Senior Director of Programs

Pillar Search & HR Consulting is honored to partner with Families First on the search for their new Senior Director of Programs. This is a hybrid role based out of their office in Watertown, MA.

Parents have the power to shape their children’s futures and make their communities stronger.

Families First’s mission is to partner with parents to amplify their power so they can positively impact the lives of children and communities through their groundbreaking programs. Their model includes parenting education and support, parent leadership, and alumni opportunities.

For more than 30 years, Families First has been a leader in providing parenting education across the Greater Boston area. The organization was founded in 1988 with the goal of helping parents navigate the diverse challenges of raising children by providing research-based parenting education services.

Today, Families First provides Boston’s most comprehensive model for early childhood parenting education, family engagement, and parent leadership: The Power of Parenting^TM program and The Ripple Program ^TM.

As a result of Families First’s high-impact, multi-tiered program model, parents will support the development of their children’s social-emotional and cognitive skills, embrace their role as the most important force in their children’s learning and well-being, and gain new skills and resources to support and advocate for their children as they grow.

Learn more about this amazing organization at www.families-first.org.

About the Senior Director of Programs Opportunity

This is an exciting time for Families First, as they are seeing incredible outcomes from their programs and are in the process of expanding across the state. With the launch of a 5-year business plan, the organization looks toward significant growth in the coming years.

The Senior Director of Programs is responsible for the oversight and implementation of Families First regional programming in Greater Boston and Western MA, utilizing a lens of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging to support the regions and its programming as the organization expands.

In addition, this position will oversee Families First’s alumni services, support the evaluation and quality strategy, and support the program curricula and training strategy.

The Senior Director of Programs will serve on the leadership team to advance organizational goals and cross-departmental priorities and will execute and monitor expansion plans as a part of the 5-year business plan.

Essential Job Functions

Lead and manage the Program team

• Guide and inspire team with human-centered leadership.
• Ensure continuous growth and development of staff through coaching, mentoring, and continuous feedback.
• Create and maintain a team culture where everyone is valued and diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging are integrated into all aspects of the work.
• Manage the Associate Director of Curriculum & Training, two Regional Directors, Family Engagement Manager, and Senior Evaluation Manager, which includes the creation and support of annual goals for each team member, completion of quarterly check-ins and annual reviews, regular meetings, and coaching and mentoring as needed.

Oversee implementation of Families First regional programming and alumni services in Greater Boston and Western MA

• Guide and determine strategic goals and vision for regional programming, primarily including Power of Parenting, in collaboration with Regional Directors.
• Develop and oversee strategy for alumni services across the organization with Family Engagement Manager.
• Oversee the development and management of regional partnerships in collaboration with Regional Directors.
• Develop and manage enrichment partners to support programming in collaboration with Family Engagement Manager and other staff.
• Monitor and maintain appropriate staffing levels for program implementation.
• Oversee the development and management of the program department budget for the regions, alumni, curriculum, training, and evaluation.

Oversee the overall strategy for program curricula and training of Program Facilitators who implement our programs in collaboration with the Associate Director of Curriculum & Training

• Support the development and implementation of the plan for ongoing curricula updates and training needs, including plans related to future growth and expansion.
• Oversee curricula and training quality management strategy.
• Serve as a consultant for major curricula changes and amendments.
• Attend Program Facilitator meetings and retreat.

Oversee evaluation and quality management strategy to ensure programming is implemented with quality and fidelity to the model and impact is captured and shared

• Support and guide the development and implementation of the overall evaluation and quality management strategy and plan in collaboration with the evaluation team.
• Participate in key evaluation meetings such as with research partners and evaluation consultants as needed.
• Ensure all programmatic efforts meet and exceed the needs of partners and communities through regular evaluation and review.
• Monitor program data in collaboration with program staff across regions and in central office with a lens on continuous improvement, quality, and consistency across programming and identify needed changes/adjustments.
• Collaborate with evaluation and administrative staff to assess changes/updates to the evaluation and quality management plan and data systems/protocols as needed.

Execute other organizational and programmatic responsibilities

• Manage overall program budget.
• Report programmatic activities regularly to board, staff, and funders.
• Review grant proposals and attend funder meetings to support the organizational development work.
• Identify programmatic and system needs and collaborate with administrative staff to build and update systems and protocols across regions to ensure programs are implemented with quality and field staff are supported appropriately.
• Serve on the leadership team to advance organizational goals and cross-departmental priorities.

Ideal Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience in managing programs and leading teams responsible for similar types of programs.
• A master’s degree in social work, public health, public administration, nonprofit management, education, or related, may be substituted for two years of the required
• Experience working in culturally diverse environments and a deep understanding of issues related to diversity and cultural responsiveness are
• Strong management/leadership
• A visionary, big-picture thinker who is able to engage team members and key constituents in pursuit of goals.
• Experience managing a budget.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and strong communication.
• Knowledge and experience with curriculum development, training, facilitation, and quality control of programs.
• Skilled in strategic management of partnerships and/or collaborations.
• Strong technical skills.
• Excellent planning and organizational
• Attention to detail and
• Bilingual in Spanish is a plus.

Requirements

• Must be able to travel regularly throughout Greater Boston, Western MA, and other areas as the organization grows. Valid drivers license is required.
• Available to work evenings/weekends as required.

Salary & Benefits

The starting salary range is $100,000-$110,000, with the opportunity for growth over time. Families First offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes paid time off (including 12 paid holidays), health, dental, FSA, and 403(b).

Schedule

This is a full-time, 40-hour/week, exempt, hybrid position, working two days in-person at the central office in Watertown in addition to some regular travel to regional locations in Greater Boston, Western MA, and other locations as the organization expands. This position also requires availability to attend occasional evening and weekend events/meetings. This position reports to the Executive Director.

To Apply

Please submit your resume and cover letter to Cindy Joyce of Pillar Search at cindy@pillarsearch.com.

Families First has a strong commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. We aim to attract qualified candidates who hold these same values and help us further recognize and celebrate the diversity among us.