Title: Program Manager
Location: 4822 N Broadway Chicago, IL 60640
Schedule: Hybrid, Monday to Friday (8:30am-5:00pm)
Summary: Under the general guidance of the Director of Education and Training, the Program Manager for Employment and Asset Building provides overall leadership for employment services, vocational training, transitional jobs, and financial empowerment programming at Refugee and Immigrant Community Services. This position oversees initiatives that support immigrants, refugees, and other systemically marginalized communities in achieving economic security through job readiness, credential attainment, employment placement, and wealth-building strategies. The Program Manager ensures strong contract compliance, cultivates employer and community partnerships, supervises staff, and contributes to long-term program sustainability.
Why Join Us?
- Make a meaningful impact on the lives of individuals seeking education and career pathways.
- Collaborate with a diverse and passionate team dedicated to the mission and vision of our organization.
- Providing flexibility and work-life balance.
- Participate in professional development opportunities to enhance your skills and expertise.
Our Benefits:
- Medical insurance. BCBS PPO, EPO, and HSA Plans
- Dental insurance.
- Vision insurance.
- 401(k) 3% Employer Contribution.
- Paid maternity leave.
- Paid paternity leave.
- Commuter benefits.
- Professional Development Assistance.
- Disability insurance
- FSA Spending Account
- Life Insurance
- Employee Assistance Program
- Special Vendor Discounted Offerings on Travel, Amusement Parks, etc.
Essential Functions:Duties & Responsibilities - Oversees adult employment and financial empowerment programming, including job readiness training, bridge programs, ICAPS coordination, transitional jobs, sector-based training, and employer engagement.
- Leads the implementation of financial education and coaching services focused on budgeting, saving, banking access, credit building, and long-term asset development.
- Supervises staff delivering employment and financial services; provides regular coaching and performance feedback.
- Develops and maintains partnerships with employers, training providers, financial institutions, and community-based organizations to expand services and support participant outcomes.
- Monitors program performance and ensures achievement of contractual deliverables; prepares timely and accurate reports for internal and external stakeholders.
- Collaborates with Adult Education, Case Management, and other departments to ensure seamless wraparound services for participants pursuing economic advancement.
- Manages day-to-day program operations including participant outreach, enrollment, scheduling, eligibility verification, and case documentation.
- Oversees the development and delivery of contextualized employment and financial literacy curricula.
- Leads recruitment efforts in coordination with agency outreach teams and community partners.
- Ensures compliance with all applicable regulations, funder requirements, and internal policies.
- Participates in budget development and monitors contract expenditures, match contributions, and in-kind resources.
- Provides timely and accurate data to inform internal performance monitoring and external reporting.
- Supports grant writing, new program development, and strategic planning initiatives to expand and sustain services.
- Represents the program in workforce development coalitions, citywide initiatives, and funder meetings.
- Coordinates staff training and professional development aligned with workforce equity and trauma-informed care.
- Participates in organizational quality improvement and equity efforts.
Program & People Management: - Monitors subordinate workflow, scheduling, productivity and performance.
- Actively pursues professional development opportunities such as workshops and education programs.
- Provides monthly supervision and ongoing support to subordinates, interns and volunteers.
- Recruits and provides initial and annual training to volunteers.
Relationship Management: - Contributes to the development of proposals to secure government and private funding to support programming.
- Develops and maintains external relationships with other appropriate groups on behalf of the organization.
- Conducts outreach and training with community partners and stakeholders as needed.
Metric Management: - Submits required reports and documentation in a timely manner.
- Conducts regular audits to ensure the program remains in compliance with all internal and external requirements and standards.
- Drafts and submits program reports as required for all funded programs.
- Responds to requests for ad hoc reports, as well as the monthly, quarterly, and annual reports on program performance and evaluation plan and leads the strategic implementation of the program.
- Other duties as assigned.
Supervisory Responsibilities (if applicable): Education and Experience: - Bachelor's degree required and four years' relative experience required OR;
- Equivalent years of experience can be in place of bachelors degree.
- Bilingual strongly preferred but not required.
Knowledge/Skills/Abilities (K/S/A): - If fluent in a second language, ability to speak and fluency in a second language including but not limited to the following multi-language abilities:
- Ability to read and interpret documents such operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals.
- Ability to write routine reports and correspondence.
- Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of organization.
- Access to regular, dependable and timely transportation.
- Ability and comfortability working with people of varying socioeconomic backgrounds.
- Excellent communication skills.
- Strong networker, convener, relationship builder and communicator with experience collaborating with diverse work teams and stakeholders.
- Demonstrated ability to handle confidential and sensitive information possessing skills to handle situations in a professional and diplomatic manner.
- A high degree of collaboration and emotional intelligence, self-motivation, and analytical ability.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Internet Explorer, Outlook/Exchange; Windows operating systems; and other software routinely used by Heartland Human Care Services.
- Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.
- Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
- Ability to work independently and remain self-motivated with minimal direct supervision.
- Strategic thought partnership and consultancy skills.
Work Arrangement: This role is eligible for a "hybrid" or "remote" work arrangement, with one-day a week in-office. If hybrid, it is expected this person would be able to meet for "in person" meetings when needed or at the request of others. In-person meetings may be required on a regular basis (weekly, monthly, etc.). There may also be the availability to work from home when appropriate.
Work Environment: - The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
- Program sites are located throughout the Chicago area, including the North and South sides of Chicago, as well as the suburbs.
- Employees may be required to report to any one of our locations on a temporary or permanent basis.
Physical Demands: - While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear.
- The employee is regularly required to sit, stand and walk.
- The employee must be able to stoop, kneel and/or crawl.
- The employee is regularly required to use hands to key, handle, or feel and reach with hands and arms.
- The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
- The employee must have unrestricted ability to provide physical restraint.
- Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.
Equal Opportunity Employer Statement HHCS is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. Employment decisions are based on merit, qualifications, and business needs. HHCS is committed to providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment. Consistent with applicable federal, state, and local laws, HHCS prohibits discrimination or harassment against any employee or applicant on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity or expression), national origin, citizenship, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. This policy applies to all employment practices, including recruitment, hiring, promotion, compensation, benefits, training, discipline, and termination. HHCS also provides reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and for sincerely held religious beliefs, as required by law.
