Overview
Program Manager of Social Service Jobs in Chicago, IL at Fourth Presbyterian Church
Title: Program Manager of Social Service
Company: Fourth Presbyterian Church
Location: Chicago, IL
PROGRAM MANAGER- Chicago Lights Social Services Center
Job Description
June 2026
Classification: Exempt
Status: Regular, Full Time
Reports to: Program Director of Social Services
Program Description
The Chicago Lights Social Service Center connects with over 1,700 adults to encourage self-development, deep connections, and brighter futures through case management, enrichment programming, and food and clothing services.
Summary Description
The Program Manager supports the Program Director and Associate Director in ensuring coverage for all operational aspects of the Social Service Center drop-in program. The drop-in program runs Tuesday-Friday from 9:30-11:30 and involves the distribution of food and clothing items to approximately 160 participants a week. During the drop-in program, the Program Manager supports all aspects of programing including but not limited to checking in participants, monitoring service delivery, tending to participant concerns, de-escalating conflicts, and supporting volunteers.
The Program Manager will oversee all operations of the food pantry including but not limited to ordering food, managing food delivery days, restocking shelves, and ensuring that food safety protocols are strictly adhered to. The Program Manager will ensure that the food pantry and clothing closet spaces are organized and well-stocked with supplies necessary. Attention to detail and strong organizational skills are required.
Additionally, the Social Service Center has a rotating base of 30-50 regular volunteers who support programming operations. This position does not directly supervise staff, but it does provide day-to-day leadership and oversight to volunteers. The Program Manager is responsible for overseeing volunteer recruitment, orientation, training, and engagement for all programming activities. The Program Manager will get to know all volunteers and ensure that their dedication to the Social Service Center is acknowledged and celebrated. The Program Manager will ensure that volunteer shifts are appropriately staffed and that all new volunteers are provided with an orientation. The Program Manager will mediate all volunteer concerns that arise to ensure the needs of the program, and volunteers are met. Throughout the year, the Social Service Center also hosts corporate and non-profit volunteer groups. The Program Manager will work with volunteer groups to establish an agreed upon schedule and will lead all volunteer groups through a successful day of service.
The Social Service Center closely partners with several corporate partners to provide donations to the program. The Program Manager will work with all current partnerships to ensure positive working relationships/ordering deadlines and will research and recruit new program partners who are interested in supporting Social Service Center operations with material goods.
Primary Responsibilities
The Program Manager role will spend their time in the following ways: Programs Operations & Participant Services (40%), Food Pantry/Clothing Operations (25%), Volunteer Management (25%), and Partnerships & Resource Development (10%). The primary responsibilities for the Program Manager include but are not limited to:
· Supports all aspects of drop-in program operations Tuesday through Friday from 9:30-11:30 AM.
· Work with Program Director and Associate Director to de-escalate any incidents that take place during programming hours and complete timely documentation of any incident notes.
· Oversee all aspects of the food pantry including ordering food, unloading food delivery, organization of shelves, and adherence to food safety protocols.
· Serve as the primary contact for all individual and group volunteer experiences at the Social Service Center.
· Recruit, train, manage, and foster positive working relationships with all program volunteers. Ensure that all SSC programs are fully staffed with volunteers, and that volunteers have meaningful volunteer experiences.
· Manage the SSC volunteer recruitment account through posting volunteer positions and confirming, coordinating, and training all volunteers.
· Regularly research and engage in volunteer recruitment opportunities through the development of internal and external partnerships.
· Regularly research and engage in donor partnership opportunities that benefit Social Service Center programming with material goods.
· Oversee all current external partners and ensure that data, impact stories, and expressions of gratitude are completed on a regular basis and shared with social media teams.
· Attend all meetings as required.
· Perform other duties as assigned to support the mission and operations of the Social Service Center.
Schedule
· 40 hours per week; Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–4:00 PM. This position follows a hybrid schedule, with four days onsite and one rotating remote workday per week.
Robust Benefits Package
· Medical insurance (church pays 85% of employee monthly premium and 75% of eligible dependents)
· Optional dental and vision insurance plans
· Generous 17 days of PTO plus 11 paid holidays
· 403b retirement plan (employer contributions after one year of employment)
· FSA for unreimbursed medical and dependent daycare expenses
· Mass transit and commuter parking benefits
· Life and short-term disability insurance, optional life insurance, and long-term disability plan
Compensation
The salary range for this position is $51,000-$53,000 annually, based on experience and qualifications.
Qualifications
· Familiarity in working with people experiencing a variety of individual and systemic barriers including housing and income instability, mental health, and substance use issues.
· Bachelor’s degree in social work, human services, nonprofit management, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience in social services, community outreach, volunteer management, or nonprofit operations.
· Ability to lift 30 pounds and perform physical tasks associated with food pantry and clothing closet operations
- Ability to manage multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment.
- Experience using CRM software such as Salesforce, etc.
· Knowledge of social service agencies in Chicago.
· Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
· Salesforce database experience preferred; Microsoft Word and Excel required.
· Willingness to obtain ServSafe Certification ASAP
· Ability to multi-task and work on a diverse array of projects.
· Excellent interpersonal skills; ability to successfully relate to a diversity of individuals.
· Understanding of and commitment to providing trauma informed care with experience de-escalating conflicts
· Strong work ethic and judgment, apparent collaboration skills, and a commitment to Chicago Lights’ mission.
· Strong attention to detail and excellent organizational skills
· Commitment to racial equity and social justice: Recognize the role of race, income, age, immigration status, and other identities in shaping disparities, and work toward amplifying community voices to advocate for equity. Recognize how your own identities show up in the work, and welcome, reflect on, and act on feedback with an eye toward continuous learning about race, ability, and other lines of difference.
Physical Requirements and Work Environment
The physical demands and work environment described here are representative of those an
employee encounters while performing essential functions of this job. Reasonable
accommodation may be made to enable individuals with different abilities to perform essential.
functions.
• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Must be able to lift 15-25 pounds at times.
• Must be able to access and navigate each department at the organization’s facilities.
• If the current health conditions dictate, one must be able to participate in online virtual communications, including email, video conferencing, and other online tools used to facilitate virtual office culture and work sharing.
• Smoke- and drug (illegal or recreational)-free environment.
• Fourth Church/Chicago Lights aims for accessibility in any off-site location that we have control of, but some of them may not be fully accessible.
• This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, and
scanners. An employee is regularly required to communicate effectively via computer,
via phone, and in person.
Application Process
• Interested candidates should: (1) email their resume to [email protected].
EEO Statement
Fourth Presbyterian Church and Chicago Lights are committed to equal employment opportunity for all qualified persons, without regard to race, color, citizenship status, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, age, creed, physical or mental disability, marital status or familial status, veteran status, military status, source of income, political affiliation, or any other factor protected by law. Fourth Church and Chicago Lights seek to build and retain a diverse staff and is committed to fostering an equitable and inclusive workplace where everyone is treated as a respected and valued member of the team.
Fourth Church and Chicago Lights are committed to elevating the voices of individuals of all backgrounds, including but not limited to women and people of color, Native people, immigrants and refugees, low-income people, LGBTQ+, and transgender, gender non-conforming, and non-binary people, people with disabilities, and accordingly encourage qualified individuals from all communities to apply.
