Program Director, Chicago Peacebuilding Program

Status: Full-Time, Exempt

Location: Chicago, IL 

Application Deadline: November 3, 2023

For consideration, please attach your Cover Letter and Resume to the online application in addition to answering the Application Questions. 

SUMMARY OF PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES 

Chicago Peacebuilding works to dismantle militarism and state violence that disproportionately affects communities of color in the US and the global community; and toward investment in the wellbeing of those who are targeted and criminalized by those same systems.

The Program Director will be responsible to support programmatic efforts that align with AFSC and local and state-level community perspectives on police and prison abolition, anti-militarism, and the creation of community-based alternatives; participate in AFSC national and global strategic efforts toward systems change around peace issues including healing justice. The Program Director is also responsible for supervision of program staff, participation in fundraising activities, and development and oversight of program budget and finances.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities

1. Work with organizational and community stakeholders to analyze existing community perspectives along with emerging practices, policies, legislation, and trends around prison and police abolition, anti-militarism, and community-based alternatives in Chicago and Illinois. 
2. Participate in organizing efforts towards policies that align with AFSC and community perspectives on healing justice as identified in our North Star vision and Strategic Plan, through both local work and participation in AFSC national and global strategic efforts toward systems change around peace issues including healing justice. 
3. Represent AFSC’s Just Peace and healing justice perspectives with a breadth of program constituents including those directly harmed by state violence and their families, community groups, coalitions, professional organizations, media, public officials, Quakers and interfaith groups. 
4. Build and strengthen partnerships with prison, police abolition and anti-militarism groups in Chicago and Illinois. 
5. Ensure consistent program communication, including email updates, website / blog development, and growing the program’s online social media presence. 
6. In collaboration with regional management, engage in effective program planning to include the development and implementation of clearly stated and observable goals and objectives. 
7. Obtain and monitor the human and fiscal resources needed to achieve program goals and objectives. This includes budget creation and management, working with the grants department to plan and evaluate funding requests and reports, maintain relationships with current funders and supporters / research and build relationships with prospective funders; review budgets annually and mid-year with regional leadership; work with program staff and finance / grants departments to ensure grant expenditure tracking; support program staff where appropriate with monthly expense reporting. 
8. Design, establish and maintain an ongoing process of program assessment and learning, evaluation for program work, supervising staff in utilizing best practices for reporting and data monitoring. 
9. Recruit and/ or maintain a local program committee of volunteers who will help to: season ideas related to program work. 
10. network with a cross section of the community, especially with people where programs are offered. 
11. assist in carrying out program work as volunteers. 
12. Assist in planning and supporting outreach to Quakers and inter-faith groups in the region. Actively participate in internal meetings and collaborations within the Just Peace thematic area and as needed, across other themes. 
13. Supervise and support projects and project coordinators, fellows and interns.

Minimum Qualifications

Education: Baccalaureate degree in a related field and/or substantial experience as outlined below

Experience:

1. Professional work and/or personal experience with the criminal legal system, healing justice or transformative justice issues, prison and police abolition, surveillance. Experience working with young people, knowledge of U.S. foreign policy a plus.
2. 3-5 years demonstrated experience with grassroots organizing, campaign development, public education.
3. Demonstrated experience in working as part of a collaborative project, and experience managing a team of staff or volunteers is a plus.
4. Ability to research and analyze current and unfolding issues, policies, and legislation; to organize information; and to articulate implications.
5. Demonstrated ability to respond creatively to issues and concerns as they emerge, initiating a project and carrying it through to its conclusion with timeliness and relative independence.
6. Demonstrated expertise in social change work including tools for monitoring, evaluation and learning.
7. Demonstrated ability to write clearly and effectively, including letters to the editor, press releases, and position papers.
8. Excellent public communications skills with a wide variety of individuals. Strong interpersonal skills.
9. Experience in budget management with knowledge to read and analyze basic financial reports
10. Social media skills
11. Excellent computer skills (Microsoft Office Suite)
12. Ability to work nights and weekends and to travel.

Other Required Skills and Abilities:

1. Commitment to Quaker values and testimonies. Understanding of and compatibility with the principles and philosophy of the American Friends Service Committee including non-violence and the belief in the intrinsic worth of every individual.
2.  Understanding of and commitment to the principles, concerns, and considerations of AFSC in regard to issues of race, class, nationality, religion, age, gender and sexual orientation, and disabilities. Demonstrated ability to work and communicate with diverse staff.

Compensation: Salary Range (Program Director II Range 16: $59,327 - $80,089) – Exempt – Comprehensive medical and hospitalization plan; term life, accident and salary continuation insurances, defined benefit pension plan, plus fringe benefits; participation in unemployment and worker’s compensation and social security. 

The American Friends Service Committee is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified persons are encouraged to apply regardless of their religious affiliation, race, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation or disability.

AFSC’s Central Office and some of its offices in the U.S. are unionized workplaces. This position is represented.

The American Friends Service Committee is a smoke-free workplace.