Position Opening: Program Director, Hope Ignites Chicago

Hope Ignites Chicago is seeking a dynamic, mission-driven Program Director to lead our residential program and help first-generation scholars unlock their full potential.

This is more than a leadership role—it’s an opportunity to shape lives. You will guide a dedicated team, foster a nurturing and structured home environment, and ensure scholars graduate high school, persist to and through college, and become engaged alumni and leaders in their communities.

Reporting to the President of Hope Ignites Chicago, the Program Director oversees all aspects of the residential program, including scholar development, staff leadership, operations, and external partnerships. This role is ideal for a strong people leader who thrives in a fast-paced environment and is passionate about youth development, education, and equity.

• Champion the academic, personal, and social-emotional growth of scholars
• Ensure a safe, structured, and supportive residential environment rooted in trauma-informed practices.
• Build strong, consistent relationships with scholars and serve as a visible leader

• Oversee day-to-day residential operations, ensuring high-quality services and compliance with Hope Ignites Network Headquarters and DCFS standards
• Manage scholar case records, data tracking, and reporting
• Ensure effective systems for communication, scheduling, and accountability
• Lead key program events and family engagement efforts

• Recruit, hire, and mentor residential staff
• Provide ongoing coaching, training, and professional development
• Create a positive, accountable team culture focused on excellence and growth
• Manage performance, resolve conflicts, and support staff success

• Maintain strong relationships with families, partner schools, service providers, and community partners
• Ensure compliance with licensing and network standards
• Serve as liaison to the Program Committee and Governing Board
• Support fundraising and donor engagement efforts

• Expand and maintain an up-to-date library of knowledge base articles and technical documentation
• Develop step-by-step guides using tools such as Scribe
• Identify opportunities and implement new processes to standardize support practices and improve efficiency

• Help build a strong pipeline of prospective scholars
• Participate in candidate evaluation and admissions decisions
• Ensure a smooth and effective onboarding process

You are a compassionate and strategic leader who combines strong operational skills with a deep commitment to youth development. You have high energy and can juggle multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously and effectively. You enjoy fast-paced environments and are passionate about college education as a key to success.

Required

• Master’s degree in social work or related field
• 10+ years of experience working with youth,
• 5+ years leading a program team
• Experience in residential or similar youth-serving environments strongly preferred
• Valid driver’s license and access to a reliable vehicle

You Bring

• Strong leadership and team-building skills
• Exceptional communication and relationship management abilities
• Sound judgement in high-pressure situations
• A deep commitment to equity, including, and serving first-generation students
• The ability to manage multiple priorities with precision and accountability

• Mission-driven work: Make a lasting difference in the lives of young people
• Leadership opportunity: Shape program strategy and team culture
• Collaborative environment: Work alongside passionate, committed colleagues
• Growth-focused: Ongoing professional development and leadership support

• Full-time leadership role with some evening/weekend responsibilities
• On-call availability for occasional emergencies
• Participation in ongoing training and annual evaluations

If you’re ready to lead with purpose and create meaningful impact, we encourage you to apply. For more information, see www.hopeigniteschicago.org.

This job description is designed for compliance with the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) and is not an exhaustive list of the duties performed for this job. Additional duties are performed by the individual holding this job and additional duties may be assigned. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this job.