Assistant Executive Director
University of Illinois School of Social Work, Champaign, IL, United States
What if your job was to make sure an entire social services agency ran like it should: that the right people were in the right roles, that every grant deadline was met, that staff felt supported and prepared, and that the clients who depend on us never felt the friction of a disorganized back office? If that kind of challenge energizes you, we might be a perfect match. Family Service is restructuring for growth, and we are looking for our next Assistant Executive Director. This is an operations‑focused leadership role for someone who thrives on complexity, loves building systems, and finds deep satisfaction in helping other people do their best work. The Assistant Executive Director will be the internal anchor of Family Service, freeing the Executive Director to focus on strategic relationships, funding, and the agency’s future. If you’re looking for a role where your fingerprints are on everything and your impact is real and lasting, this might be exactly what you’ve been looking for.
WHAT YOU’LL BE DOING AS ASSISTANT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Leading People Your will serve as the direct supervisor for all program managers across the agency and provide oversight for the staff they lead. You know how to develop people, have hard conversations professionally, and build a team culture that is both high‑performing and genuinely enjoyable to be part of.
Keeping Grants on Track Grant writing and compliance will be a major part of this role. You'll write grant applications for programs across the agency, manage grant timelines and deliverables, ensure all activities comply with funder requirements, and serve as the internal point of accountability when reporting deadlines come around. You’re the kind of person who reads a grant contract carefully and builds a system to make sure nothing falls through the cracks.
Supporting the Executive Director You’ll work closely with the Executive Director, helping to prepare for funding meetings, funder interviews, board presentations, and other key engagements. You’re a thought partner and a reliable second‑in‑command, someone the ED can trust to have the details handled.
Managing Finances at the Program Level You’ll collaborate with the Executive Director, controller, bookkeeper, auditors, and the Board Treasurer to ensure accurate financial tracking across all programs. This includes providing grant‑related financial context, supporting budget development and monitoring, and keeping program‑level financial records clean and current.
Driving Quality You’ll work with program managers to ensure that our services meet the highest standards— in how we treat clients, how we document our work, and how we keep our databases accurate and up to date. You’re not just checking boxes; you’re genuinely invested in whether the people we serve are getting excellent care.
Training & Developing Staff You’ll design and deliver staff training programs, ensure compliance with grant‑required trainings, and see to it that all staff are prepared to implement agency policies and procedures. When a protocol needs updating or a new process needs to be rolled out, you’re the one who makes it happen clearly and effectively.
WHAT OUR IDEAL CANDIDATE LOOKS LIKE SUPERVISORY EXPERIENCE You’ve led teams before. You know how to manage performance, how to give feedback that lands, and how to hold a high standard without losing people’s trust.
ORGANIZED & INDEPENDENT You manage your own workload with discipline. You track deadlines, keep your systems tidy, follow through without being reminded, and bring that same organizational energy to the teams around you.
RELATIONAL You communicate well in writing, in meetings, and one‑on‑one. You’re comfortable in conversations with funders, community partners, board members, and frontline staff alike. People find you credible, warm, and easy to work with.
NONPROFIT EXPERIENCE You understand how nonprofits work: especially funding cycles, compliance requirements, and the culture of mission‑first.
TEAM PLAYER You’re positive and solutions focused. You protect your colleagues’ reputations, handle sensitive information with discretion, and bring an attitude of service to everything you do.
“RULES” PERSON Grant contracts have rules. HR policies have rules. Funders have rules. You not only read and understand them, but you naturally build systems to make sure they’re followed consistently and equitably across the organization.
EDUCATION & TRAINING This position requires a bachelor’s degree in business, social work, nonprofit management, public administration, or a related field. A master’s degree is preferred. Relevant experience may be considered in lieu of advanced education.
OTHER DETAILS
Maintaining all certifications and other credentials required for the position
Other duties as assigned
Must be able to pass a background check: Any individual who is the subject of a pending investigation by the Department of Children and Family Services for child abuse or neglect, or who has been the subject of an indicated abuse or neglect report which has not subsequently been overturned on appeal, or who has been substantiated as an abuser by an IDOA provider agency is not eligible for employment at Family Service.
THE FAMILY SERVICE CULTURE Family Service has a culture that is reflected in our name: We are both family‑focused (both the families we serve and the families we are from), and we pride ourselves on being strongly service‑oriented. We are cultivating a workplace that is humble and diligent — a place where you can enjoy your coworkers, be proud of your impact, and always look for new and better ways to enhance our community by meeting its needs. We train our people thoroughly and consider ourselves a training ground for being the best humanity has to offer. (Of course, we’re an Equal Opportunity Employer.)
THE PACKAGE
$70,000–$74,000 annually, commensurate with experience
Full‑time, salaried exempt position — 37.5 hours per week
12 paid holidays
Paid time off after 90 days — can accrue up to 200 hours
Life insurance
QUALITY‑OF‑LIFE PERKS
Fantastic work‑life balance
Great work mission — you will genuinely make a difference here
Family Service is an institution with an excellent reputation as an employer
We’re growing — moving from a local to a regional nonprofit. Things are moving fast, and it’s exciting.
