Shelter Director

Degage Ministries; Grand Rapids (MI); On-site; USD 70,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Disability insurance

Paid vacation

Job summary

Dégagé Ministries seeks a Shelter Director to lead its Emergency Shelter and Case Management programs in Grand Rapids. You will report to the Senior Director of Programs and supervise three managers, ensuring compassionate, compliant operations and strong outcomes for women experiencing homelessness.

The role emphasizes Restorative Practices, data-driven improvement, and collaboration with community partners. Regular hours with after-hours availability are expected as needed.

Qualifications

• Commitment to Christ and inner-city ministry service.
• Emotional maturity, resilience, and accountability.
• Strong leadership, delegation, organization, and prioritization skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication and collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop staff: supervise three Emergency Shelter Managers, Third Shift Supervisor, and Case Management Manager.
• Oversee operations across Emergency Shelter, Case Management, and Wellness/Rest Center.
• Improve housing stability, wellness, and outcomes through case conferencing.
• Foster a healthy team culture using Restorative Practices.
• Ensure compliance with government, funder requirements and SOPs.
• Monitor client records in HMIS and Mission Tracker; produce reports.
• Develop and maintain program budgets; steward resources.
• Build relationships with community partners and service providers.
• Support strategic planning and annual program evaluation.
• Assist with after-hours emergencies and staffing coverage.
• Recruit, develop, and retain mission-focused staff.

Skills

Leadership

Staff development

Program management

Data analysis

Policy compliance

Communication

Team collaboration

Restorative Practices

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s in organizational leadership or related field

Five+ years leadership experience

Experience in emergency shelter or homelessness services

Tools

MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)

HMIS

Mission Tracker

Job description

Salary: $70,000–$80,000 annually, depending on experience

Are you a compassionate, resilient leader who is passionate about serving others and making a meaningful difference in your community? Dégagé Ministries is seeking a Shelter Director to lead our Emergency Shelter and Case Management programs, including our Wellness and Rest Center, as we serve women experiencing homelessness in Grand Rapids.

• This is an opportunity for a mission-driven leader who can bring calm to chaos, build strong teams, develop effective programs, and create an environment where both staff and guests are treated with dignity, respect, and compassion.

At Dégagé Ministries, our mission is to reflect the love of Christ to all who come through our doors by building relationships and offering programs that foster dignity and respect.

Our vision is to be a community that overcomes obstacles, celebrates transformation, and realizes the full potential of all as children of God.

Our work is grounded in five core values:

• Celebrate the Divine Spark: See beyond behaviors and treat every person with dignity and respect.
• Make Order out of Chaos: Remain calm, flexible, and innovative in a challenging emergency setting.
• Do What You Say and Say What You Need: Build trust through accountability, communication, and follow-through.
• Embrace Learning: Welcome feedback, learn from mistakes, and continually grow.
• Walk With Others: Set clear expectations, provide support, and hold others accountable with both kindness and firmness.

About the role

The Shelter Director provides strategic and operational leadership for Dégagé’s Emergency Shelter and Case Management programs. Reporting to the Senior Director of Programs, this position ensures that programming aligns with our mission, meets the needs of women experiencing homelessness, follows established policies and procedures, and achieves meaningful outcomes.

The ideal candidate is an emotionally mature, collaborative leader who can balance compassion with accountability, support staff through challenging situations, and continually strengthen program quality and effectiveness.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and develop staff: Supervise and support three Emergency Shelter Managers, the Third Shift Supervisor, and the Case Management Manager. Establish clear expectations, conduct weekly one-on-one meetings, and provide timely, constructive feedback.
• Oversee program operations: Ensure safe, effective, and consistent operations across Emergency Shelter, Case Management, and the Wellness and Rest Center.
• Strengthen client outcomes: Collaborate with staff through case conferencing to improve housing stability, wellness, and other outcomes for shelter clients.
• Build a healthy team culture: Use a Restorative Practices approach to foster trust, empowerment, professional growth, and accountability.
• Ensure compliance and quality: Maintain compliance with government and funder requirements and ensure standard operating procedures meet organizational, local, state, and federal expectations.
• Monitor data and outcomes: Maintain accurate client records in HMIS and Mission Tracker, analyze program data, and prepare weekly and monthly reports.
• Manage budgets and resources: Develop and maintain program budgets and support responsible stewardship of organizational resources.
• Collaborate with community partners: Build and maintain relationships with community organizations and service providers, including the Continuum of Care, Catherine’s Health Center, and Network180.
• Support strategic planning: Work with the Leadership Team and Senior Director of Programs to implement strategic priorities, evaluate programs quarterly and annually, and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Support emergency response: Be available after hours to assist managers with urgent situations, ensure staffing coverage, and respond to building emergencies as needed.
• Recruit and retain talent: Partner with organizational leadership to recruit, develop, and retain a skilled, mission-focused team.

Qualifications

The successful candidate will demonstrate:

• A strong commitment to Christ and to serving Christ through word and deed in an inner-city ministry setting.
• Emotional maturity, resilience, compassion, and patience when working in a high-pressure environment.
• Strong leadership, delegation, organization, and prioritization skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication and collaboration skills.
• Experience leading, encouraging, motivating, and holding people accountable across diverse backgrounds and experiences.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, including collecting and interpreting data.
• A Restorative Practices approach to leadership and conflict resolution.
• Attention to detail and proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, as well as client database systems.
• The ability to adapt to change and manage multiple projects simultaneously.

Preferred qualifications include:

• A bachelor’s or master’s degree in organizational leadership, human services, or a related field.
• Five or more years of leadership experience.
• Experience in emergency shelter, homelessness services, case management, or a related human services setting.

Candidates must be able to work flexible hours as needed, respond to after-hours emergencies by phone and occasionally in person, cover occasional on-call weekends, and provide shift coverage when necessary. The position also requires the ability to lift up to 50 pounds.

Schedule and Compensation

• Regular Schedule: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
• Salary Range: $70,000–$80,000 annually, depending on experience
• Benefits: Health benefits, disability insurance, and paid vacation
• Reports To: Senior Director of Programs

Join our Mission

At Dégagé Ministries, leadership is about more than managing programs. It is about building relationships, equipping people, creating stability in the midst of chaos, and helping others recognize their worth and potential.

If you are a thoughtful, mission-driven leader who is ready to make a lasting impact in the lives of women experiencing homelessness, we invite you to explore this opportunity with us.

Help us build a team and a community where dignity, transformation, and hope can flourish.

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