Director of Shelter Services

A Safe Place•Waukegan, IL

4d•Onsite

About The Position

A Safe Place is seeking a Director of Shelter Services to lead its emergency shelter program in Waukegan, Illinois. The position oversees daily operations at the emergency shelter and partner hotel shelter locations, ensuring survivors and their families receive comprehensive support, advocacy, and crisis services. It combines direct client support with program leadership, staff development, crisis management, and quality assurance to provide high-quality services 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. At least 60% of work time is dedicated to direct client services.

Requirements

Bilingual in English and Spanish.
Master's degree in Social Work, Counseling, Public Health, Business Management, or a related field.
Three to five years of leadership, program management, and staff supervision experience.
Eligibility as a Mental Health Professional (MHP) or Qualified Mental Health Associate (QMHA) under Illinois guidelines.
Strong leadership, crisis intervention, communication, and organizational skills.
Valid driver's license, reliable transportation, and active automobile insurance.
Ability to work a flexible schedule, including some evenings, weekends, holidays, and on-call responsibilities.
Ability to manage high-stress situations involving crisis intervention, trauma, and emergency response while maintaining professionalism and sound judgment.
Ability to move throughout shelter and hotel locations, respond quickly to emergencies, and navigate stairs when necessary.
Ability to lift, carry, and move supplies, donations, furniture, and other items weighing up to 60 pounds.
Comfort working around companion animals, emotional support animals, and service animals.

Nice To Haves

LCPC, LCSW, LMFT, or related professional licensure.
Experience in domestic violence, shelter, residential, behavioral health, or social service programs.
Knowledge of Medicaid documentation, IDHS requirements, and CARF standards.
Experience supervising teams in a 24/7 service environment.

Responsibilities

Lead and oversee daily shelter operations across shelter and hotel locations.
Ensure consistent, safe, trauma-informed service delivery.
Collaborate with agency leadership to establish goals, improve services, and measure outcomes.
Maintain program compliance with agency policies, funding requirements, and accreditation standards, and support continuous quality improvement.
Conduct assessments, intake, safety planning, crisis intervention, and service planning.
Help survivors access housing, employment, education, childcare, healthcare, transportation, counseling, and legal services.
Educate clients about domestic violence, Orders of Protection, and survivor rights; coordinate referrals and ongoing support.
Respond to crises and support staff in managing emergency situations.
Supervise shelter staff, interns, and volunteers; provide coaching, performance feedback, and case consultation.
Participate in hiring, onboarding, training, and staff development.
Manage staffing schedules and ensure adequate program coverage.
Participate in on-call supervision and after-hours emergency response.
Ensure timely, accurate client documentation and record management.
Monitor program outcomes, service delivery, and performance measures, including Medicaid documentation and service tracking requirements.
Prepare reports for leadership, grants, accreditation, and quality improvement efforts.
Monitor client assistance resources and program expenditures.
Maintain relationships with community providers and partner hotels, coordinate services with internal programs and external agencies, and promote collaborative, survivor-centered care.