Program Coordinator

• Non-local: 0% except once a year for approximately 3-4 days for LIFT’s annual All Staff Retreat in one of its regional cities (no non-local travel if retreat is in home city)
• Local In-Person External Meetings: 5%

LIFT is on a mission to break the cycle of poverty by investing in parents. Through direct work with families, engaging technical assistance partnerships, and by advocating for policies that drive systemic change, we’re fighting poverty by lifting two generations at once. 

Our team culture is rooted in deep respect for the parents we partner with and for each other. We’re looking for dedicated team members who share our vision that, 25 years from now, LIFT is no longer needed because we have helped build a social service system grounded in Hope, Money, and Love, where all families can thrive. We’re guided by mission- and strategy-aligned leadership grounded in kindness, curiosity, relationships, and a commitment to equity. Explore our benefits and what it’s like to work at LIFT below – or visit our Benefits & Culture Overview to learn more. 

The Program Coordinator plays a vital role in ensuring the smooth operation of the LIFT regional office and providing essential support to the regional program team. As the first point of contact for parents enrolling in LIFT’s programs, this highly organized and detail-oriented multitasker is responsible for managing existing operational systems and enhancing them as needed. The coordinator will coach a caseload of members in our direct service program and support with program and office operations,  ensuring the team has the resources required to deliver high-quality work across all departments. 

1. Coach members in our direct service program
2. Support general program operations
3. Support with general office operations

Direct Service Coaching:

• Create a warm, inclusive, and welcoming environment for members and their families 
• Build trusted coaching relationships with 26–32 parents/caregivers 
• Guide members through economic mobility goal setting, action planning, and progress monitoring
• Meet monthly and conduct in between meeting touchpoints
• Conduct follow-up research to support members' goals 
• Connect members with relevant community resources and services 
• Help recruit and retain members through outreach and regular communication 
• Participate in regular team and All-Staff meetings 
• Provide valuable input to improve LIFT’s coaching model, technical assistance, and policy work in support of ongoing service innovation
• Provide thought partnership and support for the execution of alumni programming 
• Maintain accurate records and ensure member confidentiality 
• Support one-time member needs or projects as needed

Program Operations: 

• Manage all screening and intake processes
• Support all member resource partnerships like Share Our Spare, Chicago Furniture Bank, etc.
• Handle all program communications, including monitoring the daily text platform for member messages, coordinating text blasts, checking and responding to voicemails, and managing the general inquiry email inbox
• Serve as LIFT Chicago’s first point of contact for parents, welcoming them in-person or via phone/text communications
• Assess and manage all front desk needs, including responding to incoming calls, voicemails, and email inquiries
• Process incoming new member interest forms and coordinate recruitment cycles, including scheduling intakes
• Attend all member events and assist Program Manager, Parent & Community Engagement with event logistics
• Track and report in-kind donations, including cash and non-cash

Office Operations: 

• Manage office responsibilities, including helping staff, guests, and coaches navigate office technology (hot desks, reserving conference rooms, etc., liaising with IT as needed), checking mail, watering plants, organizing team “power hours” to maintain the cleanliness of shared spaces
• Maintain and organize the Care Closet, and resource materials, including printed items and bulletin boards
• Support with restocking refreshments and managing the office supplies/snacks budget 
• Serve as regional safety officer, ensuring compliance with all building and organizational mandated safety protocols, and keeping staff up to date as needed

• Has an Associate’s degree or equivalent work experience
• Has 2+ years administrative and/or operations experience; experience working or volunteering with low-income communities is a plus
• Has work experience in the City of Chicago preferred
• Is highly organized with excellent time management skills
• Has proven ability to apply sound judgment to meet deadlines on multiple tasks or projects despite frequent interruptions
• Has a knack for devising creative solutions to any problem
• Coordinates multiple workstreams with strong ability to prioritize items effectively
• Is customer-oriented and approaches every situation with a spirit of generosity
• Demonstrates good judgement and discretion
• Is an experienced user of MS Office (Word, Outlook, and Excel specifically); Canva is a plus
• Is committed to LIFT’s mission and demonstrates LIFT’s values: We let brilliance shine; We root change in learning; We build deep relationships; We strive for social justice; We create thriving environments.

All LIFT employees embrace and demonstrate our organization-wide core competencies:

• Communication: You share information with relevant parties in a clear and timely manner; effectively engage with and present to others; and write and verbally communicate in a manner that conveys understanding of relevant information and issues.
• Accountability: You take responsibility for the quality and timeliness of work and achieve results with appropriate levels of oversight. You receive feedback in a constructive manner.
• Inclusiveness: You help create a work environment that appreciates diversity and encourages equity by treating others with respect, listening to, and demonstrating appreciation for others’ perspectives, and using culturally sensitive language.
• Teamwork: You work effectively with others throughout the organization and promote cooperation and commitment within your team to achieve goals and deliverables.
• Results-orientation: You focus on results and desired outcomes, keeping team and organizational goals in mind. You use sound planning to achieve goals and get the job done.
• Problem-solving: You take the initiative to solve problems. You exhibit resourcefulness, innovation, and adaptability to new situations.

Don’t think you have everything for this role but are still interested? Please don’t hesitate to apply. We’d love to hear from you! LIFT is an equal opportunity employer and believes that diversity in all dimensions of the organization supports and bolsters the innovative thinking essential to its success and is committed to providing equal employment opportunity to all qualified applicants. LIFT’s goal is for our people to reflect the communities in which we live and serve and to ensure representation of people of color, those who identify as women, veterans, and individuals with disabilities in our organization.