Director, Programs

We LINK students who have been historically underrepresented in higher education, especially Black students, with the resources and support needed for success as they advance to, through, and beyond college.

Chicago’s educational system amplifies persistent inequities, creating deep and lasting opportunity gaps for historically underrepresented students, particularly Black students. LINK’s goal is to mitigate the effect of these systemic and structural forces by improving and increasing educational opportunities and access for students who have been historically underrepresented in higher education, especially Black youth in Chicago. By equipping our Scholars with the knowledge, skills, resources, and social equity that further college completion and career placement, LINK is increasing the economic mobility and stability of historically underrepresented students and cultivating a diverse leadership pipeline for our city.

Since 1966, we have successfully supported over 2,500 low- to moderate-income students. In the 2025-2026 academic year, we will serve 300+ Scholars (Jr. LINK, High School & Collegiate Scholars). Our Scholars represent more than 60 Chicagoland neighborhoods, with a focus from ten South and West Side communities: Auburn Gresham, Austin, Bronzeville, Englewood, Garfield Park, Greater Grand Crossing, North Lawndale, Roseland, South Shore, and Washington Park.

Looking to make a difference by linking students to opportunities so they can take a new path—one that leads to their full potential and our city’s vibrant future? Then join our team!

Position Summary

The Director, Programs is responsible for developing, implementing, and optimizing systems and processes to support our educational programming and achieve organizational goals. The Director, Programs has a strong background in project management, systems development, and process improvement, with a passion for educational initiatives and nonprofit work. The Director, Programs will report to the VP, Programs & Evaluation. The Director of Programs will have three direct reports- (3) Coordinator, Programs.

Program Design & Continuous Quality Improvements

• Ensure high-quality support services are delivered to all Scholars from recruitment & acceptance throughout the high school fellowship.
• Collaborate with the Director, Mentor Recruitment & Experience to design and/or facilitate Mentor & Scholar programming and relationship cultivation experiences.
• Provide expertise, guidance, and support on the design and delivery of educational curricula for both the Jr. LINK & High School Fellowship, College Counseling, and Collegiate Scholar programming; develop and improve curricula as needed.
  • College Counseling
    • Design, implement, and manage LINK’s college counseling program ensuring it aligns with our mission and goals for our Scholars.
    • Design and implement program activities, workshops, and resources to support Scholars in the college application, admissions, and scholarship processes.
    • Recruit, train, and supervise 5-10 contractual part-time College Specialists to effectively and successfully deliver our college counseling program, including at a minimum:
      • Provide one-on-one and group counseling sessions to Scholars on college selection, application procedures, financial aid, scholarship opportunities, etc.
      • Assist Scholars in identifying their strengths, interests, and career goals to help them make informed decisions about their post-secondary education.
      • Review and provide feedback on college and scholarship application materials, including essays and personal statements.
      • Maintain accurate records of Scholar interactions, program activities, college and scholarship applications, acceptances, etc.
    • Serve as a liaison between College Specialists, Mentor team, and LINK staff.
    • Stay current with trends and changes in college admissions, financial aid, and scholarship opportunities to provide up-to-date information to Scholars.
    • Develop and maintain a library of college counseling resources, including guides, templates, and online tools.
    • Monitor and evaluate program effectiveness, adjusting as necessary to improve outcomes.
    • Collect and analyze data on Scholar progress, program participation, and outcomes to measure the effectiveness of the college counseling program.
  • Collegiate Scholar Support
    • Provide oversight and collaborate with the VP, Programs & Evaluation to develop a comprehensive program to support Collegiate Scholars in their academic, personal, and professional development that aligns with and builds on the Project College Curriculum.
    • Support the SPA with research and data analysis to understand trends and key areas where collegiate support is needed and known persistence challenges.
    • Design program components that address academic support, mental health, career development, and personal growth.
    • Develop a detailed plan and timeline for program implementation.
• Design, develop, and implement programmatic systems to streamline and enhance the delivery of all programs.
• Collaborate with the Program Team and other internal stakeholders to understand program requirements and translate them into effective systems and processes.
• Ensure that systems are user-friendly, efficient, and scalable to support program growth.
• Analyze current programmatic processes and identify areas for improvement to increase efficiency and effectiveness.
• Develop and document standardized operating procedures for all programming activities.
• Ensure stakeholder feedback is embedded in all areas of service delivery to support a process of continuous quality improvement and knowledge management.
• Evaluate progress, effectiveness, and design sustainability.
• Utilize lessons learned and best practices to design innovative solutions and scale programming based on aggressive growth plans.
• Research best practices in college access, college success, and leadership development, locally and nationally to ensure programmatic alignment.
• Generate regular reports to track performance and outcomes.
• Provide training and support to staff on new programmatic systems and processes.
• Develop training materials and user guides to facilitate team onboarding and ongoing education.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for troubleshooting and resolving programmatic system & process related issues.

