What are the responsibilities and job description for the Program Coordinator position at La Casa Norte?
Job Title: Program Coordinator
Reports to: Program Supervisor
Salary: $45,000 - $50,000 (Compensation is commensurate based on experience, skills, education, and training).
Classification: Full-Time, Exempt
Schedule: Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM–6:00 PM or 10:00 AM–7:00 PM (some flexibility required)
Classification: Full-Time, Exempt
Schedule: Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM–6:00 PM or 10:00 AM–7:00 PM (some flexibility required)
Organizational Overview
La Casa Norte serves youth and families confronting homelessness by providing access to stable housing and holistic, culturally responsive services. Our mission is rooted in compassion, dignity, and a commitment to equity. We embrace trauma-informed, harm reduction, and client-centered practices to empower individuals and transform communities.
Position Summary
The Program Coordinator is a cross-functional leader who advances the integrity, effectiveness, and continuous improvement of case management services across all La Casa Norte programs. This role provides leadership, technical guidance, training, and strategic support to case managers and supervisors, while fostering consistent, high-quality, client-centered approaches across housing, shelter, and support services.
This position will offer enhanced support for complex, high-intensity clients and provides coverage during staff absences or vacancies, or to launch new programs. In the absence of a Program Supervisor, the Program Coordinator may also exercise designated authority to support team operations, reinforce accountability, and ensure continuity of service.
Key Responsibilities
Direct Support and Temporary Caseloads
- Provide direct client services on a temporary basis to maintain service continuity during staff transitions, support participants with significant barriers requiring advanced coordination, and/or temporarily manage a caseload in newly launched programs until permanent staff is onboarded.
- Provide intensive, client-centered case management rooted in Harm Reduction and Trauma-Informed Care.
- Ensure any direct service provided aligns with the organization’s commitment to client-led, flexible, and holistic care.
- Provide support when the supervisor is unavailable for crisis situations, high-need clients, and unexpected walk-ins.
Leadership and Practice Development
- Provide expert guidance and coaching to case managers and supervisors across programs, strengthening clinical judgment, service planning, and engagement strategies.
- Promote fidelity to harm reduction, trauma-informed care, and housing-first approaches.
- Serve as a thought partner to program leadership, helping shape service delivery frameworks and quality standards.
Professional Development and Training
- Assist in designing and delivering onboarding, coaching, and ongoing training for case management staff across all levels.
- Support implementation of new tools, service models, or policy updates through structured staff development.
- Identify training needs and collaborate with HR and supervisors to create responsive learning plans.
Supervision and Staff Management
- Assist supervisor with daily operations of programs, including assigning caseloads, scheduling, and organization of program supplies.
- Provides real-time direction, support and supervision to assigned case managers and program staff.
- Participates in hiring processes and makes candidate selection recommendations.
- Has the authority to issue verbal and written disciplinary actions, including corrective action plans.
- Assists with investigations into policy violations and recommends or initiates appropriate disciplinary responses in consultation with HR.
- Reviews staff performance provides coaching and support and contributes to annual performance evaluations.
- Approves time-off requests and ensures adequate shift and program coverage.
Strategic Projects and Stakeholder Engagement
- Participate in or lead strategic initiatives that impact case management practice, such as process improvement pilots, interagency collaborations, or compliance redesign.
- Represent La Casa Norte in community forums or stakeholder meetings when assigned.
- Provide oversight or coordination of contracted services related to case management, when applicable.
Quality Assurance and Compliance
- Support the periodic review of case documentation, service plans, and outcomes data to ensure quality, consistency, and funder compliance.
- Assist in resolving systemic barriers to service delivery, supporting continuous improvement across teams.
- Promote equity in service access and delivery through culturally responsive case management practices.
Qualifications
Required:
- Bachelor’s degree in social work, psychology, or a related field or at least four (4) years of relevant case management experience.
- Minimum of one year of direct case management experience working with individuals and families who are homeless, at risk of homelessness, or otherwise marginalized.
- Previous supervisory experience.
- Demonstrated experience coaching, mentoring, or training peers or interdisciplinary teams.
- Strong working knowledge of housing first, harm reduction, and trauma-informed care principles.
- Reliable personal vehicle, proof of insurance, and a valid driver’s license.
- Ability to work flexibly across multiple programs and physical sites as needed.
- Excellent communication, documentation, and interpersonal skills.
Preferred:
- Bilingual in English and Spanish (spoken and written).
- Experience in supportive housing, emergency shelter, youth services, or reentry work.
- Familiarity with CaseWorthy, HMIS, or other case management systems.
Compensation and Benefits Package Includes:
- Paid Time Off: 14 vacation days per year.
- Personal Days: 7 personal days per year (may be carried over into the following year but must be used by December 31 of that year).
- Holidays: 10 paid holidays annually.
- Sick Leave: 6 sick days per year (up to 20 hours of unused sick time may be carried over year to year).
- Health Insurance: Medical coverage through Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois (HMO or PPO options available).
- Dental and Vision Insurance: Comprehensive coverage options available.
- Retirement Savings: 403(b) retirement savings plan.
- Life Insurance: $25,000 in basic term life insurance (provided at no cost to the employee).
- Disability Insurance: Long-term disability insurance (provided at no cost to the employee).
- Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA): Options for pre-tax savings on eligible healthcare, transit, and dependent care expenses.
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP): Confidential support and resources for employees.
- Payroll: Direct deposit payroll for convenience.
Supervisory and Non-Union Classification Justification
This role is excluded from the union due to its supervisory authority over union-represented employees. The Program Coordinator:
- Directly oversees, assigns, and evaluates the work of case managers and program staff across multiple service areas.
- Exercises independent judgment in approving time-off requests, adjusting schedules, and ensuring adequate program coverage.
- Provides coaching and initiates or recommends disciplinary actions, including verbal and written corrective action plans.
- Participates in hiring processes and makes candidate selection recommendations.
- Represents management interests by upholding service quality standards, supporting compliance, and advancing program-level implementation of organizational policies and labor-related expectations.
Salary : $45,000 - $50,000