Site Director (Berkekley)

ABOUT THE ROLE

The Berkeley Site Director leads the day-to-day program delivery operations of one of the Multicultural Institute’s locations, ensuring that every community member who walks through our doors feels like they are at home while receiving high-quality, well-coordinated services.

You will own the execution of the full program portfolio at your site, from job placement support and food distribution to educational classes, community events, and citizenship preparation, and will be accountable for how those programs are staffed, scheduled, and delivered, in alignment with Multicultural Institute’s strategic pillars and values.

This is not a behind-the-scenes administrative role. You will be visible in the building, close to the work, and in regular contact with community members, local partners, and your team. You will manage a small staff (1-3 direct reports), providing clear direction and accountability, as well as the support and coaching to enable their success. You will also own the site's facilities planning as well as external relationships with partner organizations and government agencies.

The right person for this role is a skilled generalist who is organized and calm under pressure, energized by direct service work, and genuinely excited to build something, shaping how a site runs and what it stands for in the community it serves.

WHAT YOU'LL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR

Program Delivery & Quality

• Own the site's full program delivery, ensuring all services — outreach, job placements, food distribution, business and GED classes, citizenship and life skills workshops, and community events — run on time, are properly staffed, and meet all organizational standards.
• Adapt organizational curriculum, policies, and program models to fit your site's community while maintaining MI’s values, branding, curriculum, and policies. You know the context better than anyone; use that knowledge to make programs more effective, not to reinvent them from scratch, while following the protocols and guidance from the Programs team
• Support improvement of organizational programs through feedback and collaboration with the Programs team and MI’s leadership. You’ll be the eyes and ears for how programs are working in real time.
• Monitor program quality on an ongoing basis and troubleshoot when things aren't working. That might mean adjusting a schedule, retraining a staff member, renegotiating a partnership, or escalating to organizational leadership.
• Execute grant-funded objectives and deliverables, contributing to the organization's ability to sustain and expand services for community members.
• Maintain accurate and timely program documentation and reporting (including attendance, service delivery data, and outcomes) so that the organization has reliable information for grant reporting, program evaluation, and decision-making.
• Ensure reception and front-of-house operations run smoothly during open hours (Monday–Friday, 8am–4pm), maintaining a welcoming environment that reflects MI's values, while making sure community members feel like they belong at MI.

Staff Management

• Directly manage 1–3 staff members. This includes setting clear expectations, providing regular feedback, developing staff skills, conducting performance reviews, and holding people accountable in a way that's honest, respectful, and in line with organizational values.
• Allocate and assign staff responsibilities across programs thoughtfully, balancing organizational priorities with individual strengths and capacity. You will have real discretion about how your team covers different functions — use it with care.
• Invest in your team's development. Make sure people understand not just what to do but why, and give them opportunities to grow into greater responsibility.

Facilities & Operations

• Own the site's facilities roadmap — identifying needs, prioritizing improvements, creating budgets, managing vendors, and maintaining a safe, functional, and welcoming environment.
• Coordinate with organizational operations on large projects, capital expenditures, and shared systems, while handling day-to-day facility issues directly and promptly.
• Ensure the site and its programs are compliant with applicable health, safety, and operational requirements.
• Demonstrates a collaborative, mission-first mindset, including both taking on additional responsibilities as assigned and taking initiative to proactively support the organization's evolving needs.

Community Partnerships

• Serve as MI's primary point of contact for site specific partners — private organizations, community-based organizations, and government agencies.
• Maintain and strengthen existing partnerships and identify new relationships that expand the services and resources available to community members at your site.
• Represent MI in the community with professionalism and warmth, building the organization's reputation as a trusted and effective partner.
• Represents the organization at community events, tabling opportunities, and public engagements as needed, helping build visibility and trust within the communities MI serves.
• Serves as a liaison between community members and the organization, ensuring that community voices, needs, and feedback are heard and reflected in the organization's work.

HOW YOU'LL DO THIS WORK

We care as much about how you approach this role as what you accomplish. Here's what we expect:

• You keep things organized without over-engineering them. You maintain reliable systems for scheduling, tracking, communicating so that programs don't fall through cracks and your team knows what's expected.
• You manage with directness and care. You set clear expectations of your team and when something isn't working you address it promptly, kindly, and clearly. You don't let problems fester or avoid hard conversations.
• You make good judgment calls. You'll frequently face situations where there's no rulebook answer. We expect you to think clearly, weigh tradeoffs, and make a decision that aligns with the organization’s policies and values rather than wait to be told what to do while knowing when to escalate.
• You build trust with community members and partners. You show up consistently, follow through on commitments, and are attuned to the needs and dignity of the people you serve.
• You're a strong communicator with your team, with partners, and with organizational leadership. You keep people appropriately informed while asking for and offering help or input when needed.
• You are community-centered in practice, not just in principle. The programs you run will directly affect immigrants navigating real challenges. You take that seriously and bring cultural humility to every interaction.

WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR

Required

• 3+ years of experience managing programs and/or operations, ideally in a nonprofit, social services, or community-based organization.
• Experience supervising at least one direct report, with a track record of setting clear expectations and holding people accountable.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple workstreams simultaneously without dropping balls, you are organized, prioritize well, and follow through reliably.
• Strong collaboration and interpersonal skills with peers in similar and complementary roles.
• Experience working directly with communities that have experienced barriers or marginalization.
• Comfortable working across functions, you don't expect to hand off problems and you're willing to get into the details when needed.
• Ability to regularly lift and/or move up to 50 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move more than 50 pounds.
• Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation.
• Bilingual in English and Spanish.

Nice to Have

• Experience managing a facility or physical site, including vendor relationships and budgets.
• Familiarity with workforce development, adult education, or direct immigration services.
• Experience building or managing community partnerships with local government or CBOs.
• Experience managing a reception or front-desk operation in a service environment.

COMPENSATION & DETAILS

• This is a full-time, exempt, on-site position. Occasional travel to conferences, other MI sites, or offsite training is expected.
• The service center operates Monday–Friday, 8am–4pm; your schedule will align with these hours with some flexibility for evening events, weekend activities, or partner meetings.
• Salary: $71,000. We offer comprehensive health, retirement, and life insurance benefits in addition to PTO and flexible work schedules.
• Reports to: Operations Director

Multicultural Institute is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, services, programs, and activities. To request a reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, or to discuss potential workplace accommodations, please contact Anne Gomez at anne@mionline.org or (510) 224-3459. We strongly encourage applications from candidates who share the backgrounds and lived experiences of the communities we serve.

Comprehensive health, retirement, and life insurance benefits in addition to PTO and flexible work schedules.

Conversational and written English & Spanish