Program Specialist: Jobs Plus

Chicago Housing Authority; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 60,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) / pension match

Hybrid work option

Paid time off

Job summary

Chicago Housing Authority is seeking a Program Specialist – Jobs Plus at Wentworth Gardens to operate the Jobs Plus initiative on-site, ensuring quality, compliance, and efficient service delivery.

The role requires coordinating with contractors, residents, and CHA leadership, delivering training, and preparing performance reports while maintaining HUD standards; remote work is possible one day per week after a 90-day probation.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required in human services, social work, public or business administration, or related field.
• 1–2 years’ experience with workforce programs.
• On-site work required with valid Driver's License.

Responsibilities

• Serve as primary on-site contact for Jobs Plus at Wentworth Gardens.
• Coordinate with contractors, residents, and stakeholders to ensure program operations.
• Monitor contractor performance and HUD compliance.
• Deliver training and technical assistance on CHA policies and data systems.
• Prepare program reports and performance dashboards for leadership.
• Conduct QA reviews of data in the system of records.

Skills

MS Office

Data analysis

Verbal communication

Written communication

Interpersonal skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in human services, social work, public or business administration or related field

Tools

Excel

Word

PowerPoint

Job description

POSITION SUMMARY

The Program Specialist – Jobs Plus serves as the primary on‑site point of contact for the Jobs Plus initiative at Wentworth Gardens, representing CHA and the contracted workforce development agency. The role is responsible for ensuring that all Jobs Plus program operations, partnerships, and services are delivered with the highest levels of quality, compliance, and efficiency.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Serves as the primary on-site contact Wentworth Garden, overseeing daily program operations and coordinating directly with contractors (EES and PPM), residents, and stakeholders.
  • Provides continuous monitoring of contractor performance, ensuring adherence to Jobs Plus priorities, metrics, and HUD requirements.
  • Conducts quality assurance reviews of all data entered into the system of records to maintain accuracy, compliance, and reporting integrity.
  • Ensures all program reports are submitted accurately and on time, a critical compliance function for Jobs Plus funding and HUD oversight.
  • Delivers training and technical assistance to contractors on CHA policies, workforce strategy, procedures, forms, and data systems, ensuring consistent program implementation.
  • Provides real time troubleshooting and solution recommendations to contractors and CHA leadership, preventing service disruptions and addressing programmatic issues quickly.
  • Creates presentations and communication materials that offer program insight and performance overview for stakeholders and leadership.
  • Works collaboratively across internal departments, external partners, and residents to ensure alignment with organizational priorities and program standards. Coordinate with CHA’s Economic Power Programs, including but not limited to HOME, LeveUp, and Youth Opportunities.
  • Facilitates contractor meetings and supports workforce development gatherings to reinforce program rules, metrics, and operational procedures.
  • Attends activities and events created by the Jobs Plus team and provides directions and support to Jobs Plus contractor staff.
  • Attends workforce development meetings and ensures that established priorities, rules, metrics, and procedures for the Jobs Plus program are followed.
  • Directly delivers or creates venues for contractors to receive training regarding CHA policy, workforce strategy, procedure and forms, and data systems.
  • Provides technical assistance to assigned contractors related to meeting performance metrics, Jobs Plus Earned Income Disregard (JPEID), CHA policies, and other program requirements.
  • Manages multiple projects simultaneously and responds to change in a positive manner.
  • Create presentation to provide insight and overview of Jobs Plus program.
  • Complete quality assurance reviews of data entered into the system of record. This position requires working hours outside of CHA's established hours of 8:30am‑5:00pm, Monday – Friday.
  • Performs all other duties and projects assigned outside of job description. This position is eligible to remote work one (1) day per week following the 90-day probationary period.
  • This position is grant funded.

QUALIFICATIONS

This position requires a minimum of a Bachelor's Degree in human services, social work, Public or Business Administration or related field and 1‑2 years’ experience with workforce programs. The position requires familiarity with Microsoft Office Suite (e.g., Word, Power Point and Excel) and the ability to work extensively with spreadsheets and other sources of large amounts of data and internal data systems.Requires work on site with external partners and residents; a valid Driver's License is required. Must possess good verbal and written skills, excellent interpersonal communication, and customer relation skills, be energetic, focused, and able to handle and prioritize multiple tasks and meet deadlines.Public speaking, listening, and written communication skills are required.

BENEFITS AT-A-GLANCE

• Vacation, Sick and Personal, competitive PTO package
• Medical (HMO, PPO, and No employee cost High-Deductible PPO) Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance
• Short-Term and Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Long-Term Care Insurance
• Pet Insurance
• Parking Transit
• Prepaid Legal Services
• Brightstar 529 College Savings Plan
• Identity Theft Protection
• Hospital Indemnity Insurance
• Voluntary Critical Illness Insurance
• Deferred Compensation Plan: Empower 457/401(a) with a 3% employer match
• Pension Plan: CHA makes contributions on behalf of the employee, along with the employee's 3% contribution; 100% vesting occurs after 6 years of continuous employment or opt-out of CHA's Retirement Plan and continues to participate in the Municipal Employees Annuity and Benefit Fund of Chicago
• Hybrid work schedule (position specific) This position may be eligible for remote work following a successful completion of a 90-day probationary period according to CHA’s established policies and procedures.

Salary Range: $60,000 ‑ $65,000

Grade: S7

FLSA: Exempt

Union: None