The Director of Shelters oversees Groundworks’ shelter programs, which operate 24/7. As a senior staff member, this position is responsible for delivering programmatic and operational excellence, building a great place to work and volunteer, and promoting seamless integration between Groundworks’ programs and services. This position has the creative opportunity to enhance programs, develop new initiatives, implement a theory of change, and set high service-delivery standards to ensure that the shelters embody our philosophy of dignity and respect.
The Director of Shelters directly supervises the Drop-In Center Coordinator and the Coordinator of a new shelter opening in the fall of 2026, indirectly supervising a staff of approximately 32. Groundworks is currently constructing the second shelter, and this position will play a key role in shaping and building staffing for the new program. This position is responsible for ensuring efficient and effective operations and for building a welcoming and collaborative team environment marked by nonjudgmental and compassionate care.
The Director of Shelters facilitates program planning, evaluation, and continuous improvement, monitors evolving community needs, and develops new services as needs emerge. This position also ensures that Groundworks’ shelters comply with all federal, state, municipal, and private funding regulations, certifications, and licensing requirements. As a member of the Leadership Team, the Director of Shelters provides agency-wide leadership to ensure the overall success of Groundworks’ programs, workplace, and impact.
PROGRAM EXCELLENCE
● Ensure shelters achieve the highest level of programmatic and operational excellence and provide great customer service through continuous quality improvement.
● Communicate Groundworks’ philosophy of care, mission, values, theory of change, and standards of excellence to staff, volunteers, and external stakeholders.
● Maintain high service standards and ensure a compassionate, nonjudgmental approach.
● Create annual program budgets and manage programs to those budgets.
● Develop new programs and services in response to evolving community needs.
● Facilitate rigorous staff and volunteer trainings to enhance skills and performance.
● Formally evaluate programs quarterly; solicit client, staff, and community feedback.
● Report frequently on programmatic progress, challenges, and improvements to leadership and the Board.
● Identify improvement opportunities and lead change to adjust programs based on feedback.
PROGRAM OPERATIONS
● Ensure adequate staffing levels, anticipate staffing needs, and maintain effective scheduling practices, including substitute/per diem staffing systems. Provide direct staffing if needed.
● Ensure that all staff receive robust onboarding and training.
● Continuously monitor and enhance the On-Call system.
● Ensure that all day-to-day operations meet the needs of clients, staff, and volunteers.
● Ensure shelters are clean and welcoming, and comply with health and safety standards.
● Update program policies, guidance, care standards, shelter rules, procedures, etc.
● Ensure programs comply with funder requirements.
● Oversee the accurate, complete, and timely collection and entry of program data.
● Maintain program records and create monitoring reports for internal and external use.
● Provide program data for government and private grant applications and reports.
STAFF AND VOLUNTEER ENGAGEMENT
● Ensure shelters are fully staffed at all times through robust recruitment, hiring, onboarding, training, and retention efforts.
● Conduct weekly individual supervision meetings with direct reports. Create priorities, development goals, and work plans; observe staff, provide feedback, coaching, and technical assistance.
● Foster direct reports’ leadership growth; evaluate performance annually.
● Ensure supervisors set all staff and volunteers up for success through clear roles, at least bi-weekly 1:1 supervision, regular feedback, coaching, training, and support.
● Ensure that all staff have development goals and that skills are assessed regularly.
● Address employee relations, concerns, and/or grievances.
● Grow volunteer participation in Groundworks’ shelters and housing programs.
TEAM AND CULTURE BUILDING
● Create an exceptional workplace and a team culture of collaboration, ownership, and leadership that attracts, fully engages, and retains staff members and volunteers.
● Uphold, model, and maintain Groundworks’ values. Foster dedication to Groundworks’ service mission and a culture of understanding, compassion, and positive regard for clients.
● Ensure shelter team members embrace diversity, equity, and inclusion.
● Enable staff and volunteer skill-building and understanding of anti-racist and anti-oppression frameworks, and the root causes of poverty.
● Convene or ensure Shelter Coordinators plan and facilitate regular, participatory team meetings that promote teamwork, ownership, and collaborative problem-solving.
● Train staff in skillfully managing/de-escalating crisis situations, and in nonjudgmental and compassionate approaches to working with people in vulnerable situations.
● Ensure staff understand Groundworks’ goals, priorities, budget, and financial status.
● Model accountability in relation to individual, programmatic, and organizational goals.
● Embody an intentional culture of wellness and help shape wellness efforts for all Groundworkers.
CLIENT SUPPORT
● Interact regularly with clients and build positive relationships.
● Develop and maintain capacity for staff providing direct services to clients experiencing a crisis.
● Manage and participate in On-Call services, including evenings, weekends, and holidays (minimum of 7 days per month).
● Review all event reports and ensure timely debriefing and follow-through with involved staff, clients, and relevant team(s).
AGENCY-WIDE LEADERSHIP
● Serve on the Executive Leadership Team; provide agency-wide strategic leadership, problem-solving, planning, coordination, and communication.
● Model and uphold Groundworks’ values, policies, and procedures; foster a great workplace.
COMMUNITY RELATIONS & COLLABORATIONS
● Promote community awareness of Groundworks’ shelters, housing programs, and other services.
● Represent Groundworks in the community, highlighting the needs of the people we serve.
● Cultivate community partnerships and collaborations with related service providers.
● Engage in community meetings, advocacy, and education around housing.
COMPETENCIES
● Excellent communication and interpersonal skills that inspire a dynamic team environment.
● Leads change and develops new systems using a creative and innovative lens.
● Outstanding people leadership and supervisory skills, including recruitment, onboarding, expectation and goal setting, feedback giving, and coaching.
● Delegates effectively, involves people in decisions that affect them, and builds effective teams.
● Manages complex operations and scheduling thoughtfully and strategically.
● Embraces continuous learning in leadership, operations, and program excellence.
● Highly organized, plans effectively, pays attention to details, and accuracy.
● Remains calm under pressure, and models effective stress management and self-care.
● Analyzes problems/issues, gathers data and information, and finds effective solutions.
● Exercises solid judgment and critical thinking.
● Knowledge of budget planning, program evaluation, and grants management.
● Balances the needs of clients as a whole with individual client needs, with a steadfast commitment to fairness, consistency, and consideration of individual circumstances.
● Exhibits empathy while maintaining professional boundaries.
● Personal commitment to social justice, anti-racism, and equity.
● Understands trauma-informed care and program design.
● Understands complex challenges associated with poverty, addiction, and mental health.
● Knowledge of area resources and systemic barriers; effectively navigates services.
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
● Five or more years of senior nonprofit administrative, homeless services, or housing experience
● Significant experience in supervising staff, team building, and creating a great workplace
● Experience working with substance use, mental illness, and individuals with trauma histories
● Track record in evaluating, enhancing, and managing programs, systems building, planning, budgeting, and grants and data management
● Significant experience working with low-income and diverse populations
● Experience in training and enhancing staff and volunteers’ skills in crisis intervention and a range of issues relating to mental health, substance use, and homelessness
● Lived experience with poverty and/or housing or food insecurity
● Strong knowledge of community resources and experience in community engagement and navigating services
● Passion for Groundworks’ mission, philosophy, and nonjudgmental, compassionate approach
