The Director of High School Initiatives is responsible for the oversight of Congreso’s high school Out of School Time (OST), including after school and summer programming, as well as post-secondary preparation programming, PYN/WorkReady Program, which is a summer work experience for students from Congreso’s afterschool programming as well as high school age clients from the community to expose them to the work force, and the Education Leading to Employment and Career Training (ELECT) Program, a teen parenting program that helps pregnant and parenting students earn a diploma or high school equivalency (HSE) certificate, become better parents and make the transition to employment, career training or higher education. High School programs engage young people through creative and performing arts programming, STEM exposure opportunities, credit recovery and post-secondary planning. Some high school programs also include case managers who offer support to students who are struggling with academics, behavior, or school attendance. Additionally, this position is responsible for supervision of staff, program coordination and contract compliance. This program is. The Director of High School Programs currently supervise supervises the following positions:

This position reports to the Vice President of Education and Workforce Services Division. This is an ONSITE position.

The Director of High School Initiatives applies the principles of the organization’s signature service delivery approach, Primary Client Model (PCM™), by promoting a positive employee/client-focused experience that is appreciative of the unique strengths, values and needs that each individual brings; and by using data to inform and drive decision making. Attention is given to compliance, quality assurance, and best practices as they relate to the role.

Congreso is committed to attracting and retaining candidates who have a passion for their work and will serve as ambassadors of the agency’s mission, values, and DEI&B vision. We encourage all qualified individuals, including those of diverse backgrounds, differently abled, LGBTQ , and women to apply. Congreso is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Essential Functions

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential

functions listed below.

• Represents Congreso’s mission, values, and commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging and will be an ambassador of our work.

Programmatic

• Responsible for maintaining intimate knowledge of all High School Initiatives contracts and programmatic operations and collaborating with team members to provide oversight of all contracts and programs.
• Confer and consult regularly with the Vice President and Chief Program Officer and provide ongoing information on significant issues, developments, progress, and highlights as it relates to program operations and contract administration.
• Create and implement policies and procedures with the support of the EWS Division Leadership Team, as they pertain to operational/funder/programmatic standards.
• Responsible for developing staff and leadership capacity around contract and program management best-practices.
• Work collaboratively on all related initiatives including fundraising, marketing, and staff development in a manner that facilitates employee professional growth.
• Play an active role in supporting the Education and Workforce Services Division Director with overall financial management of the department including but not limited to: yearly financial planning, budgets and revisions, and monthly salary/operations review by program.
• Work closely with Division Director to prepare program budgets and/or revisions. This includes but is not limited to securing submission, following up on status of approval, and working closely with the internal fiscal team.
• Work closely with Division Director and Operations Coordinator to review, code, and submit divisional fiscal spending transactions and paperwork to the Fiscal Department’s online database daily, ensuring that all transactions are conducted and documented in accordance with agency fiscal procedures.
• Monitor High School program budgets and control expenditures in accordance with budget allocations and fee for service structures; also ensure that overspending or underspending in department programs is appropriately monitored and corrected in a timely fashion.
• Work closely with Vice President to set strategic priorities for High School Initiatives programming and supervise department operations to achieve those priorities.
• Support collaborative relationships with cooperating agencies, government services providers and funding organizations toward meeting client, community and agency needs.
• Support the Vice President in growth management of the Youth Services: High School Initiatives Department, including analysis of program and grant opportunities, staffing structure, the Philadelphia OST (Out of School Time) ecosystem, as well as the ELECT Program.
• Responsible for co-leading programmatic/divisional mapping and systems analysis with the Vice President and Chief Program Officer to identify, design, and create service innovations and efficiencies.
• Ensure contract compliance pertaining to contracted services across the department and utilize internal data systems as a resource to obtain information.
• Work closely with Managers and Coordinators to ensure ongoing compliance, reporting and audit-readiness measures are in place throughout the department.
• Responsible for completing improvement plans as identified in funder site visits and communicating plans of corrective actions to funders/auditors as required.
• Responsible for preparing all reports, invoices, and compliance elements as necessary, with the support of the Program Managers and Data Team.
• Ensure the development, implementation, and evaluation of high school afterschool programming, ELECT Programming, and Summer WorkReady programming.
• Support all programs with outreach, recruitment, and enrollment activities to ensure programs are meeting monthly and yearly attendance outcomes.
• Collaborate with high school administration including teachers, counselors, and principals to ensure student success.
• Ensure that client data is collected and recorded accurately and in a timely manner.
• Monitor program outcomes through Congreso’s internal database, UNIDAD as well as Vital Signs reports.
• Perform regular audits on participant records/charts/documentation to assure that they are maintained in accordance with funder requirements.
• Assist in the preparation of proposals for continuation grants and new funding opportunities, as they relate to youth development programming.
• Collaborate with team to develop and implement program enhancements to improve programming.
• Support hiring supervisors with interviewing, hiring, and managing employees under programs under Director oversight. Hiring.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

This position supervises the ELECT Program Manager and Manager of High School Initiatives.

Minimum Experience, Education, and Qualifications

Minimum Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work or in a related field preferred; will accept Associate degree with 5 years’ experience in lieu of Bachelor’s Degree required.

Minimum Experience

• Two (2) years’ experience in staff supervision, program management or equivalent experience, and service delivery in an urban community setting required.
• Experience working with opportunity youth ages 12-24 required.
• Experience working with funders PYN, PHMC, and 21CCLC preferred.
• Knowledge of the Eastern North Philadelphia community and resources within the community and in the city at large preferred.

Certification/License:

Mandated Reporter training certificate required and may be completed post hire.