Position Highlights

This is a full-time position requiring 4 onsite days and 1 flexible day per week
Location: Evanston, IL (Scholar houses) & Wilmette, IL (office)
Compensation: $75K-$85K annually (commensurate with experience)
Reports to the President
Great opportunity to make a lasting difference for youth and their families

Lead Transformational Impact for Young People
Hope Ignites Chicago is seeking a dynamic, mission-driven Program Director to lead our residential program and help first-generation scholars unlock their full potential.
This is more than a leadership role—it’s an opportunity to shape lives. You will guide a dedicated team, foster a nurturing and structured home environment, and ensure scholars graduate high school, persist to and through college, and become engaged alumni and leaders in their communities.

About the Role
Reporting to the President, the Program Director oversees all aspects of the residential program, including scholar development, staff leadership, operations, and external partnerships. This role is ideal for a strong people leader who thrives in a fast-paced environment and is passionate about youth development, education, and equity.

What You’ll Do
Lead Scholar Success

Champion the academic, personal, and social-emotional growth of scholars
Ensure a safe, structured, and supportive residential environment rooted in trauma-informed practices
Build strong, consistent relationships with scholars and serve as a visible leader

Drive Program Excellence

Oversee day-to-day residential operations, ensuring high-quality services and compliance with Hope Ignites Network Headquarters and DCFS standards
Manage scholar case records, data tracking, and reporting
Ensure effective systems for communication, scheduling, and accountability
Lead key program events and family engagement efforts

Build and Develop a High-Performing Team

Recruit, hire, and mentor residential staff
Provide ongoing coaching, training, and professional development
Create a positive, accountable team culture focused on excellence and growth
Manage performance, resolve conflicts, and support staff success

Strengthen Partnerships and Community Connections

Maintain strong relationships with families, partner schools, service providers, and community partners
Ensure compliance with licensing and network standards
Serve as liaison to the Program Committee and Governing Board
Support fundraising and donor engagement efforts

Support Recruitment & Admissions

Help build a strong pipeline of prospective scholars
Participate in candidate evaluation and admissions decisions
Ensure a smooth and effective onboarding process

Who You Are
You are a compassionate and strategic leader who combines strong operational skills with a deep commitment to youth development. You have high energy and can juggle multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously and effectively. You enjoy fast-paced environments and are passionate about college education as a key to success.

Required:

Master’s degree in social work or related field
5–10 years of experience working with youth, including 5+ years leading teams
Experience in residential or similar youth-serving environments strongly preferred
Valid driver’s license and access to a reliable vehicle
Must live reasonably close to Scholar homes in Evanston for quick access in case of Scholar emergency

You bring:

Strong leadership and team-building skills
Exceptional communication and relationship management abilities
Sound judgment in high-pressure situations
A deep commitment to equity, inclusion, and serving first-generation students
The ability to manage multiple priorities with precision and accountability

Why Join Hope Ignites Chicago?

Mission-driven work: Make a lasting difference in the lives of young people
Leadership opportunity: Shape program strategy and team culture
Collaborative environment: Work alongside passionate, committed colleagues
Growth-focused: Ongoing professional development and leadership support

Working Conditions

Full-time leadership role with some evening/weekend responsibilities
On-call availability for occasional emergencies
Participation in ongoing training and annual evaluations

If you’re ready to lead with purpose and create meaningful impact, we encourage you to apply.

How to Apply
Please submit your resume through the NextGroup website. The NextGroup search team will contact you regarding the next steps.

About Nextgroup
NextGroup is Chicagoland's leading executive search firm and nonprofit talent network connecting mission-driven organizations with exceptional leaders who drive impact. We customize talent solutions with our nonprofit partners, recruiting permanent, fractional, and interim professionals across executive leadership, finance, development, and operations.
We have a network of 10,000+ professionals in Chicagoland and beyond. We reject cookie-cutter approaches and instead partner with you to build human capital strategies that match your unique growth and capacity-building needs. NextGroup also provides career coaching and transition services to professionals advancing in the social impact sector.