Data Analysis & Strategic Direction

• In collaboration with the VP, Programs & Evaluation, the Director, Programs will design feedback strategies to gather stakeholder feedback to inform Scholar programming.
• Use data to drive and achieve programmatic outcomes, programmatic improvement, and demonstrate impact, including survey design and analysis.
• Ensure data integrity and security in compliance with organizational policies and relevant regulations.
• Manage the collection, analysis and evaluation of data and programs to continually improve the design, inform best practices, areas for growth, and identify risks (e.g. program reporting, technical assistance tracking, surveys, stakeholder feedback, etc.).
• Identify and recommend key programmatic indicators and outcomes.
• Track and report regularly on outcomes of engagement efforts including Scholars reached, participant attendance, support services offered/engaged, etc.
• Utilize and interpret data for program and process evaluation and decision making so as to make recommendations for continuous improvements.
• Maintain Scholar and partner information in Salesforce.
• Translate findings from outcomes, survey data, and stakeholder feedback into actionable insights and measurable impact.

Project Management & External Partnership Management

• Lead and manage projects related to the development and enhancement of programmatic systems and processes.
• Excellent time management skills with proven ability to work at a rigorous pace, prioritize multiple assignments, communicate about challenges, plan, and most importantly, follow through to meet deadlines and objectives.
  • Experience using Project Management platforms to manage goal progress (preferably Basecamp).
• Create detailed project plans, timelines, and budgets, ensuring projects are completed on time and within scope.
• Work collaboratively with departments to ensure project success.
• Foster strong relationships to support the successful implementation of educational programs such as college readiness & retention, tutoring, academic coaching and parent communication.
  • In collaboration with the VP, Programs & Evaluation, maintain partnerships with our partnering middle and high schools to support our Scholars.
    • Manage the strategy for onboarding, offboarding, and deepening school partnerships, including the MOU/Partnership Agreement and process.
  • Assist in building strong relationships with institutional partners, colleges, universities, and community organizations to support program and Scholar goals.
• Management of curricula writers/other external contracted workers and/or interns TBD as needed
• Liaise with the Advancement Team to promote and raise awareness of the LINK brand and impact.

Leadership & Team Management

• In collaboration with the VP, Programs & Evaluation, manage the performance and professional development of the Programs Team.
• Foster a positive team culture through regular feedback, recognition, and opportunities for professional growth.
• Promote a culture of continuous learning, empowering team members to take on increasing levels of responsibility and develop their skills.
• Serve as a bridge between the Programs Team and other departments, ensuring consistent and collaborative efforts in support of organizational goals.
• Establish clear performance metrics/KPI’s for the Programs team.
• Conduct regular assessments of progress, ensuring accountability and identifying opportunities for course corrections to optimize outcomes.
• Oversee budget development and manage financial resources responsibly, ensuring cost-effective operations that maximize the impact of the team’s initiatives.

