Assistant Director-Program Support

Gateway Special Recreation Association; Elmhurst (IL); On-site; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Benefits including medical, dental, or

PTO and retirement plan

Job summary

Ray Graham Association is seeking an Assistant Director of Program Supports to lead and oversee the Community Living Resources program across CLR locations in DuPage County. The role focuses on coaching Residential Coordinators, Supervisors, and DSPs to deliver high-quality, person-centered supports with strong regulatory compliance.

You will drive staff development, onboarding, and ongoing supervision while promoting accountability, collaboration, and family-centered outcomes in a dynamic,

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience.
• Valid Driver's License.
• Completion of CANTS, LEADS, HCWR, and State Police checks.
• Bilingual - Preferred.
• Previous Direct Support experience with people with IDD.
• 1-3 years of supervisor experience (3-5 years preferred).
• QIDP experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Maintain oversight of program compliance, safety, and quality of care, addressing performance concerns proactively.
• Design and oversee training and development initiatives, including OJT.
• Lead ongoing supervision meetings with RCs and RSs, providing feedback and building performance plans.
• Foster accountability, collaboration, and high performance across CLR teams.
• Engage with people supported and families to ensure individualized supports.
• Build partnerships with external stakeholders to support inclusion and safety.

Skills

Leadership

Accountability

Communication

Independence

Team collaboration

Flexibility

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience

Valid Driver's License

CANTS/LEADS/HCWR checks

Bilingual - Preferred

QIDP experience preferred

Job description

Description

About Ray Graham Association

Ray Graham Association (RGA) empowers people with disabilities to reach, grow, and achieve by providing compassionate, person-centered services that foster independence and inclusion. Our team is committed to upholding our mission through collaboration, respect, and accountability in everything we do.

The Assistant Director of Program Supports (ADPS) ensures the consistent delivery of high-quality, person-centered services to people supported within the Community Living Resources (CLR) program. This position provides strong, compassionate leadership through coaching, mentoring, and direct supervision of a team of Residential Coordinators (RC), Residential Supervisors (RS), and over 100 Direct Support Professionals (DSPs).

The ADPS ensures that all program locations meet or exceed regulatory standards set by DHS, HCBS, DCFS, IDPH, BQM, CQL, and other governing bodies. This role partners closely with the Senior Director and other Assistant Directors to ensure consistent systems implementation, effective staff training, operational efficiency, and adherence to RGA's mission and values.

This is a highly visible leadership position requiring initiative, flexibility, and a commitment to quality, safety, and person-centered practices.

Status: Full-Time, On-Call

Schedule: Generally daytime hours Monday-Friday, with a minimum of one evening per week and two weekend days per month. This position requires travel to various CLR locations within DuPage County and flexibility based on operational needs.

Benefits:

• Benefits include medical, dental, vision, paid time off (PTO), retirement plan, mileage reimbursement, and professional development opportunities.

Ray Graham Association is a drug-free workplace. All employees may be subject to random drug testing in accordance with organizational policy, state and federal regulations.

Requirements

Leadership & Accountability

• Ensure that all Residential Coordinators, Residential Supervisors, and DSPs understand and uphold the organization's mission, values, and compliance standards.
• Work collaboratively with other ADPS leaders to ensure consistent implementation of policies, procedures, and systems.
• Maintain oversight of program compliance, safety, and quality of care, addressing performance or compliance concerns proactively.
• Design and oversee training and development initiatives, including On-the-Job Training (OJT), to strengthen staff competence and confidence.
• Maintain a visible leadership presence across CLR homes to model best practices, assess program quality, and support team members.
• Conduct regular supervision meetings with RC and RS, providing feedback, setting goals, and managing performance improvement as needed.

Team Development & Communication

• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and high performance across all levels of the CLR team.
• Actively mentor supervisors and facilitate open communication channels between leadership, team members, and families.
• Promote continuous learning, team development, and problem-solving to achieve positive outcomes.
• Collaborate with other RGA departments to ensure alignment with organizational goals, strategic priorities, and seamless service delivery.

Advocacy & Person-Centered Support

• Lead onboarding and integration for new hires, ensuring clarity of role expectations and adherence to person-centered principles.
• Engage with people supported, their families, and team members to ensure individualized, responsive, and empowering supports.
• Model and reinforce the "Nothing for us without us" approach, ensuring that the person supported is at the center of all decisions.
• Promote ongoing staff education in person-centered practices, safety, and quality standards.

Community Partnerships & Compliance

• Build and maintain relationships with external partners, families, and community organizations to support inclusion, safety, and personal growth.
• Ensure all program locations maintain compliance with CMS, BALC, BQM, OIG, DCFS, CQL, and HCBS standards.
• Enforce consistent policy and procedure implementation to meet or exceed all regulatory requirements.

Key Attributes

• Strong leadership and accountability skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal abilities.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively.
• Commitment to RGA's mission of empowering people with disabilities to reach, grow, and achieve.
• Flexible and proactive in a dynamic, person-centered environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience.
• Valid Driver's License
• Completion of CANTS, LEADS, HCWR, And State Police checks
• Bilingual- Preferred
• Previous Direct Support job experience with people with Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities
• 1-3 years of supervisor experience (3-5 years preferred)
• QIDP experience preferred.