Senior Program Manager

The Seattle King County Coalition on Homelessness is hiring a Senior Program Manager who will be responsible for the supervision, organization and execution of key projects and programming for the Coalition. This position requires excellent project management, communication and facilitation skills and the desire to build diverse partnerships and comprehensive programming that advance the Coalition’s mission and goals. The Senior Program Manager may supervise staff working in areas of member services; communications; education, organizing, and mobilization, and may supervise graduate student interns. The person in this position reports to the Executive Director and works in close collaboration with the Community Policy Manager and the Operations Manager. This is a full-time exempt position.

The Senior Program Manager helps to lead a small, dynamic staff team at the Coalition, and works closely with Coalition members, volunteers, and community partners. This position holds responsibility for member services, programs, and Coalition-wide work with an overall understanding of sector-wide issues of practice and policy related to housing, homelessness, and human service programs and service delivery. Primary areas of responsibility include: 2) Programming and Member Services; 3) Community Education, Engagement, and Mobilization and 4) Organizational development and Personnel Management.

About the Coalition on Homelessness

The Coalition is a trusted and respected voice in our community as an advocate for people experiencing homelessness. We are a membership organization whose mission is to mobilize our community to challenge systemic causes of homelessness and advocate for housing justice. We envision a region that acts on a shared sense of responsibility to ensure everyone has a home. Our core values are equity, justice, and collective action. By equity, we mean to center race in the fight for housing justice, as white supremacy and structural racism cause disparities in who experiences homelessness. By justice, we mean to uphold the dignity and civil rights of people experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity. We use collective action to collaborate, unite, and act to build power. For more information about our current work, please visit www.homelessinfo.org.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Member Services

• Supervise and support Coalition staff to connect and integrate advocacy and education into our members’ work, including oversight of the Coalition’s Monthly General and Annual Meetings, Workshops and other training and professional development opportunities for direct service staff of member organizations.
• Develop and tailor content for trainings for direct services staff who work in homeless services and housing, working in partnership with subject area experts
• Plan, organize, and host monthly meetings and related communications for staff at Coalition member and partner agencies and allied staff in local government and community organizations, as well as interested members of the public
• Build relationships with staff at member organizations and other community-based services across King County, represent the Coalition at relevant community meetings; demonstrate value of membership in the Coalition
• Manage the annual membership drive, including development of membership materials, hard copy and electronic mailings, phone calls and meetings
• Stay abreast of relevant changes in practice environment, including agency, system, and policy changes that affect direct service providers and people experiencing homelessness; stay up to date on member organizations’ services and populations served
• Extensively use the Coalition’s database to track member organization information and relationships

Community Education, Engagement, and Mobilization

• Coordinate and collaborate to present trainings, monthly membership meetings, and other gatherings for a variety of participants to support education, meaningful engagement, and regional partnerships related to current and new projects and campaigns
• Develop and implement formal and informal processes to gather, track, analyze, and disseminate information including surveys, community conversations, and interviews with a wide range of individuals and groups. Manage Community Projects (education, training, volunteer opportunities and engagement campaigns) which currently focus on these areas:
  • Civic engagement and policy advocacy for service providers and general public;
  • Voter registration, voting rights, and civic engagement for people experiencing homelessness and other marginalized and disenfranchised people;
  • Practical support, services, and educational materials to help local homeless students and their families.

Advocacy and Policy

• Support the Community Policy Manager to plan and implement policy proposals and advocacy campaigns as it relates to community and member engagement.
• Stay up to date on fast-moving local and state landscape of homelessness and related policy issues and participate in or coordinate allied policy and advocacy campaigns that strategically align with Coalition mission, vision, and values.
• Represent Coalition at public and community meetings and in standing meetings of partner organizations or coalitions with a wide range of participants.
• Attend Coalition Board and committee meetings, as appropriate.

