Program Director @ Breaktime (non-profit working to end young adult homelessness)

Program Director
Full-Time, Salaried

Organization Overview
Breaktime (www.breaktime.org) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit working to end young adult homelessness and empower young adults to pursue their fullest potential. We operate Boston’s first transitional employment program specifically for young adults experiencing homelessness in which young adults launch their careers, nurture their talents, and serve their communities.

Through training focused on financial and personal empowerment, purposeful transitional employment, and post-employment support services, Breaktime empowers young adults experiencing homelessness to build stability in their lives while building resilience in their communities.

Breaktime was launched in 2018 and during the first eight months of the pandemic, Breaktime has grown tremendously to employ 25 young adults experiencing homelessness who led the preparation and delivery of over 600,000 meals to people experiencing food insecurity in Boston -- while earning a living wage and developing career-launching job skills.

Breaktime has been recognized by Forbes 30 Under 30, AIM Next Century Award, and Social Innovation Forum. Breaktime’s work has also been featured in Forbes, Boston Globe, NBC, Boston25 News, and more. Breaktime is backed by the City of Boston, Liberty Mutual Foundation, Harvard University, MassMutual, Blackrock, the Boston Foundation, and more.

Roles and Responsibilities

Breaktime is looking for an executive-level innovator, builder, manager, and partner in leading our growing organization. We are looking for someone who thrives in fast-moving and ever-evolving environments. We are looking for someone who can both zoom out (to think systemically, design and refine our program model, and connect the dots between all elements of our program and all stakeholders) and zoom in (to think operationally about implementation). The Program Director will have significant responsibilities and opportunities to design and manage the entire scope of Breaktime’s program. Responsibilities include:

• Lead the design and implementation of all elements of the program including developing recruitment pipeline of young adult participants, onboarding, job readiness training, financial empowerment training, personal development and empowerment programming, transitional employment site placement, external training and education placement, post-Breaktime job placement, and alumni programming. Develop curriculum, pedagogical philosophies, and program policies.
• Hire and supervise program managers and other program team staff (2 to 5 employees), effectively delegate tasks, clearly communicate expectations and goals, facilitate regular team meetings, set clear and specific meeting agendas, and provide frequent and annual feedback.
• Develop and cultivate strategic partnerships with organizations that refer young adults to Breaktime, other organizations that support young adults experiencing homelessness (e.g. housing, education, health), and post-Breaktime job placement partners. Facilitate regular meetings and touchpoints with these partners.
• Secure contracts and cultivate partnerships with businesses and organizations that partner with Breaktime as transitional employment site partners in collaboration with Co-Executive Directors.
• Set goals for the Program team that align with overall organizational strategic goals. Clearly define both short-term and long-term goals. Clearly communicate goals and vision to the Program team, management, and entire staff.
• Develop plans for the implementation of programs (from start to finish), including establishing milestones, deadlines, and processes.
• Design and oversee processes and systems to coordinate with young adults, case managers, and other partners to collectively map out and facilitate a path to success and stability for each individual.
• Design and oversee evaluation strategies to measure the performance and impact of our program. Determine areas of success and areas of improvement and devise new goals and plans for improvement.
• Take initiative to innovate, launch, and rapidly iterate on new program initiatives to support the overall well-being and growth of young adults experiencing homelessness.
• Report directly to Co-Executive Directors.

Job Requirements

• At least four years of experience working to develop and implement youth-oriented programming for non-profits
• At least three years of experience working directly with vulnerable or at-risk youth
• At least three years of experience leading a team of three or more people
• At least two years of experience in quantitatively evaluating the impact and success of programs along with a deep commitment to data-informed strategies for social change
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills
• Outstanding organization and leadership skills--a demonstrated ability to take initiative, stay organized, delegate work, and support team members in meeting responsibilities
• Quick, nimble learner who excels at mastering new skills
• Advanced proficiency with Google Sheets and Google Forms
• A deep passion for working with and empowering young adults
• (Preferred) At least one year of experience working with a startup and excitement for joining a fast-paced team environment.
• (Preferred) Deep understanding of the Boston non-profit, workforce development, and housing landscape.

Next Steps
To express interest in this position, please fill out this form: https://forms.gle/mZYMtPLyuWtp55xN7

(Note that we also have other job positions open for Program Manager of Young Adult Success and Program Manager of Training. If either of these positions is of interest to you, please view the linked Job descriptions.)