Deputy Program Director

Friends of the Children Austin•Austin, TX

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

Friends of the Children Austin is seeking a Deputy Program Director (DPD) to serve as the designated successor to the Program Director (PD). Under the mentorship of the PD, the DPD will progressively assume responsibility for all aspects of program leadership over approximately one fiscal year. This transition period is designed for the DPD to develop the necessary knowledge, relationships, and leadership skills to independently fulfill the PD's responsibilities, while also providing increasing operational leadership. The DPD will embody perseverance and an entrepreneurial spirit in establishing and growing the Friends of the Children Program in Austin. The role involves managing programming, including design, coordination, implementation, and sustainability, as well as guiding program research, proposal generation, and stakeholder presentations. The DPD will also supervise, guide, develop, and evaluate the Program team, ensuring the overall integrity of the Program. Key responsibilities include coordinating and sustaining the child identification and selection process, and cultivating relationships with schools, families, and community members. The DPD is a member of the senior management team and is expected to maintain informed communication with other senior management members, and interact constructively with the community, partner schools, and potentially donors and third parties as requested by the Executive Director.

Requirements

Fully bilingual in English and Spanish (written and verbal).
Bachelor’s degree required.
Postgraduate degree or at least seven years of professional social work experience required.
Seven to ten years’ experience working with child-related programs.
Three to five years in a leadership or management role with a history of delivering measurable improvements in organizational performance while advancing positive outcomes for children.
Experience navigating the foster care system.
Knowledge of special education and bilingual education systems, including experience collaborating with schools and empowering families to advocate for students' educational needs.
Knowledge of child development and child needs, particularly those relevant to program youth.
Awareness of community resources, and the ability to independently initiate, cultivate, and sustain relationships with these resources.
Reliable transportation with a private vehicle.

Responsibilities

Be a full-time Friend to one child.
Develop the knowledge and leadership necessary to inspire, develop, and evaluate the efforts of the Program team.
Work alongside the PD in serving as a role model and mentor for Program team members and assume responsibility for ensuring that they have the resources necessary to perform their jobs.
Partner with the PD in overseeing the performance of the Program team and assume responsibility for conducting annual performance appraisals for all direct reports.
Develop the knowledge and leadership skills necessary to hold Program team members accountable for work performance (adequacy of time spent with youth; quality, and diversity of activities with youth; and administrative/reporting responsibilities), progressively assuming responsibilities for these functions under the guidance of the PD.
Actively participate with the senior management team, under the guidance of the PD, while developing the knowledge and experience necessary to progressively assume leadership responsibilities related to strategic planning; budget development and monitoring; and organizational decision-making and policy implementation.
Work alongside the PD to develop the knowledge necessary to assume responsibility for designing and implementing initial Friends training, ongoing training and required performance improvement activities.
Develop a thorough understanding of the needs and issues of the families served and progressively assume responsibility for ensuring Roadmaps, Transition Plans, and other youth development expectations have been met.
Participate in monthly Program Manager meetings and co-facilitate Friends staff meetings, progressively assuming leadership of these meetings under the guidance of the PD.
Partner with the PD in overseeing the implementation and adherence to the Program Fidelity Agreement.
Participate in regular Network PD meetings alongside the PD and develop relationships with National and other chapters of Friends of the Children.
Work alongside the PD to research, develop, implement, and sustain best practice programming to serve current and future needs of the organization as required.
Learn and progressively assume responsibility for managing 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 and community selection partners to allow for effective program implementation and sustainability.
Design and implement regular trainings for new staff on established referral partners, and monitor referral partners’ Program Manager assignments.
Utilize program data while developing the knowledge necessary to progressively assume responsibility for developing, implementing, and sustaining enrichment activities and program excellence.
Be relentlessly committed to ensuring that youth reach their long-term outcomes.
Work with the PD and Executive Director to develop the knowledge to assume responsibility for ensuring compliance with budgets and program guidelines.
Maintain connection and communication with all school districts, charter schools, and private schools that our youth attend to facilitate and support access.
Shadow the supervision and development of activities, the utilization of data and decisions made for literacy efforts and 2Gen services.
Partner with the PD in overseeing the recruiting, selection, and hiring of new Friends and other staff as required, progressively assuming responsibility for these functions.
Develop trusting, supportive relationships with families and guardians of the youth we serve, progressively assuming responsibility for cultivating and maintaining these relationships under the guidance of the PD.
Partner with the PD in overseeing the resolution of critical issues that arise with youth.
Develop the knowledge necessary to progressively assume responsibility for ensuring the quality, integrity, and timely entry of program data.
Develop the knowledge and leadership necessary to progressively assume responsibility for ensuring 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 these as required under the guidance of the PD.
Develop the knowledge and leadership necessary to understand and inspire others to buy into the organization’s mission, vision, values, and principles, and be able to articulate the organization’s function.
Work alongside the PD in serving as an effective and compelling spokesperson for the organization, progressively assuming responsibility for representing the organization in this capacity.
Attend all Board meetings with the PD, present as appropriate, and progressively assume responsibility for program reporting and presentations.
Work in Friends Austin office at least three days a week.
Under the guidance of the PD, develop, implement, and oversee other projects as required.
Other duties as assigned.