Organizational Leadership and Personnel Management

• Provide supervision, leadership, and guidance to other employees
• Conduct employee evaluations and coordinate professional development activities.
• Nurture a cohesive team and shared approach to work planning, role clarity, and collaboration with internal and external partners
• Establish and maintain a supportive and productive work environment.
• Lead and contribute to assessment, planning, project management for internal bodies of work, process improvements, and organizational change, and for external campaigns and initiatives.
• Contribute to resource development: draft and edit grant reports and content for funding proposals, participate in keeping donors and community partners informed about work.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Minimum of five years’ experience of applied* work and knowledge of community and or behavioral healthcare, public health, human services, housing and homelessness (*Applied work may include, but is not limited to, clinical experience, human services provision, or community organizing and engagement)
• Minimum of two years’ experience providing direct supervision and support to staff.
• Program development/management/implementation.
• Strategic and applied understanding of how health, education, human services, housing, homeless services, and criminal-legal systems and institutions intersect and affect individuals and communities.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Understanding of and ability to articulate how structural racism, classism, and other systems of oppression contribute to homelessness and related issues of poverty, mental illness, substance abuse, sexual assault, and gender-based violence.
• Demonstrated project management skills, including: ability to define project tasks and resource requirements; plan, schedule and implement project timelines; produce interim and final reports for dissemination and presentation to a variety of audiences.
• Ability and aptitude with technology and database use (i.e. Salesforce or other CRM, mass emailing systems, internet technology and Microsoft Office Suite).
• Collaborative, calm, and confident with an ability to unite and engage staff.
• Ability to adapt and exercise flexibility in a fast-paced, fluid work environment.
• Demonstrated commitment to mission, vision, and values of the Coalition.
• Excellent written and interpersonal communication and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to communicate and work effectively with individuals from diverse economic circumstances, cultural and ethnic backgrounds, physical and mental abilities, and sexual orientation.
• Availability to work varied hours including nights and weekends, as necessary.
• Ability to travel throughout King County as necessary.
• Valid WA driver’s license and proof of insurance.

Desired Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Current knowledge of housing and homelessness systems/services in King County and issues affecting people experiencing homelessness, formerly homeless, and at risk of homelessness
• Volunteer management
• Training development and implementation
• Facilitation of complex conversations
• Experience building and maintaining relationships across a wide range of individuals, organizations, from people experiencing homelessness to mutual aid, to healthcare professionals, and direct service staff

Working Conditions

Work takes place primarily in a small office with a dynamic shared-workspace environment. Some work will take place in community settings around King County. Community work will take place in a variety of outdoor and indoor settings, in all types of weather, using appropriate COVID-19 precautions. Travel within King County is required, and candidates are expected to be able to travel via public transportation or use their own reliable vehicle (proof of license and valid insurance required). Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic the office has adopted a hybrid model of in-person and remote work. We take seriously our responsibility to protect staff and community health by limiting the spread of disease: Workplace protocols are guided by the best current information and guidance provided by local, state, and federal public health agencies. All staff are fully vaccinated and boosted against COVID-19 according to current public health guidance. Offer of employment is conditional on candidate submitting proof of current vaccination for COVID-19. Separate office work areas ensure as much physical distancing as possible. Note: This position is primarily in-person (in both office and community settings) due to the nature of the work.

Work performance includes long periods of sitting, working on a computer. Ability to lift and carry up to 40 lbs. on an occasional basis. Some early morning, evening, and weekend hours are required. The Coalition offices are located on the third floor of an older building without elevator access. The stairs are steep.

This job description is not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of this position. All Coalition employees may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities from time to time, as needed, to meet the ongoing needs of the organization.

Equal Opportunity and Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

The Coalition on Homelessness believes that a diverse workforce and an inclusive workplace culture enhance our ability to fulfill our mission. As an organization working to ensure safety, housing, and justice for people who are often marginalized by society, we seek to bring our values into the workplace through creating an inclusive work culture where our policies and procedures, including recruitment and hiring, reflect our commitment to social justice, and where all our staff feel valued. We are committed to providing a culture of mutual respect where equal employment and promotional opportunities are available to all applicants and staff without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, citizenship, veteran, or marital status, sensory, physical or mental disability, housing status or history, and any other characteristic protected by applicable law. We prohibit discrimination and harassment.