Director of Programs and Compliance

Position Summary The Director of Programs & Compliance provides strategic leadership, oversight, and accountability for Walker’s Point Youth & Family Center’s direct-service programs. This position is responsible for ensuring that programs operate effectively, safely, and in alignment with the agency’s mission, contractual obligations, grant requirements, licensing standards, and best practices in serving runaway, homeless, and at-risk youth. The Director oversees the Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program (YHDP), Outreach Program, ... Learn More

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Creator

Walker's Point Youth & Family Center

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Position Summary

The Director of Programs & Compliance provides strategic leadership, oversight, and accountability for Walker’s Point Youth & Family Center’s direct-service programs. This position is responsible for ensuring that programs operate effectively, safely, and in alignment with the agency’s mission, contractual obligations, grant requirements, licensing standards, and best practices in serving runaway, homeless, and at-risk youth.

The Director oversees the Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program (YHDP), Outreach Program, Emergency Shelter Program, and Insights Supportive Housing Program and provides leadership to program managers and supervisors.

This position serves as a key member of the agency’s leadership team and is responsible for program performance, compliance, data integrity, grant deliverables, program budgets, reimbursement, quality assurance, staff supervision, and continuous program improvement.

The ideal candidate is a strong, organized, mission-driven leader who can balance direct-service priorities with fiscal responsibility, compliance requirements, data management, staff development, and strategic planning.

Essential Responsibilities Program Leadership & Oversight

• Provide overall leadership and strategic direction for the YHDP, Outreach, Emergency Shelter, and Insights Supportive Housing programs.
• Ensure programs operate in alignment with agency policies, contracts, licensing requirements, grant requirements, and applicable regulations.
• Establish clear program expectations, performance standards, and accountability measures.
• Monitor program capacity, staffing, service delivery, and operational effectiveness.
• Identify programmatic challenges and develop corrective action plans.
• Ensure coordination and continuity of services between programs.
• Promote youth-centered, trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and strengths-based practices.
• Ensure youth have access to appropriate resources, referrals, case management, housing support, crisis intervention, and other identified needs.

Supervision & Staff Leadership

• Directly supervise program managers, supervisors, and designated program leadership staff.
• Provide regular supervision, coaching, feedback, and performance evaluations.
• Establish measurable goals and performance expectations for program leadership.
• Address performance concerns in collaboration with Human Resources and the Executive Director.
• Support recruitment, interviewing, onboarding, training, and retention of program staff.
• Ensure appropriate staffing levels and program coverage.
• Ensure staff complete required training and maintain necessary certifications.
• Promote a culture of accountability, teamwork, professionalism, and continuous learning.

Grant Compliance & Contract Management

• Maintain overall responsibility for program compliance with grant and contractual requirements.
• Review grant agreements, scopes of work, budgets, performance measures, and reporting requirements.
• Ensure grant deliverables and reports are completed accurately and on time.
• Monitor compliance with federal, state, county, municipal, and private foundation requirements.
• Maintain systems to track grant deliverables and reporting deadlines.
• Coordinate with the Executive Director and Finance Department regarding grant requirements and financial reporting.
• Ensure program activities and expenditures remain within approved grant scopes and budgets.
• Identify compliance concerns and communicate them to leadership promptly.
• Assist with grant applications, renewals, amendments, monitoring visits, and audits.

Data Management & Performance Measurement

• Oversee program data collection, entry, quality, and reporting.
• Ensure timely and accurate HMIS and other required data entry.
• Monitor data quality and resolve missing, inaccurate, or inconsistent information.
• Track program outputs and outcomes against established goals.
• Develop regular program dashboards and performance reports.
• Analyze trends related to youth served, housing outcomes, shelter utilization, length of stay, exits, referrals, and engagement.
• Ensure staff understand data requirements and documentation expectations.
• Use data to identify service gaps and improve program outcomes.
• Prepare data for funder reports, board reports, grant applications, audits, and monitoring visits.

Program Budgets & Fiscal Oversight

• Develop and monitor annual program budgets in collaboration with the Executive Director and Finance Department.
• Monitor program expenditures against approved budgets.
• Ensure expenditures are allowable, reasonable, necessary, and consistent with funding requirements.
• Review budget-to-actual reports and identify variances.
• Work with Finance to ensure appropriate allocation of expenses among programs and funding sources.
• Monitor staffing costs, program supplies, participant assistance, contracted services, and other program expenditures.
• Provide recommendations regarding budget adjustments and resource allocation.
• Ensure program managers understand and operate within approved budgets.

Grant Reimbursement & Revenue

• Oversee timely submission of program reimbursement requests and supporting documentation.
• Coordinate with Finance to ensure expenses are properly documented and submitted for reimbursement.
• Monitor outstanding reimbursements and identify delays or discrepancies.
• Ensure reimbursement requests are consistent with grant budgets and contractual requirements.
• Review program expenses for grant allowability when appropriate.
• Maintain tracking systems for grant-funded expenditures and reimbursements.
• Identify opportunities to maximize allowable reimbursement while maintaining compliance.
• Communicate funding concerns, reimbursement issues, and potential revenue gaps to the Executive Director.

