Program Director, Housing and Health Michael Reese Health Trust

Title : Program Director, Housing and HealthSupervised by : Chief Program OfficerStatus : Exempt, Salaried, Full-timeDate : To be filled by May, with an expected start date at the end of MayABOUT MICHAEL REESE HEALTH TRUSTMichael Reese Health Trust (Michael Reese) is a 30-year-old organization focused on improving public health. Rooted in the Jewish value of Tikkun Olam – to heal the world – we work with fellow changemakers to build a Chicago where all can live healthy lives. As a public charity, Michael Reese leverages a range of tools and partnerships to drive meaningful change in our communities, prioritizing some of the area’s most pressing health challenges : preventing domestic violence, ending homelessness, strengthening the health workforce, and honoring our Jewish legacy. Visit https : / / wearemichaelreese.org .ABOUT THE ROLEThe Program Director is pivotal in driving the foundation’s goal to prevent and end homelessness. Michael Reese believes stable housing is foundational for health and has focused resources in this area for decades. We advocate for stronger, more coordinated systems that provide stable housing. Our strategies aim to strengthen and promote approaches that address the root causes of homelessness and its disproportionate impact on Black and Latino communities.The Program Director is a senior-level role that will refine our housing and health vision to expand the organization’s scope and deepen its impact. This position will advance our current strategy while identifying new opportunities to address housing insecurity aligned with broader housing and community development initiatives. Additionally, the Program Director will be responsible for shaping and evolving philanthropic practices to address changing community needs, ideas, and feedback. The position will report to the Chief Program Officer and be supported by a strong, collaborative internal team.THE WORK SCHEDULEOur team utilizes a hybrid model with an office in downtown Chicago. Employees are expected to be in the office on Tuesdays and Thursdays and as needed for other events and meetings. The hybrid schedule is potentially subject to change.COMPENSATIONThe salary range is $140,000-$165,000 per year, with an excellent benefits package including generous paid time off, employer-paid health, dental, and vision insurance, and an employer contribution to a retirement plan.ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIESStrategic Leadership and Vision (35%) :

• Lead the design and implementation of a comprehensive strategy to address housing insecurity while centering racial equity and social justice.
• Manage and nurture our existing grantmaking portfolio and cultivate new relationships to support strategy implementation.
• Identify and articulate clear program metrics and outcomes to be monitored, tracked, and shared regularly.
• Participate in Chicago Funders Together to End Homelessness, a funder collaborative incubated at Michael Reese, currently serving as its fiscal sponsor.
• Act as the housing and community development subject-matter expert to support new and emerging opportunities to address the homelessness crisis and lead incubation and investment efforts.
• Act as a spokesperson and raise awareness for the foundation’s strategic priorities.Strategic Partnership and Collaboration (25%) :
• Foster relationships and collaborations with key stakeholders in the public and private sectors to strengthen strategies, catalyze social change, and promote community innovation.
• Engage policymakers to advocate for supportive legislation and resources.
• Act as a field catalyst to mobilize philanthropy and the broader health ecosystem to support strategies to end homelessness.
• Convene with other national health funders for housing justice to share and advance emerging strategies that enable systems change with a racial equity lens.
• Share best practices and lessons learned with the broader field to influence social innovation, public policy, and discourse, and to highlight opportunities to center community voice in philanthropy.
• Handle questions and discussions with poise and confidence during written communication, public events, panels, and forums.Incubation and Support (15%) :
• Leverage the Michael Reese incubation role to pilot new initiatives that address gaps.
• Provide capacity-building support to partners to support their success.Resource Coordination and Fundraising (10%) :
• Support efforts to encourage coordination between public and private funding and capacity-building resources at the city, county, and state levels.
• Execute fundraising efforts to bring in new public and private funders to support program goals.General Administration and Other (15%) :
• Co-create and maintain an organizational culture that fosters deep collaboration, trust, and coordination across functional areas.
• Conduct due diligence for funding recommendations and manage the grantee application process.
• Work with Michael Reese’s finance staff to develop a budget and process, acknowledge, track, and account for revenue and expenses.
• Organize meetings, secure space, draft and distribute agendas and other materials, maintain group communications lists, and provide summary notes as appropriate.
• Participate in educational opportunities and professional networks.
• Protect the organization by keeping information confidential.
• Execute other special projects and duties as assigned.DESIRED QUALIFICATIONSThe ideal applicants for the position will possess :
• Knowledge of Chicago’s housing, homelessness prevention, public health, community development, and non-profit sectors, with an understanding of the key issues and stakeholders involved.
• Understanding of the national and local landscape of funding streams for homelessness services.
• Experience working at the intersection of housing and health and an understanding of the key levers to end homelessness.
• Experience working on systems change in Chicago.
• An understanding of the political, economic, and social contexts of communities and interest areas supported by Michael Reese.
• Lived experience with housing insecurity or homelessness would be very helpful.
• At least ten years of previous work experience in an aligned field, with progressive responsibility, including program and strategy development, implementation, and evaluation.
• The ability to handle essential program responsibilities while driving transformation.
• A demonstrated ability to manage complex projects and initiatives from conception to completion.
• An entrepreneurial and / or start-up mindset.
• Comfortable with fundraising to support pooled efforts, including grant writing and funder / donor cultivation.
• An ability to craft and deliver compelling written and verbal messages tailored to diverse audiences, ensuring clear communication of the organization’s message, values, and objectives.
• Strong active listening skills to understand the needs and concerns of stakeholders.
• Experience with budget development, oversight, and financial reporting.
• A minimum of a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field such as public administration, business administration, social work, nonprofit management, or a related field is usually required.
• Proficiency in virtual meeting platforms, MS Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. The ability and willingness to quickly learn and utilize new technologies.
• Bilingual Spanish abilities are a plus.WORK ENVIRONMENT
• The workplace is a smoke-free and drug-free environment.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear and to operate office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, scanners, and filing cabinets.
• The office is fully accessible. Some work at off-site locations may be required and some of them may not be fully accessible.
• Reasonable accommodation will enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the position’s essential functions.
• Michael Reese is committed to a diverse, fair, and equitable workplace where everyone is a valued member of the team. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. Hiring, employment, and promotional opportunities are based upon individual capabilities and qualifications without regard to race, ethnicity, color, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, citizenship status, military service, and / or marital status, order of protection status, disability, or any other factor determined to be unlawful by federal, state, or local statutes.APPLICATION PROCESS
• We’ve retained Torkelson Consulting, Inc. to coordinate this search. Interested applicants should email to search@torkelsonconsulting.com : 1. A cover letter that explains why you are well-suited for the position. Please include specific information on your relationship to, and experience with, the homelessness prevention movement. Also, include how you learned of the position.2. Your resume
• Please type your first and last name in the subject line. No phone calls, please.
• If you need reasonable accommodation because of a disability for any part of the application and hiring process, please email search@torkelsonconsulting.com .#J-18808-Ljbffr

Salary : $140,000 - $165,000