Director of Programs

The Amherst Survival Center is seeking an experienced, compassionate, and highly organized leader to join the ASC Leadership Team as the Director of Programs, overseeing daily operations, supervising program staff, and ensuring high-quality, equitable service delivery across all programs. This role plays a key part in advancing the Center's mission by strengthening program effectiveness, supporting community partnerships, and directly engaging with participants. The ideal candidate brings strong leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills, along with experience in direct service, supervision, and program management in a fast-paced environment. Experience working with diverse populations, including individuals facing food insecurity, homelessness, and other barriers, required.

Position Summary:

The Director of Programs is responsible for the daily functioning of the Center, including oversight of daily operations, supervision of program areas and program leaders, collaboration with partners, and direct service work with participants at ASC. The Director of Programs is part of the Center's Leadership Team and plays a key role in leading the Center to meet its strategic goals and increase effectiveness and quality of services offered.

Hours/Classification:

This is a full-time (40 hour) salaried, exempt position. Schedule is primarily M-F, plus occasional additional evenings and weekends as required. Schedule flexibility (including early morning, evening, and weekend hours) required to respond to emergencies and provide support to meet program/event needs. This role works primarily onsite.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

PROGRAM LEADERSHIP

Provide leadership and oversight to all Center programs. Ensure that programs successfully fulfill associated objectives; all service delivery is provided in accordance with ASC values, and that compliance measures are met. Supervise Program Leads, supporting staff to successfully manage their program areas and volunteer teams, delivering outstanding results. Provide skill building support, feedback, accountability, and a strength-based, positive, and highly accountable work environment. Develop and oversee systems for program data collection, reporting, and evaluation to measure program impact and support grant reporting and organizational learning. Utilize program data and participant feedback to inform program improvements and strategic decision-making. In collaboration with the Executive Director and Director of Finance and Operations, develop and manage program budgets, ensuring responsible stewardship of organizational resources. Monitor program expenses and support grant budget compliance. Ensure compliance with food safety standards and partner agency requirements related to food handling, storage, and distribution. Ensure programs are delivered in ways that advance equity, dignity, and accessibility for all participants. Serve as the primary decision-maker for day-to-day program operations, ensuring effective service delivery, staff coordination, and participant satisfaction. Work with the Executive Director on developing new initiatives. Work with the Leadership Team on organizational strategic planning and implementation.

WORK WITH PROGRAM/COMMUNITY PARTNERS

Work with Program and Community Partners to ensure a continuity of service and offerings for the Center. Work with staff to enhance and/or expand community partnerships in efforts to meet the Center's mission and provide ample service offerings for participants.

WORK WITH VOLUNTEERS

Work collaboratively with the Volunteer and Outreach Manager to ensure effective volunteer engagement, training, and coverage across program areas, including opportunities for interns. Supervise and work with ASC volunteers for programmatic continuity and area coverage.

WORK WITH PARTICIPANTS

Welcome community members and support visitors to participate fully in Center programs and activities. Support participants to fulfill the Center's code of conduct. Enforce Center's rules in accordance with ASC values and assist with determining "exceptional" circumstances involving participants. Offer referrals for and act as an organizational liaison to, appropriate agencies for participants needing assistance with housing, SNAP, mental health, etc.

ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Collaborate with the Development team to provide program data, participant impact stories, and evaluation insights to support fundraising, grant writing, and donor engagement. Serve as part of an on-call leadership rotation to address urgent operational or participant needs. Demonstrate professionalism at all times, including appreciating and supporting those you work with, showing respect to all ASC participants, demonstrating high ethical and moral standards, and acting with honesty and fairness in all of your dealings with others. Approach your work with an attitude of continuous improvement. This involves continually examining processes to discover and eliminate problems in order to improve participant satisfaction and to enhance program effectiveness. Work closely with the Executive Director as part of the Leadership Team. Other reasonable duties as assigned by Executive Director or designee.

Working Conditions:

The Center is a fast-paced environment which can be crowded and noisy. Position primarily works indoors, with frequent outdoor exposure to load/unload food, or other related activities. Must be able to lift up to 40 pounds. Frequent walking, standing, use of stairs, lifting and carrying, combined with seated desk activities, typing and telephone communication.

Language Proficiency:

Fluency (written and verbal) in English required. While working proficiency in other languages is not a qualification for this role, the Amherst Survival Center does offer a bilingual differential for employees with professional proficiency/fluency in Spanish, Mandarin, Portuguese, Haitian Creole, or other priority language.

Qualifications:

Required Qualifications Minimum 5 years direct service (10+ preferred) experience including conflict mediation, maintaining strong professional boundaries, and utilizing strengths based and trauma informed approaches. Minimum 3 years of experience working with people with diverse mental health including those who have experienced homelessness, substance use, and psychiatric diagnosis. Demonstrated effectiveness working with people with experiences of trauma and crisis. Minimum 3 years of supervisory experience required (5+ preferred), demonstrating exceptional management skills. Demonstrated experience managing programs or service delivery operations in a nonprofit or community-based setting. Experience building and maintaining collaborative partnerships with community organizations and service providers. Prior success with project management, program evaluation, and new program development strongly preferred. Excellent written and oral communication skills, strong attention to detail. Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment with frequent interruptions. Excellent organizational skills. Must be personable, flexible, upbeat, calm in a crisis, and a strong team player. Proficiency with email, internet, and Microsoft Office suite. Basic competency/ability to learn new computer programs (eg. program databases) required. Valid driver's license, reliable personal vehicle and ability to be insured on our company driving policy. ServSafe certification and other professional certifications, as needed, to be obtained within 3 months of hire.

Preferred Qualifications:

Experience working in food access, hunger relief, or food justice initiatives. Familiarity with the Pioneer Valley human services network and experience collaborating with local service providers or community coalitions. Experience working in volunteer-driven service environments. Experience with program evaluation, outcomes tracking, or client database systems. Experience supervising multidisciplinary teams in community-based service organizations. Understanding of the structural causes of food insecurity and poverty in rural and small-city communities. Grant management experience (for programs funded by grants). Experience leading change management or organizational growth initiatives. Preference for candidates who bring additional skills, capacity, and perspective that strengthen our ability to meet our mission such as any of the following: language proficiency in addition to English; lived experience with food insecurity; lived experience with or deep understanding of the impacts of racism; community engagement; experience working on food justice issues; experience working within organizations on diversity, equity, and inclusion; collaborative leadership, and/or other relevant skills.

Pay:

$81,500.00 - $88,500.00 per year

Benefits:

Dental insurance Employee assistance program Health insurance Life insurance Paid time off Retirement plan Vision insurance Application Question(s): Do you have a valid Driver's license and ability to be insured on agency policy? Do you currently have, or have you ever had, any affiliation or connection with the Amherst Survival Center? Why are you interested in working at the Amherst Survival Center? What skills or experience do you have that make you a good fit for this role? We have a strong preference for candidates who bring additional skills, capacity, and perspective that strengthen our ability to meet our mission such as: language proficiency in addition to English; lived experience with food insecurity; lived experience with or a deep understanding of the impacts of racism; community engagement; experience working on food justice issues; experience working within organizations on diversity, equity, and inclusion; collaborative leadership, and/or other relevant skills. Is there anything you would like to share about your skills, capacity, or perspective you would bring? (optional) Is there anything else you would like us to know? (optional)

Work Location:

In person