needs.
• Supervise/coach program managers, provide oversight of staff and volunteer coverage, and identify professional development trainings for program staff and volunteers.
• Coach staff on the integration of a trauma-informed approach into practices, including the use of grounding techniques and self-care.

• Oversee Thrift Shop operations, volunteer management, customer service, effective systems, and fiscal goals to meet basic needs for clothing for residents and community members.
• In conjunction with staff and the Executive Director, set clear program goals and work plans, and identify opportunities for program growth and expansion.
• Provide timely accurate program data to demonstrate outcomes and to support funding requests.
• Demonstrate initiative to research and stay informed around issues of supportive services and homelessness and educate team members of current best practices and research findings.
• Collaborate with the Development Director to advance the work of communications and development in storytelling, grant proposals, and events.
• Work with the Executive Director and Controller to provide fiscal oversight of programs
• Represent Abby’s House at public events, meetings, and in coalitions and lead presentations.

Position Qualifications

• Certifications/licenses in addiction, trauma and/or mental health preferred, including LICSW, LCSW,

LMHC, and LMFT

• A master’s degree, preferably in a human services field in mental health, social work, or psychology
• Experience with trauma-informed care/treatment and respect for women’s autonomy and self- determination and their incorporation into everyday practices
• Compassionate, hopeful, and respectful, ability to listen and be non-judgmental, and a positive mindset
• 5 years of experience working with underserved populations to include women at risk due to homelessness, chronic health or mental health needs, substance use, and interpersonal violence
• 5 years supervision experience with staff, volunteers, and teams with an appreciation for diverse perspectives and contributions
• Familiarity and experience with supportive housing and/or shelter models
• Experience fostering and supporting individual and organizational inclusion and equity
• Collaborative, flexible, and solution-oriented
• Experience successfully managing and developing multiple programs
• Ability to stay organized and use time effectively
• Excellent communication skills, open and transparent
• Exceptional level of professionalism in managing relationships and interactions in multiple settings

Salary and Benefits
This position is a full-time 35-hour per week position. Abby’s House offers a competitive salary and work-life balance, including 4 weeks of vacation, 40 hours of sick time, 11 holidays. Abby’s House contributes 70% toward a premium for an insurance plan through Abby’s House and offers low-cost vision and dental insurance, and employer-paid life, long-term and short-term disability insurance.

Abby’s House is an equal opportunity employer and embraces diversity at all levels of the organization. In keeping with our values, Abby’s House is committed to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in all the organization’s activities, programs, practices, and services. We also are a Trauma Informed organization, and we encourage applicants who have ample capacity for reflective thinking and learning and with lived experience who are well-grounded in their own recovery.

Application Instructions
If you are interested in applying for this position, send a resume and cover letter to Abby's House. Put “Director of Advocacy and Programs” in the subject line. In your cover letter, explain your interest in working for the mission of Abby’s House and prior experience that best highlights your qualifications. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. We will accept applications until the position is filled.

Job Type: Full-time

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Disability insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible schedule
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Monday to Friday
• On call

Work Location:

• One location

Work Remotely:

• No