Chief Program Director

Progressive Life Center, Inc. (PLC) is a Black-led organization, providing culturally-sensitivity human services to children, youth and families in the District of Columbia and surrounding Maryland, throughout Greater Philadelphia, and in most of Delaware. PLC's array of community-based services includes foster care and adoption, independent living for youth aging out of foster care, family preservation, juvenile diversion, and parenting skills training. For more than two decades, PLC has earned accreditation from the prestigious Council on Accreditation (COA) for its demonstration of excellence in the delivery of services and achievement of outcomes. Learn more at plcCommunity.orgPROGRAM OVERVIEW PLC seeks a strategic, executive leader to serve as Chief Program Director. This role is responsible for ensuring programmatic excellence, regulatory compliance, fiscal integrity, and measurable impact across all regions. The Chief Program Director strengthens regional leadership capacity, advances quality improvement systems, and ensures PLC's programs operate with consistency, sustainability, and alignment to our mission and NTU™ framework. POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES Directly supervise Regional Directors and Program Directors (as applicable) virtually and in-person. Build and sustain high-performing leadership teams. Document all supervision interactions. Provide coaching, performance evaluation, developmental feedback, and assure leaders adherence to policies, procedures, and practices. Monitor programmatic and financial performance across all regions by conducting quarterly budget reviews and addressing fiscal variances. Provide executive-level reporting to the CEO highlighting key challenges, risks, and accomplishments of programs. Support programmatic innovation through brainstorming with leaders on how to improve programs or use different strategies and/or technology to create better outcomes, efficiency, etc. Support staffing strategy by coaching leaders through staffing decisions, how to manage conflicts and motivate staff, identify problems and solutions in staff engagement/management. Support stakeholder engagement by meeting in-person or virtually with funders, representatives of partner organizations, and clients as necessary. Participate in partnership with Project Manager on internal grants management process including identifying opportunities, coordinating team development of proposals, and providing oversight for new program onboarding. Partner with the Director of Accounting to support annual budget development. Serves as primary contact for Council on Accreditation reaccreditation process. Partner with the Director of Human Resources on Council on Accreditation recertifications. Partner with Chief Operating Officer on integration of systems, hardware, and software into programs. Guide Regional and Program Directors in budget preparation and fiscal oversight. Develop standard operating procedures that enhance programmatic efficiency and cross-department collaboration. Ensure adherence to Council on Accreditation (COA) standards and all regulatory requirements by region. Serve as HIPAA Privacy Officer. Chair the Risk Management Committee and oversee regulatory compliance. Partner with Performance & Quality Improvement (PQI) Specialist on PLC's PQI systems. Facilitate NTU™ Service Delivery Model orientation and certification trainings. Represent PLC in executive-level funder and stakeholder meetings. Participate in Executive Team meetings and strategic planning initiatives. Serve as primary liaison with legal counsel regarding program matters. Attend and participate in professional development trainings. Analyze data from databases or assessments and report findings as necessary. Visit PLC offices once a month per quarter. Other duties as assigned. Additional Selection Criteria: Sensitivity to and competence in the cultural differences that are present among PLC's service population. Ability to forge a mutually respectful partnership with people served and their families in which they are helped to gain the skills and confidence to address any issues and problems they face. Ability to work in partnership with other team members. Ability to set limits and maintain the helping role of the practitioner and to intervene appropriately to meet the needs of the people served or other family members. QUALIFICATIONS Master's degree in social work, psychology, sociology, social services, human services, or other related field from an accredited college or university. Ten plus (10+) years of experience in human services administration. Experience in staff supervision to include evaluating their work. Clinical Social Work licensure preferred. Experience facilitating trainings. Experience utilizing Microsoft Office Suite and web-based case management programs. Familiarity with child welfare regulations. Demonstrated success in building, retaining, and developing high-performing teams. Experience leading complex cross-functional initiatives from concept to implementation. Strong system-thinking and problem-solving skills. Knowledge and experience in quality assurance standards and outcomes-based management. Proficient skills in fiscal budgeting & management. Commitment to culturally grounded and equity-centered practices. Demonstrated experience utilizing collaborative approaches to service delivery. Ability to aggregate and analyze data. Exceptional verbal and written communication skills. Valid driver's license and owner of reliable vehicle to travel within the DC Metropolitan area, PA and DE regions. Certified in NTU™ Service Delivery Model. BENEFITS We offer exceptional benefits package with an opportunity for personal and professional growth, which include the following: Health insurance Dental insurance Vision insurance Retirement fund Hybrid Work Schedule available after 90 days of on-site employment. PHYSICAL DEMANDS Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Must have the ability to travel among assigned sites. Must be able to remain in a stationary position 50% of the time. The person in this position needs to occasionally move about inside the office to access file cabinets, office machinery, etc. Constantly operates a computer and other office productivity machinery (i.e., a calculator, copy machine, and computer printer); Manual dexterity needed for using a calculator and computer keyboard. Must be able to position self to stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. Must have the ability to navigate stairwells. The person in this position frequently communicates with employees/customers/clients; and must be able to exchange accurate information by perceiving the nature of sound, near and far vision, depth perception, providing oral and written information. Frequently move files weighing up to 20 pounds throughout the office space. Must be able to participate in fire drills or other drills during an emergency. WORK ENVIRONMENT Normal office environment indoors with travel required. Equal Opportunity Employer PLC is an equal opportunity employer. PLC does not discriminate in employment on account of race, sex, color, religion, sexual orientation, parental status, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, political affiliation, military status, or other non-merit-based factors

Created: 2026-03-10