ASSOCIATE PROGRAM DIRECTOR
BASIC FUNCTION
The Associate Program Director of Amate House is responsible for the oversight of the day-to-day Amate House program, including the supervision of the program associate and the recruitment of Amate House fellows. In addition, the Associate Program Director works collaboratively with the rest of the Amate House staff and board of directors in support of other Amate House programs and initiatives. The Associate Program Director publicly represents Amate House in relationships with actual and potential collaborators and partners in all matters related to programming. The Associate Program Director reports to the Amate House Executive Director.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Supervision of Fellow Education and Formation Programs (25%)
• Oversees planning and implementation of the formation and education components of Amate House programming in conjunction with the executive director and program associates. This includes orientation, retreats, in-service days, and regular Community Nights.
• Acts as the primary liaison for all communication between the Amate House administrative staff and the program. Responsible for making sure necessary information is communicated in both directions in a timely fashion.
• Assists the program associate as needed in the case of a fellow emergency or accident.
• Develops and implements effective evaluation and planning mechanisms to ensure quality current and future programming.
• Assists and supports Amate House in becoming an anti-racist organization.
• Coordinates the recruiting and matching of spiritual companions and professional mentors for interested fellows with the support of program associates.
Recruitment and Selection Process (35%)
• Creates a comprehensive recruitment plan that focuses on strategic recruiting for the long-term and developing a diversified fellow corp.
• Represents Amate House in person/virtually, or otherwise, at post graduate volunteer/career fairs and information sessions and exhibits at conferences and national events with the support of the program associate.
• Cultivates new relationships and expand outreach to potential diverse recruiting pools.
• Educates school faculty and staff about Amate House's post-graduate service and leadership development program.
• Conceives of new ways to reach prospective fellows through mediums such as webinars, social media, live stream, etc.
• Plans, coordinates, and speaks at information sessions, classroom presentations, and student Masses with the support of other program staff.
• Trains current fellows and alumni to recruit on behalf of Amate House and coordinate their outreach activities.
• Works with the current fellow communities to arrange in-person visits and overnight stays of applicants.
• Develops a database of personal volunteer experiences to inspire and encourage prospects considering service.
• Maintains relationships with interested applicants and creates a development plan for each viable prospect; be responsible for communication with recruits.
• Meets with students one-on-one (or virtually), as needed, to assist in their discernment process.
• Updates the online fellow application as needed.
• Coordinates the volunteer application process in conjunction with the assistance of the program associate. Receives, maintains, and completes application files.
• Screens and interviews all applicants in conjunction with other program associates.
• Works with other program staff members to select a fellow community for the Amate House program from the pool of prospective candidates.
Maintaining Site Relationships and Opportunities (20%)
• Creates and distributes Amate House promotional materials to current and prospective site partners.
• Updates the online site application as needed.
• Develops and coordinates new site placement opportunities for Amate House fellows.
• Ensures a smooth site placement process for all accepted and confirmed Amate House fellows. Includes: site applications, fellows site visits and interviews, and all financial agreements.
• Plans a site supervisor orientation at the beginning of each volunteer year and maintains ongoing, collaborative relationships with sites and site supervisors.
• Oversees fellow site visits by the program associate. Provides guidance to the program associate to resolve any problematic issues related to the fellow and the site, and, if the need arises, to establish a new placement site.
• Maintains membership with the Catholic Volunteer Network.
• Builds collaborative relationships with organizations and individuals serving young adults and involved in faith-based social justice ministry. Advocates for faith-based volunteer service and social justice issues related to volunteer service and develops broader resources in support of Amate House fellows and alumni.
• Oversees immersion trips which includes interfacing with universities, preparing service activities (if applicable), and coordinating with program associates to organize the hosting of immersion groups.
Supervision of Program Staff (10%)
• Prepares agenda and facilitates weekly program staff meetings.
• Conducts bi-weekly supervision meetings with the program associate as well as performance reviews, as needed.
Marketing and Communications (5%)
• Assists with the overall marketing and communications plan of Amate House. This includes but is not limited to program's online presence including, Facebook, Instagram, the Amate House Blog, website, and collateral materials such as newsletters and brochures.
Other Responsibilities (5%)
• Works collaboratively with other Amate House staff to plan, coordinate, and implement Amate House special events and functions.
• Meets bi-weekly with the executive director to keep them abreast of program activities, potential programmatic issues, and fellow concerns.
• Assists in managing the Amate House fleet of vehicles and CTA passes used for fellow transportation in conjunction with the office manager. This includes determining mileage, carpooling and CTA use, tracking repairs, coordinating preventative maintenance, renewal of annual permits and registrations, and transfer of title for newly donated vehicles.
QUALIFICATIONS
• Bachelor's degree required. Advanced study in ministry/theology, or social services, education, or administration preferred.
• Minimum of four years' professional work experience required. Experience in ministry, retreat planning, social service, and/or education fields preferred.
• Completion of a faith-based, volunteer service program like Amate House, or experience living in an intentional community is preferred.
• Commitment to Amate House's tenets of Service, Faith, Community, Social Justice, and Stewardship.
• Person of faith who is comfortable planning and facilitating Catholic/Christian spiritual formation activities.
• Ability to work flexible schedule, including occasional nights and weekends.
• Some out-of-state travel for recruiting is required.
• A car is required for in-city recruiting and site visits.
• Skills required: supervision of young adults, group leadership and facilitation, strong communication and organizational skills, ability to work independently on multiple projects, attention to details, ability to manage time and meet deadlines, retreat planning, interviewing skills, and basic computer skills in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Power Point) and Canva is a plus.
SALARY AND BENEFITS
Salary is commensurate with experience. Amate House offers a comprehensive benefits package including health insurance and a 403b. Persons of color and those of all religious and other backgrounds are encouraged to apply.
ABOUT AMATE HOUSE
Amate House is a year-long social justice leadership development program for college-educated adults between the ages of 21-29. Our program model includes full time service, faith formation, professional and leadership development, and community living. Based on their professional interests, Amate House matches young adult leaders with full time volunteer positions in non-profit organizations, schools, and ministries in Chicago's most under-resourced communities. These young people live together in an Amate House residence and receive faith formation based on Catholic Social Teaching and intensive leadership development programming.
Amate House's mission is to develop young adult leaders into life-long social justice advocates who serve their communities while deepening their faith. Ultimately, we aspire to build a more just and loving society through leadership development for the Church and the world.
In 1984, Amate House was established as a volunteer program for young adults by three seminarians from the Archdiocese of Chicago, along with other lay and religious men and women, with the objective of transformation through service. The founders chose the name "Amate," the Latin imperative to love, because they envisioned a program in which young adults would put love into action and answer the call to holiness by providing support and service to fulfill the needs of the city and the Archdiocese of Chicago.
DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION
Amate House respects and upholds the dignity of all persons regardless of the identities they hold. We believe that creating a just and diverse environment is more than an ideal, but rather at the core of who we are as an organization. We welcome people of every race, religion, culture, gender identity, sexual orientation, economic status, and family composition. We celebrate all persons regardless of where they may be on their spiritual journey. We value people of all faith traditions, those with no faith tradition, as well as those who are questioning and exploring. We work to be a community that follows Catholic Social Teaching which upholds the life, dignity, and equality of all human beings.
Amate House is working to become an anti-racist organization. We recognize the wounds endured by marginalized people in society, including people of color, women, and LGBTQIA people. We believe these communities must be centered in the work we do; therefore, we strongly encourage applications from people with these identities.
Interested candidates please send a cover letter and resume to Jeannie Balanda at [email protected].
Chicago, IL 60609