Quality Assurance & Risk Management

• Develop and maintain quality assurance processes across programs.
• Conduct regular program reviews to assess compliance, documentation, service quality, staffing, and outcomes.
• Monitor case records and program documentation for completeness and quality.
• Ensure incidents, grievances, critical events, and required documentation are appropriately addressed.
• Review significant incidents and identify opportunities to improve systems and staff practices.
• Ensure policies and procedures are consistently implemented.
• Coordinate preparation for licensing reviews, monitoring visits, audits, and inspections.
• Ensure corrective action plans are developed and implemented when needed.

Youth Safety & Service Quality

• Maintain a strong focus on youth safety, dignity, rights, and well-being.
• Ensure programs provide appropriate supervision and support.
• Promote consistent, trauma-informed responses to youth behavior and crisis situations.
• Ensure appropriate escalation and documentation of safety concerns and critical incidents.
• Advocate for youth-centered policies and practices throughout the organization.

Community Partnerships

• Develop and maintain relationships with funders, government agencies, schools, housing providers, behavioral health providers, Continuum of Care partners, and other community organizations.
• Represent Walker’s Point Youth & Family Center at community meetings, coalitions, and other relevant forums.
• Coordinate services with external partners to improve outcomes for youth.
• Support agency participation in HMIS, coordinated entry, YHDP, Continuum of Care, and other collaborative systems.

Strategic & Organizational Leadership

• Serve as a member of the agency’s leadership team.
• Participate in strategic planning and agency-wide decision-making.
• Provide the Executive Director with regular updates regarding program performance, staffing, compliance, finances, risks, and emerging needs.
• Identify opportunities for program expansion, innovation, partnerships, and new funding.
• Assist with development and implementation of new programs.
• Participate in grant development and fundraising activities by providing program information, outcomes, budgets, and narratives.
• Ensure program operations support the agency’s strategic priorities and financial sustainability.

Board & Executive Leadership Support

• Prepare program reports and presentations for the Executive Director and Board of Directors.
• Provide accurate program outcomes, accomplishments, challenges, and financial information for board reporting.
• Support the Executive Director in preparing for funder meetings, monitoring visits, audits, and community presentations.
• Communicate emerging programmatic, financial, staffing, and compliance risks to executive leadership.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in social work, public administration, nonprofit management, human services, psychology, criminal justice, or a related field OR equivalent professional experience in lieu of a degree.
• Minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible experience in human services, nonprofit program management, youth services, housing, homelessness, crisis services, or a related field.
• Minimum of 3 years of supervisory or management experience.
• Demonstrated experience managing multiple programs or service areas.
• Experience with government grants, private grants, contracts, or other restricted funding.
• Experience with program budgets and financial monitoring.
• Experience with data collection, HMIS, case management databases, or similar systems.
• Strong understanding of compliance, documentation, performance measurement, and grant reporting.
• Experience working with youth experiencing homelessness, housing instability, family conflict, trauma, or other significant barriers preferred.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to manage multiple deadlines and competing priorities.
• Ability to lead with accountability while maintaining a supportive and collaborative management style.

Equivalent Experience: Walker’s Point Youth & Family Center recognizes that professional experience, demonstrated leadership, specialized training, and relevant certifications can provide valuable preparation for this role. Candidates who do not possess a college degree but have substantial, directly relevant experience may be considered in lieu of the educational requirement.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Public Administration, Social Work, Nonprofit Management, or related field.
• Experience with YHDP, Continuum of Care, HUD-funded programs, or other federal housing programs.
• Experience with emergency youth shelter or runaway and homeless youth programs.
• Experience with HMIS and coordinated entry.
• Experience with government contract reimbursement and cost allocation.
• Experience preparing for government or funder monitoring and audits.
• Experience developing program policies, procedures, and performance dashboards.

Compensation $80-85k depending on education and experience

Job Category

Southeast Wisconsin

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Position Summary

Strong

Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program (YHDP), Outreach Program, Emergency Shelter Program, and Insights Supportive Housing Program

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• Provide overall leadership and strategic direction for the YHDP, Outreach, Emergency Shelter, and Insights Supportive Housing programs.

• Ensure programs operate in alignment with agency policies, contracts, licensing requirements, grant requirements, and applicable regulations.

• Establish clear program expectations, performance standards, and accountability measures.

• Monitor program capacity, staffing, service delivery, and operational effectiveness.

• Identify programmatic challenges and develop corrective action plans.

• Ensure coordination and continuity of services between programs.

• Promote youth-centered, trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and strengths-based practices.

• Ensure youth have access to appropriate resources, referrals, case management, housing support, crisis intervention, and other identified needs.

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Directly supervise program managers, supervisors, and designated program leadership staff.