Project Coordinator

The Project Coordinator (PC) is a team member in the Mental Health Services & Policy Program (MHSPP) and provides support for the Illinois Department of Children & Family Services Office of Delinquency Prevention and Restorative Justice (ODPRJ). Reporting audiences include DCFS front line staff, executive leadership, contracted agency providers, as well as other stakeholders. The program coordinator is responsible for coordinating report development and research questions for analysis, as well as working with MHSPP data analysts to ensure timely and accurate delivery of all contract deliverables and progress reports. The candidate is also responsible for reviewing, analyzing, and preparing data reports for distribution and assisting relevant audiences with data interpretation and decision-making implications. The PC oversees several ODPRJ programs and participates in relevant meetings with program staff as well as performing annual contract monitoring visit and subsequent reporting each fiscal year. The PC represents the Department in meetings with other agency stakeholders and seeks opportunities for collaboration and process improvements for youth in care. May co-author scientific papers for presentation & publication & coordinates writing, submission & administration of grants.

Areas of responsibility:

• Administration
• Communications
• Evaluation
• Outreach
• Program Development
• Regulatory Compliance
• Strategic Planning

Specific Responsibilities:

Administration:

• Ensures that program/project mission, values, guidelines, policies & procedures are implemented & maintained.
• Manages design and development of program databases; compiles & analyzes data; prepares reports.
• Reviews processes and recommends changes to incorporate state-of-the-art technology as appropriate into administrative, recruitment, marketing, and educational components.
• Identifies service improvement opportunities that will better enable program/project to achieve its goals and objectives.
• Acts as liaison to IT to ensure technology systems are properly installed & maintained.
• Research and assemble information related to cross-over youth, human trafficking, mentoring, community resources, and other areas as needed and related to the child welfare system
• Log and track objectives, task, responsibilities, target dates, and benchmarks for projects related to cross-over youth, human trafficking, shelter/ emergency foster care, and mentoring projects
• Read contracts and program plans to evaluate the need, outcomes, and cost with the ability to work with providers to revise and enhance contracts and program plans if necessary.

Communication, Outreach & Recruitment:

• Strengthens partnerships with external resources by defining, promoting and marketing benefits of participation and involvement to the organization.
• Creates and nurtures relationships with organizations to develop a network of enthusiastic organizations engaged via active participation in the success of program/project.

Evaluation:

• Observes program sessions and interacts with participants for purpose of gaining consumer insight, growing and strengthening program knowledge, and optimizing client satisfaction.
• Coordinates the collection, analysis & reporting of required information for surveys, review documents, public information documents, etc.
• Analyzes evaluation data from instructors, students, participants, etc. to assist in program/project development and updates.
• Prepare records, reports, and manuals including compiling, entering, aggregating, and synthesizing data as needed.

Events:

• Coordinates programming, educational, student, alumni, workshops, meetings, etc. including speakers, agendas, etc.
• Develops plans and arranges meetings, workshops, events, etc. designed to exchange information, promote research objectives, and to build internal and external relationships within NU.
• Ensures that event details including communication, venues, presenters, travel arrangements, materials, refreshments and technology are arranged and completed in an appropriate and timely manner.
• Work as part of team and/ or take the lead in coordinating and planning activities and meetings on behalf of the Associate Deputy Director of Delinquency Prevention and Restorative Justice.

Program Development:

• Manages program/project curriculum, seminars, presentations, workshops, learning experiences, chat rooms, websites, social networking, etc. based on goals/objectives.
• Manages academic quality and continued growth and expansion.
• Identifies & obtains external expertise as needed and works with content experts for current and new programs.
• Reviews programs/projects to increase efficiencies to support growth.
• Leads program/project updates and improvements.

Regulatory Compliance:

• Ensures compliance with all necessary organizations.
• Prepares documentation as required.

Strategic Planning:

• Administers & maintains existing strategic plans.
• Participates with area/unit senior staff in the conceptualization, development and presentation of materials used in functional operations.

Miscellaneous:

• Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

• NU's IRB CITI training before interacting with any participants & must re-certify every 3 years

Minimum Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities.)

• Ability to create and facilitate cross-trainings, presentations, focus and process groups
• Ability to effectively use all MS office programs, particularly in areas of excel and creating multi-functional databases
• Ability to perform highly detailed work on multiple, concurrent tasks with constant interruptions and work under changing deadlines
• Ability to use tact, discretion, and courtesy in dealing with clients, the public, and others encountered in the course of work
• Ability to travel as needed
• Handling confidential and non-routine information
• Reading and interpreting policies, procedures, rules, legislation, and public acts
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, particularly with outlining the steps (from A-Z) to fully execute a project.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Supervisory or project management experience.
• Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice, Public Policy and Administration, Social Work, Human Development, Social Policy, information Design and Strategy, or Learning and Organizational Change, or Related Field.

Preferred Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities)

• Experience in youth development, mentoring, trauma-informed care, child welfare, and/ or law enforcement training is ideal.
• Experience in government affairs is a plus.