Position Summary
The role of Director, Family Life Programs, is to maintain and develop innovative programs that extend the school's mission before and after the school day and throughout the summer. These programs include summer camps and classes, extended day (before and after school programming), and special classes, for children in grades nursery three-eighth. These programs serve over a thousand children over the course of the year.
The Director, Family Life Programs, has the opportunity to lead in a dynamic learning environment where administrators and staff are committed to the continuous improvement of the program, engage in open discourse, and share a passion for big ideas. Family Life Programs attract and benefit the entire Lab community including our growing international population. These programs also have potential to generate income and net profit with good business management applications.
Key Responsibilities
- Define and lead the design, implementation, management, and evaluation of the Family Life Programs department.
- Foster a school-wide environment of continuous learning through co-curricular programs and activities.
- Collaborate with key stakeholders internally and externally to identify learning needs and strategic priorities for the department programs.
- Incorporate educational and youth development best practices pertaining to program development.
- Recruit and develop exceptional staff.
- Utilize and implement contracts that can deliver quality programs.
- Ensure regulatory compliance related to youth work standards.
- Structure and manage for strong profit value of key programs.
- Effectively market to grow participation.
- Adhere to good business practices including robust budget management and budget analysis.
Management Responsibilities
The Director, Family Life Programs, manages a team of eight to ten professionals and numerous seasonal positions and contracted providers involved with all the programs. The Director needs to be skilled in management and development of staff. The Director needs to be skilled in budget management, resource management, and forecasting.
Education/Experience Requirements
- Master's Degree in education, youth development, social services, social justice, political policy, or a related field, or a combination of education and experience relating to this position.
- 10+ years in education, youth development, social services, or organizational development experience, including youth program development and managing and directing the work of staff performing a variety of classroom, training, or social service functions.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Demonstrated knowledge and skills in the areas of youth development, training facilitation, and business acumen.
- Strong project management skills and ability to execute initiatives from start to finish.
- Experience in managing and developing staff.
- Strong command of MS Office and/or Google Suite and learning management systems.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills including presentation experience to diverse audiences.
- Experience in managing contracted providers and vendors and monitoring their performance and quality.
- Experience must demonstrate leadership, strategic thinking, collaboration, project management, problem solving, and change management.
Physical Requirements
- Requires sitting for extended periods of time, standing, visual acumen, manual dexterity, and fingering for working with computer keyboards.
- Ability to stand for two to four hours, climb stairs, and lift up to 25 lbs.
- Ability to walk or travel between Lab's campuses and other locations on the University campus in all seasons and weather conditions.
Non-Discrimination Statement
In keeping with its long-standing traditions and policies, the University of Chicago considers students, employees, applicants for admission or employment, and those seeking access to University programs on the basis of individual merit. The University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, national or ethnic origin, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law.
SPARC, the Summer Programs and Auxiliary Revenue Collaborative, is acting on behalf of the school to recruit candidates for this position.
