Project Director

Position Summary:

Person in this position will be responsible for providing the overall leadership, supervision, and oversight for the Workforce Supports program. Project director serves as liaison to SAMHSA and WestCare. Essential job functions include those listed below.

Essential Job Functions:

• Provide administrative leadership and supervision to the program; ensure program quality.
• Monitor compliance with the SAMHSA requirements of the contract, as well as all other required standards, regulations, and state and federal guidelines.
• Function as a liaison to the area director and external groups and agencies in promoting interorganizational collaboration, including attending board and advisory board meetings as required; submit program reports to WestCare and SAMHSA.
• Have overall responsibility for the workforce development program, which includes planning, formulation, and supervision of program goals and objectives; program budget; program techniques and methods; staff selection, training, and development; and monitoring program effectiveness.
• Implement Quality Assurance and Program Improvement systems that monitor the effectiveness of the program and staff effectiveness.
• Assist in the development of program fiscal and budgetary tracking systems and implementation, as well as providing the oversight and management of operating budget and program fiscal expenditures.
• Assist with preparation of the biannual reports and continuation applications.
• Embrace and embody the mission, vision, guiding principles, clinical vision, and goals of WestCare Foundation.
• Perform any other duties as assigned.

Essential Qualifications:

Certifications/Licenses:

• Clinical Certification, must:
  • Hold clinical certification as a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor from the Illinois Alcoholism and Other Drug Abuse Professional Certification Association (IAODAPCA), or
  • Be a licensed professional counselor or licensed clinical professional counselor pursuant to the Professional Counselor and Clinical Professional Counselor Licensing Act [225 ILCS 107]; or
  • Be licensed as a social worker or licensed clinical social worker pursuant to the Clinical Social Work and Social Work Practice Act [225 ILCS 20]; some positions require Mental Illness and Substance Abuse (MISA) certified, with demonstrated clinical assessment skills and two years of professional experience counseling recovering addicts or five years professional experience counseling substance abusers in a licensed substance abuse treatment program treating abusers with co-occurring disorders. The organization, position, and dates in which counseling experience was acquired must be specified. Some positions require bi-lingual skills (Spanish) and experience with intake duties
• Sign, and adhere to, a professional code of ethics developed by the organization.

• Training:

• Must complete 40 hours of continuing education biennially if CADC licensed.
• If licensure is not CADC, must complete required continuing education hours as required to maintain the other licensure.

Education:

• Masters degree is preferred.
• Bachelors degree in human services is required.

Experience and Competencies:

• Three years of experience working in an alcohol and substance abuse program
• One year of experience in supervision/management
• Must possess knowledge of chemical dependency, substance abuse, and personality dynamics of the substance abuser.
• Bilingual (Spanish/English) is preferred
• Must be highly organized, detail focused, and have excellent time management
• Must possess strong computer skills or have the ability to learn
• Ability to respond as needed to crisis situations in an efficient manner
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to pass background check
• Ability to obtain and maintain DCFS CANTS clearance
• Ability to obtain and maintain OIG LEIE clearance
• Ability to pass pre-employment drug screening
• Ability to exercise good judgment and discretion
• Ability to work well in a team environment
• Adherence to the highest standard of ethical conduct, especially to standards governing confidentiality
• Must have professional appearance and demeanor
• Must be culturally/linguistically sensitive to populations served
• Valid drivers license and ability to obtain and maintain WestCares vehicle insurance
• Ability to obtain and maintain CPR certification, first aid certification, and an annual tuberculosis test

• As mandated by the State of Illinois, those employees who work at one of the IDOC/IDJJ sites must have their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine by October 26, 2021 and their second dose by November 30, 2021. Employees that have requested a Medical or Religious Exemption, which has been approved by Human Resources, will be required to test for the virus weekly.

  During your tenure with WestCare there may be new requirements, including, but not limited to vaccinations, that are issued by local, State, Federal, and/or Funders that WestCare may have to comply with. Should this occur, Human Resources or appropriate personnel will inform you.

Working Conditions:

• Work is primarily performed in a professional setting or community setting.
• Some outdoor activities may be required.
• There may be periodic travel: local, regional, and out-of-state, including overnight stays.

Essential Physical and Mental Demands of the Job

The employee must be able to perform the following essential duties and activities with or without accommodation:

Physical Demands:

• Requires mobility and physical activity: Having an adequate range of body motion and mobility to work in an office, residential, or outdoor environment including standing and walking (even and uneven surfaces), sitting for extended periods of time, bending, twisting, reaching, balancing, occasional lifting and carrying of up to 50 pounds. Use of computer and telephone systems is required, which includes coordination of eye and hand, and fine manipulation by the hands (typing, writing, and working with files).
• Requires the ability to defend oneself and clients in physically abusive situations through the use of approved verbal de-escalation techniques.
• Requires talking: Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word. Talking is required to impart oral information to employees, clients, patients, and the public, and in those activities in which the employee is required to convey detailed or important spoken instructions to others accurately, loudly, or quickly.
• Requires hearing: Hearing is required to receive and communicate detailed information through oral communication.
• Requires seeing: Clarity of vision at 20 inches or less and at distance. This factor is required to complete paperwork for many of the employees essential job functions and to observe client behavior and activities in and out of the facility.

• The normal work routine involves no exposure to human blood, body fluids or tissues. However, exposure or potential exposure may be required as a condition of employment. Appropriate personal protective equipment will be readily available to every employee.

Mental Demands:

• Requires the ability to collect and analyze complex numerical and written data and verbal information to reach logical conclusions.
• Requires the ability to work and cooperate with clients, co-workers, managers, the public and employees at all levels in order to exchange ideas, information, instructions and opinions.
• Requires the ability to work under stress and in emotionally charged settings.
• The ability to defend oneself and clients in mentally/verbally abusive situations through the use of approved mental/verbal de-escalation techniques.

WestCare is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment at WestCare is contingent upon
successful completion of a pre-employment drug test,
pre-employment physical, and criminal background check.