Scholar Recruitment

Along with shared responsibility with the Programs Team, the Director, Programs will:

• Elevate LINK’s organizational presence across Chicagoland communities through participation in school and/or community fairs, events/meetings, and other recruitment related activities as needed.
  • Plan and attend recruitment events and adhere to the recruitment timeline.
  • Build and/or maintain partnerships with middle schools and community organizations to support organizational awareness and recruitment efforts.
• Coordinate and manage recruitment and application related communications to prospective students and parents/guardians.
• Facilitate the closing process for open applications.
• Manage email and phone inquiries about the organization.
• Review student applications, schedule and interview candidates, provide advice on which candidates might be appropriate for LINK, and support applicants through the application process by maintaining communication throughout the entirety of the recruitment process.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree REQUIRED; advanced degree preferred.
• A minimum of 10 years of relevant work experience.
• A minimum of five (5) years of:
  • Non-profit programmatic work experience in College Access or Success REQUIRED.
  • Experience working with students in college admissions processes, financial aid, and scholarship opportunities.
  • Experience with educational curricula design.
  • Experience in Social Work or other related Educational or Social Service areas.
  • Program Event management and/or workshop facilitation experience required.
• 3-5 years of previous case-management/comprehensive supportive services/wrap-around support experience required.
• Strong experience in the following areas required:
  • Leading youth program admissions, including recruitment, application screening, interviews, and selection.
  • Developing and delivering college persistence programming for under-resourced and/or first-generation college students, with a focus on Black youth.
  • Demonstrated ability to plan, deliver, and oversee mentoring initiatives, including program design, facilitation, and participant support.
  • Developing new programmatic partnerships with community-based organizations, corporations, civic leaders, and institutions of higher education.

Leadership & Team Management:

• A minimum of 5 years of supervisory experience, including team management, budget development, and monitoring is REQUIRED.
  • Supervisory experience must have included full or part-time direct reports.
  • Skilled in building, managing, and evaluating outcome-driven teams.

Skills and Competencies

• Experience working with Black youth (8th12
• th grade) & their families highly desired with a deep understanding of the systemic and structural forces impeding Black students.
• Catholic, Urban Public School, and/or Charter School experience is a plus.
• Experience with curricula design is highly desirable.
• Track record of strategy implementation with measurable success.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.

Interpersonal and Problem-Solving Skills

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Ability to speak in public, engage, and build relationships with diverse stakeholders (Scholars, Parents, Mentors, Volunteers, etc.).
  • Strong presentation skills, both in-person & virtual.
• Problem Solving and Critical Thinking: Ability to break down tasks into manageable sections to make informed decisions to tackle a larger problem.
• Ability to remain flexible and adapt to changing needs and priorities.
• Ability to perceive and resolve a gap between a present situation and a desired goal.

Technical Skills

• Demonstrated experience working with electronic databases.
  • Salesforce experience preferred.
• Advanced skills with Microsoft Office Suite, Google Workspace, or similar software with the ability to learn new or updated software.

Mission-Driven Commitment

• A passion for advancing LINK’s mission and impact through strategic partnerships, stakeholder engagement, and programmatic excellence.
• LINK Unlimited Scholars is seeking a commitment of at least two years.

Characteristics

• Cheerful and welcoming demeanor.
• Strong work ethic.
• A self-starter, creative, and forward thinker.
• Must have the utmost integrity and an ability to process, protect and exercise discretion in handling confidential information and materials.
• Exercises good judgment with an ability to manage situations with tact and discretion.

Work Schedule

Full-Time, Monday through Friday, 9:00am-5:00pm, but at times requires upwards of 50 hours per week. Hybrid schedule: remotely twice a week (Mondays & Fridays) and in-office Tuesday through Thursday. Must also have flexibility to on occasion work Saturdays (on average 1-2 times/month) and evenings to support programming and other organizational events.

Compensation

Salary range $77,500-$87,500; to be determined based on experience and skills. Full-time employees are eligible for health, dental, and vision insurance, Retirement, PTO days, 11 Holidays, and a holiday shut down from Christmas Eve through New-Year’s day.

To Apply

Submit a cover letter, resume, and salary requirements to Alexandria Cummings, VP, Programs & Evaluation. Cover letters without salary requirements will not be considered.

LINK Unlimited Scholars is an equal opportunity employer.