North Cambridge Senior Center Director

ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICE PROGRAMS:

The Department of Human Service Programs (DHSP) creates and coordinates services that enhance the quality of life for Cambridge residents. Driven by the needs of residents, DHSP’s extensive services and programs touch almost every sector in the city: from newborns to senior citizens, from school-aged children to homeless families, from non-profit organizations to local employers.

ABOUT THE ROLE:

The Council on Aging (COA) works to promote and safeguard the health and wellness of seniors over the age of 60 by offering an array of services, including: enrichment and wellness classes, meals, trips, social service support, and a variety of opportunities for meaningful connection to staff and other seniors. The COA operates two senior centers, one in Central Square and the second in North Cambridge. The COA is looking for a creative manager to be part of the COA leadership team who will work to expand offerings and partnerships at the North Cambridge Senior Center that meet the needs of seniors.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Director will:

• Plan, develop, implement, and oversee a variety of recreational, social, health and education programs to meet the needs of a diverse group of senior program participants, both “in Center” as well as “Virtual”.
• Provide support in collaboration with Human Services Recreation and Youth serving staff, to program senior activities at other city supported locations.
• Supervise the part time Center Assistant and supervise, train, and recruit Senior Aides, volunteers, and interns.
• Administer the daily operations of the North Cambridge Senior Center.
• Work with the COA Executive Director to manage the annual operations budget for the North Cambridge Senior Center and augment resources through community in-kind services donations and some grant writing when appropriate.
• Manage physical facility of the Senior Center, and work with the Cambridge Housing Authority representative on facility issues.
• Coordinate, with Somerville Cambridge Elder Services, the provision of a hot lunch program.
• Refer all participants from the North Cambridge Senior Center needing social services assistance for information and referral services or case management to COA Client Services Director.
• Work cooperatively with the Director of the Cambridge Senior Center on joint programming ideas and resources.
• Oversee data collection and maintain all relevant information and documentation through MySeniorCenter on seniors participating in activities and trips and ensure safety protocols are followed.
• Represent the North Cambridge Senior Center at meetings and community events, as requested by the COA Executive Director. Participate on internal leadership and planning teams, to enhance city wide services.
• Actively engage in and support the Department’s Race and Equity Initiative.
• Performs related duties as required.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree in related human service area or equivalent combination of education, training and/or experience required.
• At least one year experience in direct services to elders and two years’ experience in supervision of staff required.
• Experience working with individuals from diverse ethnic, cultural and social economic backgrounds highly preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Must have the ability to support and work with challenging individuals, as well as the ability to develop and foster an environment that is welcoming to all seniors.
• Excellent interpersonal, planning, organizational, and communication skills required.
• Basic computer skills required, including Word & Excel. Additional computer skills highly desirable such as desktop publishing.
• The City of Cambridge’s workforce, like the community it serves, is diverse. Applicants must have the ability to work and interact effectively with individuals and groups with a variety of identities, cultures, backgrounds, and ideologies.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS, WORKING CONDITIONS, WORK FLEXIBILITY AND ACCOMODATIONS:

• Duties are performed in a very active and diverse Senior Center. Many activities operating simultaneously, presentations, meals served; participants from various backgrounds, many of whom have significant social and medical needs.
• Must have sufficient mobility to travel between sites.
• Ability to do activity set up (tables; chairs; etc.).
• Ability to access input and retrieve information from a computer.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.