Senior Director of Regional Social Services
Job Summary
The Senior Director of Regional Social Services provides direct supervision to the three Regional Directors of Social Services serving Northwest Illinois, Central Illinois, and Chicago. The role ensures consistent program oversight and site support across a large, geographically diverse Division by holding Regional Directors accountable for program quality, compliance, community engagement, and staff development within their regions.
Essential Duties And Responsibilities
Provides oversight of social services delivery across the Division's three geographic regions – Northwest Illinois, Central Illinois, and Chicago – ensuring Regional Directors connect program sites to Program Operations support, Mission Investment Management, and Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning.
Directly supervises the Regional Directors of Social Services, holding each accountable for the effectiveness of their regional team and the quality of support delivered to program sites.
Establishes and maintains the standards, expectations, and accountability structures that guide Regional Directors in delivering consistent, high-quality support across their regions.
Ensures clear role clarity across regional teams, resolves escalation questions as they arise, and facilitates effective matrix relationships between Regional Directors and the divisional functional heads of Program Operations, Mission Investment Management, and Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning.
Collaborates with the Senior Directors of Program Operations, Mission Investment Management, and Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning to ensure regional counterparts are effectively connected to divisional resources, standards, and tools.
Anticipates and responds to changes in the regional operating environment and ensures Regional Directors are positioned to adapt their teams accordingly.
Impact Area Stewardship and Field Connectivity
Ensures Regional Directors serve as effective partners with site advisory boards, providing strategic guidance on program planning and community-responsive program development within their impact areas.
Maintains clear and accessible regional points of contact for administrative support, program development, and capacity building at every active program site in each region.
Maintains the effectiveness of Regional Directors and their teams across all three geographic regions for consistency, responsiveness, and quality of site support.
Identifies patterns of field need across regions and ensures regional teams have what they need to support sites effectively, escalating systemic issues to the Executive Director of Social Services.
Community Representation and Stakeholder Partnership
Represents The Salvation Army effectively at regional and local levels, connecting program sites to community service agencies, social service providers, governmental agencies, and funding sources.
Sustains local stakeholder relationships that advance mission outcomes and increase community visibility for program sites.
Advances program development grounded in community need and aligned with divisional priorities through partnerships with corps officers, program and related institution directors, and local advisory boards.
Participates in regional and local committees, task forces, and community planning bodies as assigned.
Collaborates with other social service agencies in community planning, needs assessments, information and referral, and case management coordination, as appropriate.
Regional Program Oversight Coordination
Oversees Regional Directors' work to ensure program sites within each region maintain compliance with licensing, accreditation, and Salvation Army standards.
Coordinates with the Senior Director of Mission Investment Management to ensure compliance support reaches program sites effectively through the matrix.
Supports Regional Directors in conducting periodic program reviews that assess service quality, fiscal alignment, and consistency with divisional priorities.
Coordinates with the Senior Director of Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning to ensure outcome tools and performance tracking support reaches program sites effectively through the matrix.
Ensures that program development proposals or modifications at the regional and site level reflect community need, divisional strategic priorities, and organizational capacity before advancing to the Executive Director.
Capacity Building and Staff Development
Builds the leadership capacity of Regional Directors through direct supervision, mentorship, and ongoing professional development, ensuring each director has the skills to lead their regional team effectively.
Ensures Regional Directors equip their site-level teams with the knowledge, tools, and practical support needed to deliver programs effectively.
Coordinates with the Senior Director of Program Operations to ensure Regional Directors and their teams are effectively connected to divisional training resources, program development support, and case management standards.
Supports Regional Directors in developing the competency and effectiveness of regional team members who matrix to program sites.
Schedules, as appropriate, in-service training, site visits, and professional development opportunities for regional social services personnel, in coordination with divisional functional leads.
People and Culture
Provides leadership, supervision, and development for the Regional Directors, ensuring regional team roles are staffed with individuals capable of delivering the mission effectively.
Ensures the regional team operates in an environment characterized by clear direction, effective communication, teamwork, and ongoing professional growth.
Fosters a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and collaboration across the three regional teams and with divisional functional departments.
Acts as a representative of The Salvation Army and its mission in all internal and external relationships.