Director of Programs

Interfaith Works • Rockville, MD

1d • $110,000 - $125,000 • Onsite

About The Position

The Director of Programs provides strategic and operational leadership for Interfaith Works' portfolio of programs serving individuals and families experiencing homelessness, housing instability, poverty, unemployment, food insecurity, and other barriers to stability. As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, the Director of Programs is responsible for ensuring that IW programs are high-quality, financially responsible, contractually compliant, outcomes-driven, and aligned with the organization's mission and strategic priorities. The Director of Programs provides leadership and supervision to the following staff: Director of Shelter Services, Director of Housing Services, Director of Essential Needs, Director of Vocational Services, HERC Program Manager, and other program leadership positions as assigned. The Director of Programs works closely with the Chief Executive Officer and leaders across Finance, Human Resources, Development, Operations, Advocacy, and Faith & Community Partnerships. The position is responsible for creating consistency across programs while recognizing the distinct operational and contractual requirements of each service area. The Director of Programs ensures that program leaders have clear expectations, appropriate resources, strong accountability systems, and the support necessary to deliver excellent services.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in social work, human services, public administration, nonprofit management, business administration, psychology, sociology, or a related field required.
• Minimum of 7–10 years of progressively responsible leadership experience in human services, homelessness services, housing, behavioral health, nonprofit management, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of supervisory experience, including experience supervising managers or senior-level staff.
• Demonstrated experience with government contracts, grants, budgets, program compliance, and performance management.

Nice To Haves

• Master's degree in social work, public administration, nonprofit management, business administration, or a related discipline strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide executive-level leadership and oversight for IW's program portfolio, including Shelter Services, Housing Services, Essential Needs, Vocational Services, HERC, and other programs assigned to the department.
• Translate IW's strategic priorities into measurable program goals, operational plans, and performance expectations.
• Establish consistent standards for program operations, service delivery, documentation, communication, and accountability.
• Evaluate existing programs for effectiveness, sustainability, contractual alignment, and community impact.
• Identify opportunities to strengthen, redesign, expand, consolidate, or discontinue programs based on performance, funding, community need, and organizational capacity.
• Ensure programs operate as an integrated system rather than as independent service silos.
• Oversee program operations to ensure safe, efficient, and consistent service delivery.
• Establish performance expectations, dashboards, and accountability measures.
• Monitor key operational, financial, staffing, compliance, and client outcome indicators.
• Conduct routine program reviews and site visits to identify risks and needed improvements.
• Ensure effective policies, procedures, workflows, and corrective actions are in place.
• Promote trauma-informed, person-centered, culturally responsive, and dignity-centered services.
• Directly supervise and develop program service-line Directors and other assigned program leaders.
• Establish clear goals, deliverables, and performance expectations for each member of the program leadership team.
• Hold program leaders accountable for program operations, staffing, budgets, outcomes, and compliance.
• Conduct regular individual and program leadership meetings.
• Coach leaders in decision-making, employee management, conflict resolution, communication, and operational problem-solving.
• Build leadership capacity throughout the Programs division and identify opportunities for internal advancement.
• Promote a culture of accountability in which concerns are identified early, addressed directly, and followed through to resolution.
• Monitor program budgets, staffing costs, overtime, purchasing, and other key financial drivers.
• Hold program leaders accountable for responsible budget management.
• Monitor contracts and grants for compliance with approved services, staffing, expenditures, and deliverables.
• Partner with Finance and Development to address funding gaps and sustainability concerns.
• Participate in budgeting, forecasting, contract renewals, resource allocation, and funding proposals.
• Ensure compliance with contracts, grants, IW policies, licensing requirements, and regulatory standards.
• Monitor program documentation, data quality, reporting requirements, and corrective actions.
• Maintain program readiness for audits, monitoring visits, licensing reviews, and other external assessments.
• Partner with Finance, HR, Development, Operations, Advocacy, and Faith & Community Partnerships to support effective program delivery.
• Coordinate staffing, funding, facilities, safety, transportation, technology, procurement, volunteers, and community partnerships.
• Communicate program needs, outcomes, risks, and priorities across departments.
• Support organizational initiatives and priorities assigned by the CEO.
• Represent Interfaith Works with Montgomery County and other government agencies, community partners, funders, service providers, coalitions, and stakeholders as appropriate.
• Develop strong working relationships with public and private partners serving individuals experiencing homelessness, housing instability, poverty, unemployment, and food insecurity.
• Participate in relevant committees, workgroups, provider meetings, and community initiatives.
• Support the CEO in maintaining strong relationships with government partners and funders.
• Identify opportunities for strategic partnerships that improve client outcomes or expand IW's impact.

Benefits

• 14 paid holidays
• 21 days of PTO
• Subsidized medical, dental, and vision costs for employees and their families (for full-time employees)
• Employer paid long-term disability insurance
• Life and AD&D insurance
• Option to purchase supplemental benefits (short-term disability insurance, critical illness insurance, etc.)
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) at no cost

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director