Program Manager, CPAAC Program

About DOI

District Outreach Industries NFP (DOI) is a Chicago-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to transforming the lives of youth, young adults, and families who have been affected by trauma. Founded and led by Dori J. Collins, we believe healing must go beyond meeting immediate needs. It must address the emotional, mental, and social well-being of the whole person and the whole family. Through personalized support, evidence-based interventions, and deep community engagement, DOI empowers the people we serve to rebuild their lives with dignity, resilience, and optimism.

Rooted on Chicago’s South Side, DOI works hand-in-hand with schools, hospitals, victim service providers, faith institutions, law enforcement, and grassroots community partners to address not only the effects of trauma and violence, but their root causes.

About CPAAC

Conscious Parents of African American Children (CPAAC), also known as the PAAC Project, is a parent-centered violence-prevention initiative led by District Outreach Industries. Operating across Chicago neighborhoods and in partnership with 15 Chicago Public Schools, CPAAC empowers parents with the tools, workshops, peer support, and resources to foster safer, more nurturing environments for their children.

Through before- and after-school parent programming, monthly community events, and parent courses in education, school engagement, financial literacy, health and wellness, and vocational training, alongside collaboration with schools and law enforcement, the program works to reduce youth violence and strengthen family and community engagement.

Position Summary

DOI seeks an experienced, mission-driven Program Manager to lead the day-to-day implementation and success of CPAAC, DOI’s parent advocacy and violence-prevention program serving parents across Chicago neighborhoods and 15 Chicago Public Schools. The Program Manager ensures program objectives and grant deliverables are met, oversees program staff, manages stakeholder relationships, and ensures services are delivered effectively and in compliance with grant requirements and organizational standards.

Key Responsibilities

Program Oversight & Implementation

• Manage the day-to-day implementation of CPAAC and ensure program objectives and grant deliverables are met.
• Lead the parent recruitment campaign across the 15 partner Chicago Public Schools in the served communities.
• Plan and conduct program overview meetings with school administrators to introduce program objectives and activities.
• Host monthly parent events that promote community building and networking across schools.

Team Leadership

• Supervise assigned program staff.
• Conduct onboarding, coaching, and performance management; manage schedules and workflow.
• Foster a collaborative, motivated, and accountable team environment.

School & Community Engagement

• Maintain strong working relationships with CPS school administrators, parents, community partners, and law enforcement.
• Represent DOI at school and community meetings, events, and stakeholder convenings.

Parent Engagement & Economic Opportunity

• Oversee parent workshops, peer support networks, and courses in education, school engagement, financial literacy, health and wellness, and vocational training.
• Implement job-placement initiatives that improve parents’ economic stability and school engagement.

Safety & Compliance

• Ensure program activities comply with applicable regulations and CPS site requirements and maintain child-safety and supervision standards in school settings.
• Serve as a mandated reporter under the Illinois Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act (325 ILCS 5) and report suspected abuse or neglect as required by law.

Grant Management, Reporting & Compliance

• Manage program funding within the approved grant budget.
• Compile data and support grant progress and financial reporting, compliance, and audit-readiness.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in, education, human services, public administration, community development, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• Minimum of 3 years of experience in program management, community or parent engagement, violence prevention, or related work, including at least 2 years supervising staff.
• Demonstrated ability to manage grant-funded programs, deliverables, and community partnerships.
• Knowledge of trauma-informed, community-centered practice and of the communities served (Bronzeville, Englewood, Roseland/Pullman, South Shore).
• Strong leadership, communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Proficiency with data collection and reporting; ability to compile accurate program and grant data.
• Ability to travel among partner schools and community site
• Ability to work some evenings and weekends for parent events and community activities.
• Successful completion of required background checks and clearances prior to school-based work with students present

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience partnering with Chicago Public Schools.
• Familiarity with grant-funded program compliance and reporting.
• Experience with parent leadership, family engagement, or violence-prevention programming.
• Bilingual (English/Spanish)
• Lived experience and strong ties to the served communities highly valued.

Clearances & Youth Safety

Because this position involves school-based work in and with Chicago Public Schools where students are present, employment is contingent on completing all required background checks and clearances before beginning that work. The Program Manager is a mandated reporter under the Illinois Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act (325 ILCS 5) and must complete DCFS-approved mandated reporter training. Required clearances typically include a DCFS background check and CPS vendor/volunteer clearance, and may include a fingerprint-based criminal history check. Consistent with Illinois law and DOI’s equal opportunity policy, a conviction record does not automatically disqualify an applicant.

Supervisory Responsibilities

This position supervises assigned program staff, and serves as the primary operational leader for CPAAC. It reports to the Director of Parent Programs

Benefits

• Health and dental insurance.
• Paid holidays, vacation, and sick leave.
• Professional development and leadership training opportunities.
• Opportunity to help lead a high-impact parent advocacy and violence-prevention program.

Location

On-site. Work is performed across the Chicago neighborhoods DOI serves (including Bronzeville, Englewood, Roseland/Pullman, and South Shore) and at partner Chicago Public Schools; regular travel among sites is required.

• Health and dental insurance.
• Paid holidays, vacation, and sick leave.
• Professional development and leadership training opportunities.
• Opportunity to help lead a high-impact parent advocacy and violence-prevention program.

Bilingual applicants are encouraged to apply.