Schedule: Monday to Friday 8:30am to 5:00pm, with occasional evenings and weekends Work Location: In person – 405 South State Street, Champaign, IL
#J-18808-Ljbffr
WHAT YOU’LL BE DOING AS ASSISTANT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Leading People Your will serve as the direct supervisor for all program managers across the agency and provide oversight for the staff they lead. You know how to develop people, have hard conversations professionally, and build a team culture that is both high‑performing and genuinely enjoyable to be part of.
Keeping Grants on Track Grant writing and compliance will be a major part of this role. You'll write grant applications for programs across the agency, manage grant timelines and deliverables, ensure all activities comply with funder requirements, and serve as the internal point of accountability when reporting deadlines come around. You’re the kind of person who reads a grant contract carefully and builds a system to make sure nothing falls through the cracks.
Supporting the Executive Director You’ll work closely with the Executive Director, helping to prepare for funding meetings, funder interviews, board presentations, and other key engagements. You’re a thought partner and a reliable second‑in‑command, someone the ED can trust to have the details handled.
Managing Finances at the Program Level You’ll collaborate with the Executive Director, controller, bookkeeper, auditors, and the Board Treasurer to ensure accurate financial tracking across all programs. This includes providing grant‑related financial context, supporting budget development and monitoring, and keeping program‑level financial records clean and current.
Driving Quality You’ll work with program managers to ensure that our services meet the highest standards— in how we treat clients, how we document our work, and how we keep our databases accurate and up to date. You’re not just checking boxes; you’re genuinely invested in whether the people we serve are getting excellent care.
Training & Developing Staff You’ll design and deliver staff training programs, ensure compliance with grant‑required trainings, and see to it that all staff are prepared to implement agency policies and procedures. When a protocol needs updating or a new process needs to be rolled out, you’re the one who makes it happen clearly and effectively.
WHAT OUR IDEAL CANDIDATE LOOKS LIKE SUPERVISORY EXPERIENCE You’ve led teams before. You know how to manage performance, how to give feedback that lands, and how to hold a high standard without losing people’s trust.
ORGANIZED & INDEPENDENT You manage your own workload with discipline. You track deadlines, keep your systems tidy, follow through without being reminded, and bring that same organizational energy to the teams around you.
RELATIONAL You communicate well in writing, in meetings, and one‑on‑one. You’re comfortable in conversations with funders, community partners, board members, and frontline staff alike. People find you credible, warm, and easy to work with.
NONPROFIT EXPERIENCE You understand how nonprofits work: especially funding cycles, compliance requirements, and the culture of mission‑first.
TEAM PLAYER You’re positive and solutions focused. You protect your colleagues’ reputations, handle sensitive information with discretion, and bring an attitude of service to everything you do.
“RULES” PERSON Grant contracts have rules. HR policies have rules. Funders have rules. You not only read and understand them, but you naturally build systems to make sure they’re followed consistently and equitably across the organization.
EDUCATION & TRAINING This position requires a bachelor’s degree in business, social work, nonprofit management, public administration, or a related field. A master’s degree is preferred. Relevant experience may be considered in lieu of advanced education.
OTHER DETAILS
Maintaining all certifications and other credentials required for the position
Other duties as assigned
Must be able to pass a background check: Any individual who is the subject of a pending investigation by the Department of Children and Family Services for child abuse or neglect, or who has been the subject of an indicated abuse or neglect report which has not subsequently been overturned on appeal, or who has been substantiated as an abuser by an IDOA provider agency is not eligible for employment at Family Service.
THE FAMILY SERVICE CULTURE Family Service has a culture that is reflected in our name: We are both family‑focused (both the families we serve and the families we are from), and we pride ourselves on being strongly service‑oriented. We are cultivating a workplace that is humble and diligent — a place where you can enjoy your coworkers, be proud of your impact, and always look for new and better ways to enhance our community by meeting its needs. We train our people thoroughly and consider ourselves a training ground for being the best humanity has to offer. (Of course, we’re an Equal Opportunity Employer.)
THE PACKAGE
$70,000–$74,000 annually, commensurate with experience
Full‑time, salaried exempt position — 37.5 hours per week
12 paid holidays
Paid time off after 90 days — can accrue up to 200 hours
Life insurance
QUALITY‑OF‑LIFE PERKS
Fantastic work‑life balance
Great work mission — you will genuinely make a difference here
Family Service is an institution with an excellent reputation as an employer
We’re growing — moving from a local to a regional nonprofit. Things are moving fast, and it’s exciting.
Schedule: Monday to Friday 8:30am to 5:00pm, with occasional evenings and weekends Work Location: In person – 405 South State Street, Champaign, IL
#J-18808-Ljbffr