The Senior Director of Programs (SDP) is a senior operational leader responsible for the effective implementation and oversight of ACE's program portfolio spanning education, youth development, workforce development, reentry, housing, violence intervention and prevention, and behavioral health. Working in close partnership with the Chief Program Officer (CPO), the SDP provides direct supervision to ACE's Program Directors, ensures contract compliance and program fidelity, and serves as the primary operational link between program-level work and organizational executive leadership. This role is critical to ACE's ability to deliver high-quality, compliant programming across all departments.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

Provide direct supervision to Program Directors, including regular one-on-ones, performance management, and professional development support.
Convene and facilitate regular coordination meetings with Program Directors, resolving cross-program logistical issues directly and escalating only decisions that require CPO judgment.
Foster a collaborative, high-performing program team culture and serve as the primary escalation point for Program Directors navigating operational or cross-departmental challenges.
Oversee implementation of all ACE programs to ensure fidelity to program models, grant requirements, contractual obligations, and regulatory requirements, including monitoring of workplans, timelines, and deliverables.
Review program funding proposals, contracts, and agreements for technical accuracy and compliance prior to CPO approval.
Ensure timely and accurate reporting to funders across all program areas.
Develop and implement corrective action plans when programs are out of compliance or significantly off-track, escalating to the CPO as appropriate.
Proactively identify and address implementation challenges, escalating to the CPO when organizational-level decisions are required.
Oversee program department budgets in partnership with Program Directors, including regular budget reviews, approval of expenditures above established thresholds, and timely escalation of variances or concerns to the CPO.
Establish and maintain internal data-collection standards across programs, ensuring consistent use of internal systems and proper integration with funder-mandated data platforms.
Partner with the Data Manager to monitor program performance, identify trends, and use data to drive quality and continuous improvement across programs.
Coordinate with HR, fiscal, and marketing to proactively address barriers that program departments encounter, escalating systemic issues to the CPO.
Contribute program content to grant proposals in collaboration with the CPO and Development Director, including scopes of work, proposed deliverables, and implementation timelines.
Prepare dashboards and briefing documents for the CPO's use in board meetings, funder meetings, and CEO check-ins.
Support organizational transformation and systems-integration projects led by the CPO, managing implementation timelines and staff communication.
Other duties as assigned by the CPO.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

Strong understanding of program implementation, contract compliance, and grant-funded program management.
Demonstrated ability to supervise and develop a team of program managers and directors.
Strong budget monitoring and fiscal oversight skills.
Excellent organizational and project management skills with ability to manage multiple priorities.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Solutions-oriented approach to problem-solving.
Commitment to ACE's mission and the communities it serves.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
Must be able to lift up to 15 pounds at times.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Bachelor's degree required; Master's degree in nonprofit management, public administration, social work, education, or related field preferred.
Minimum 5 years of progressive experience in program management within a nonprofit or public sector organization.
Minimum 2 years of direct supervisory experience managing professional-level staff.
Possess a current California Driver's License, clean DMV record & adequate auto insurance.
Must submit to a Department of Justice Criminal background check and a credit check.

Benefits:

Health, Vision, and Dental Insurance at no cost to you (starting after 60-90 days, dependent on start date- effective date is the next 1st of the month post 60 days of employment).
Retirement Plan with employer contributions at 2% of your annual salary.
$100,000 life insurance (at no cost to you).
Short and Long-Term Disability insurance (at no cost to you).
Vacation Leave Accrual: Employees accrue vacation based on length of service at ACE.
- First 2 years, employees accrue approximately 10 days (80 hours) annually.
- 2-4 years, accrual increases to approximately 15 days (120 hours) annually.
- At 5+ years, employees accrue approximately 20 days (160 hours) annually.
Up to 6 sick days a year (eligible to use after 60 days).
15 paid holidays (selected by ACE).

The anticipated pay for candidates who will work in California is $126,000 annually. The offered pay to a successful candidate will be dependent on several factors that may include but are not limited to years of experience within the job, years of experience within the required industry, education, etc.

Alliance for Community Empowerment provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. 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.

Alliance for Community Empowerment

Senior Director of Programs

About the Job