POSITION SUMMARY
The Program Manager is the operational hub of Street Samaritans’ CTA Innovation Crisis Intervention Pilot. This role is responsible for keeping the program running — managing day-to-day operations, ensuring grant compliance, coordinating across partners, and providing the administrative and logistical infrastructure that allows the clinical team to focus on the people they serve.
The Program Manager supervises two Clinical Team Leads and serves as the primary point of contact for subrecipient partners (WOVEN Clinics, IHDD, Mile Square Health Center) and CTA. This is not a clinical supervision role — clinical oversight belongs to the Clinical Team Leads and, where needed, the telepsychiatry team. The PM’s value lies in operational excellence: clear systems, tight documentation, proactive problem-solving, and the organizational credibility to hold a complex multi-partner program together.
This position is funded through the CTA Innovation Crisis Intervention Pilot, a one year pilot program. While Street Samaritans is committed to the pilot's success and will pursue continuation funding, employment beyond the initial one year period is not guaranteed and will depend on the availability of future funding. This is a hybrid position, that includes work in the CTA Blue Line: Forest Park-Austin.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
Program Operations:
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Oversee day-to-day operations of the CTA crisis outreach program, ensuring staffing coverage, equipment readiness, and field logistics are consistently maintained.
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Maintain and refine program workflows, including the rider report dispatch process, encounter documentation protocols, and referral pathways to WOVEN, MSHC, and community partners.
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Coordinate staff scheduling, travel reimbursements, training logistics, and required certification tracking across the outreach team.
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Serve as the primary liaison to CTA, managing communication, site access, signage coordination, and any operational issues that arise along the corridor.
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Facilitate regular team meetings and cross-partner coordination calls, ensuring alignment across Street Samaritans, WOVEN, IHDD, and MSHC.
Grant Compliance and Reporting:
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Monitor program expenditures against the approved budget and flag variances to the Executive Director in a timely manner.
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Review and process monthly subrecipient invoices from WOVEN, IHDD, and MSHC, verifying supporting documentation before submission for reimbursement.
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Prepare and submit draw requests to the funding source in accordance with the reimbursement schedule.
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Compile program data and narrative for required funder and CTA reporting, drawing on encounter logs, IHDD tracking systems, and partner reports.
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Maintain organized grant files, subrecipient agreement documentation, and compliance records in accordance with 2 CFR Part 200 and Street Samaritans’ internal policies.
Staff Supervision and Support:
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Provide regular supervision to two Clinical Team Leads, focusing on operational performance, workload management, and professional development.
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Coordinate onboarding for new staff, including training schedules, credentialing, system access, and equipment setup.
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Monitor staff training compliance and certification renewals, including CPI, ASIST, MHFA, and mandatory reporter requirements.
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Escalate staffing concerns, personnel issues, or capacity gaps to the Executive Director as needed.
Data and Systems:
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Serve as the program’s primary point of contact with IHDD for the rider reporting and encounter tracking system, surfacing operational issues and coordinating iterations.
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Ensure accurate and timely documentation across all program systems, including the IHDD database, HMIS (where applicable), and internal grant tracking tools.
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Contribute to program evaluation by compiling encounter data, referral outcomes, and partner performance metrics on a regular basis.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
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Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Public Health, Nonprofit Management, Psychology, or a related field; Master’s degree preferred.
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Minimum 3 years of program management or coordinator experience in a nonprofit, social services, or public health setting.
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Demonstrated experience managing grant-funded programs, including budget monitoring, compliance documentation, and funder reporting.
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Strong organizational and project management skills; ability to manage multiple workstreams simultaneously without dropping the ball.
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Experience working in or coordinating services for populations experiencing homelessness, mental illness, or substance use disorders.
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Proficiency in Google Workspace, Microsoft Office, and data management tools; comfort learning new platforms quickly.
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Strong written and verbal communication skills; ability to represent Street Samaritans professionally with external partners and funders.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
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Experience managing subrecipient or subcontractor relationships under federal or city grant awards.
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Familiarity with 2 CFR Part 200 Uniform Guidance and reimbursement-based grant administration.
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Knowledge of Chicago’s homelessness services landscape, Continuum of Care, and Coordinated Entry System.
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Experience with HMIS or similar case management and reporting systems.
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Bilingual English/Spanish a plus.
REQUIRED TRAINING:
The following are required within 90 days of hire. All costs covered by Street Samaritans.
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DCFS Mandated Reporter Training (Illinois).
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HIPAA and 42 CFR Part 2 confidentiality training.
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Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) — Adult.
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CPI Nonviolent Crisis Intervention.
About Street Samaritans:
Street Samaritans is a 501(c)3 grassroots nonprofit that provides direct support and resources for transition for Chicago’s Homeless population through human connection, technology and partnerships. Learn more at www.streetsamaritans.org
