The Equality Community Center (ECC) serves as a community hub and gathering place for folks within the LGBTQ+ and allied communities who are seeking support and connection. The Center, located at 15 Casco Street in downtown Portland, strives to provide a safe space that is purposefully multicultural, accessible, and welcoming. It is an exciting time in our growth as we will soon be opening our affordable senior housing living community for LGBTQ+ older adults and their allies.

The Program Director is a new position that will provide leadership for developing and implementing our social and educational programming efforts to best meet the needs of our diverse community in a holistic, wellness-centered approach. Based on findings in our recent strategic planning process, priority focus communities within Maines LGBTQ+ community include: youth, older adults and residents of Equality Commons, immigrants and asylum seekers, Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC), and people living with disabilities.

They will work in cooperation with Center staff, board and volunteers to ensure program effectiveness, cohesiveness and growth, while also developing collaborative relationships with ECC tenant organizations and other community partners to maximize the impact and reach of all Center programming. The Program Director will also represent the ECC when invited to support programming initiatives led by other organizations.

Additionally, the Program Director will develop support services for Center patrons who are experiencing crisis and/or encountering barriers to accessing community resources. By building and maintaining relationships with community service providers and agencies, the Director will assess needs, provide referrals, and when possible facilitate warm transfers to appropriate services in the community.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Program Development, Delivery, and Evaluation

• Assess current and future community needs, solicit input from stakeholders, and recommend population-specific and culturally relevant programs for development and implementation in alignment with the Centers mission and strategic priorities
• Develop and implement aging-positive and intergenerational programming for LGBTQ+ older adults, including residents of Equality Commons
• Develop and implement an after-school drop-in program for LGBTQ+ youth
• Ensure programmatic excellence by establishing benchmarks, timelines, and the resources needed to achieve strategic goals; set standards for accountability and measurements of success; analyze programmatic trends, identify issues, and proactively recommend changes or ending of programs as appropriate
• Develop and implement awareness and marketing strategies to expand program participation and authentic engagement with targeted populations
• Recruit, engage and support volunteers in any programming areas where involvement is possible, including the library and art gallery
• Explore collaborative partnerships with ECC tenant organizations and other community agencies whenever possible
• Coordinate community requests to partner with or use the Center for programming aligned with our mission and values
• Explore the creation of a LGBTQ+ cultural competency training for public agencies, business organizations, educational and healthcare institutions, and other nonprofit

Program Operations and Knowledge Management

• Work with the Executive Director to set an annual calendar of programs, services, and program events
• Maintain and build upon the systems and processes for recording program activities including facilitating data collection and analysis, sharing of knowledge, and collecting narrative success stories that demonstrate progress toward strategic program goals
• Seek opportunities for and draft program-based grant proposals in coordination with the development staff
• Draft program budgets and maintain fiscal controls within the scope of the Centers approved annual budget in coordination with the Operations Manager including oversight and management of scope of work for grant funded programs
• Ensure program compliance with all laws, regulations, organizational policies, and funding guidelines
• Assist…