About the Role
Crisis Prevention Response Unit (CPRU): The CPRU is a team of nearly 30 street outreach staff from impacted communities throughout Chicago who receive specialized crisis response training and are deployed on a moment’s notice to crisis situations - most notably teen trends. The CPRU staff have credibility within their communities and seek to maintain or restore peace, and reduce violent victimization, and arrests through deescalation and conflict resolution. When not deployed or otherwise engaged with the CPRU, the front-line staff (who are employees of CVI organizations throughout the city) work in conjunction with their home organization’s street outreach department to strengthen neighborhood peacekeeping efforts. At this time, Institute for Nonviolence Chicago employs three CPRU staff – one in each of the three neighborhoods served (Austin, West Garfield Park and Back of the Yards).
Flat Lining Violence Inspires Peace (FLIP) Program: The FLIP Program uses a proven strategy to create a safe presence on Chicago's most highly impacted blocks. The model advances street outreach work by engaging high-risk individuals (program participants) who live in neighborhoods that are at a high risk for violence and provides them a daily stipend to be physically present on neighborhood “hotspots” as well as training to mediate and de-escalate conflict. Participants have credibility and influence with local street groups and are viewed as trusted insiders who are native to hot spots and community. This uniquely equips them to contribute to peace by engaging networks who engage in violence. Participants are also provided with support and resources for their own professional growth. At this time, Institute for Nonviolence Chicago provides the FLIP Program in each of the three neighborhoods served (Austin, West Garfield Park and Back of the Yards).
POSITION OVERVIEW: Reporting to the Associate Director of Outreach & Intervention, the manager is tasked with ensuring all program requirements of the FLIP Program are met in Austin, West Garfield Park and Back of the Yards. The manager will work closely with the outreach departments in each neighborhood as well as the finance department, data department and organizational leadership to continuously implement operational improvements, ensure compliance with grant requirements, and support positive participant outcomes. The manager will make sure program participants are provided with the necessary trainings to be able to de-escalate conflict in their communities while enrolled and the job readiness resources to support their personal professional growth upon completion of the program. This position will also supervise outreach staff serving the CPRU, who will support the FLIP Program when not otherwise engaged in CPRU duties.
The ideal candidate has deep knowledge of the Community Violence Intervention (CVI) field as well as current neighborhood dynamics. The manager must have experience supervising staff, be detail oriented, and be capable of implementing large-scale projects.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS/RESPONSIBILITIES:
Leadership & Administration
• Oversee CPRU street outreach staff, maintain accountability, complete annual performance evaluations, and issue corrective action, as needed
• Hold weekly one-on-one supervision meetings with each CPRU staff member, make sure staff attend required specialized CPRU trainings, and respond to deployments
• Work to establish high standards of professionalism amongst staff, promoting a culture of accountability, high ethical standards, and personal integrity
• Participate in regular meetings with leadership, collaborate on the implementation of the FLIP Program, and communicate daily with supervisor to ensure consistency across neighborhoods served by Institute for Nonviolence Chicago
• Attend monthly budget meetings, maintain active communication with the finance department, and constantly monitor FLIP and CPRU program budget spending
• Assist with pressing matters as they arise and perform other duties as required
Program Operations
• Lead a safety-focused culture. Oversee the management of safety protocols, demonstrate expertise in crisis prevention and de-escalation, and create a safe environment for participants and staff
• Oversee compliance with FLIP & CPRU grant requirements by working closely with the outreach departments as well as the finance department
• Oversee the day-to-day operations of the FLIP Program by working alongside street outreach in each neighborhood, such as (but not limited to):
• Ensure that participant sign-in sheets are reviewed, signed off, and submitted daily to support paying of participant stipends
• Review and approve requested expenses to support participants in line with internal purchasing process
• Implement trainings for participants that take safety/street dynamics into consideration, and support their personal and professional development, such as cognitive behavioral intervention (CBI), financial literacy, expungement, and job readiness skill building
• Regularly review program participant lists in all neighborhoods to make sure that participants maintain program eligibility and no program participant exceeds program enrollment time limit
• Oversee the administrative process of onboarding new participants to make sure participants meet program requirements and all paperwork is completed
• Support participants leaving the program moving into transitional job opportunities, work-readiness programs or permanent job placement
• Conduct regular analysis of hotspots to make sure they are in line with current violence trends
• Oversee the CPRU street outreach staff involvement in FLIP program operations, including:
• CPRU staff spends time visiting each hotspot continuously throughout daily shift
• CPRU staff completes necessary documentation following each hotspot patrol
• CPRU staff reports back on emerging conflicts/threats
• Oversee the Peacekeeper Housing Support Initiative in each neighborhood which supports program participants with financial rental assistance, including collecting all required documentation from program participants, communicating with partner organization(s) to make sure participants complete required trainings, and submitting required financial paperwork
• Collaborate with colleagues in data department to make sure outcomes are being tracked and grant deliverables are being communicated in regular reporting
• Continuously implement operational improvements to support positive participant outcomes
Requirements
· Bachelor’s degree in human services field (ie. sociology, social work, etc.) OR currently enrolled in a bachelor’s degree program
· At least two (2) years of experience supervising staff, preferably individuals with a history of justice system involvement
· At least five (5) years of experience in Community Violence Intervention (CVI) or related field
· Basic knowledge of the drivers of violence in Austin, West Garfield Park and Back of the Yards communities
· Excellent verbal communication skills, ability to communicate effectively in writing and demonstrated experience completing detail-oriented tasks
· Demonstrated commitment to professional development and to bettering yourself
· Ability to take initiative, work as a self-starter, and lead by example
· Possess an inclusive leadership style based in empathy, patience, equity, consistent support, accountability, and the ability to relate well to a variety of individuals and groups
· Ability and commitment to maintain high level of confidentiality
· Demonstrated experience serving as a problem-solver in a complex environment
· Willingness to learn and commit to the principles of nonviolence, restorative justice and trauma-informed practices
· No pending criminal cases or prior convictions for sexual assault, child abuse or domestic violence
· Valid Illinois driver’s license, insurance, and good driving record
· Access to a vehicle to be able to move between neighborhoods served by Institute for Nonviolence Chicago
Salary & Benefits
Compensation is commensurate with years of related experience, position requirements, and candidate qualifications. The average salary for the position is $60,000 and commensurate with experience.
Institute for Nonviolence Chicago puts our people first with a top-of-the-line benefits package.
Competitive benefits package available, including Health, Life, and 401K.
About Institute for Nonviolence Chicago
The Institute for Nonviolence Chicago’s mission is to end the cycle of gun violence in Chicago using Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s principles and teachings of nonviolence. Informed by a philosophy of nonviolence, Nonviolence Chicago will establish caring and sustained relationships with participants engaged in the cycle of violence. We will emphasize partnerships with community members, leaders, social service providers, and local law enforcement to reduce community levels of violence. We will help create a safer, healthier environment for young adults, youth, and their families. These general approaches will be specifically addressed using four major methods: Community Violence Intervention (CVI) / Street Outreach, Individualized Service Provision, Victim Support Services, and Nonviolence Training.
To apply, please send a cover letter along with your resume to hiring@nonviolencechicago.org.
Institute for Nonviolence Chicago -- EEO Statement
Institute for Nonviolence Chicago provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, the Institute for Nonviolence Chicago complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the organization has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.