Program Director

About the Position:

Trauma-Informed Utah helps organizations and businesses learn about, integrate, and adopt inclusive trauma-informed approaches at the organizational level, including operations, policies and procedures, managerial practices, and program development. This position will work to assist the Executive Director and Deputy Director with the implementation of organizational goals through community partnerships. They will lead, design, and facilitate the programs outlined within those organizational goals and strategic plans. Additionally, they will contribute to the development and realization of TIU’s strategic plan as part of a dynamic team. In addition to ensuring the health and wellbeing of TIU, the position will also further establish TIU’s presence in the community and cultivate relationships with local and national partners.

About the Desired Candidate:

The Program Director of TIU will be diligent and persistent, focused on building on a strong foundation to further TIU’s mission in the community. This person will have a comprehensive, working knowledge of the trauma-informed approach. This includes both the impacts of adversity and trauma on individuals, communities, and systems, as well as the power of building community resilience and prevention efforts. They will be fiercely compassionate and dedicated to helping organizations embrace a trauma-informed approach to better organizational systems and service delivery. Most importantly, this candidate will have strong people and communication skills, allowing them to effectively collaborate with TIU staff, key community interest holders, and any organization interested in becoming more trauma-informed. Lastly, this person must be willing to embrace and navigate the ambiguity of developing a new organization!

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead internal programming structure, including staff responsibilities, and processes for engaging with and training organizations seeking to learn about and implement a trauma-informed approach.

• Work with other TIU staff to deliver on Trauma-Informed Utah’s four main service areas: education, technical assistance, research, and community collaboration.

• Increase public awareness of the trauma-informed approach and TIU services through public speaking engagements, presentations, community engagements, conferences, and organizational implementation of systems change efforts.

• Contribute to building and modeling a collaborative, inclusive, and responsive trauma-informed workplace, internal operations, programs, services, and external partnerships.

• Uphold TIU’s mission, strategic plan, operational goals, staff development, service delivery, financial sustainability, and community relationships.

• Support efforts to develop sustainable financial partnerships.

• Cultivate relationships with local and national leaders, interestholders, policymakers, decisionmakers, and advocacy groups.

• Gather requirements - Document and organize business, technical, and functional requirements for new projects. 

• Commit to quality, ensuring that program offerings, communications, and technical assistance offered are of the highest quality and professionalism. 

• Proactively monitor project progress to meet deadlines and achieve results.

• Build consensus and visibility in the design process for key interest holders across the organization, gaining the support necessary to see projects through to completion.

• Manage expectations, milestones, and deliverables for relevant programs.

• Create, track, and report on program deliverables.

Core Skills:

• The ability to work within an interdisciplinary team, and lead consensus building within design and delivery of programmatic efforts.   

• Utilize trauma-informed approaches across internal and external operations, communications, collaboration, and leadership efforts.

• Evaluate initial needs and readiness of organizations interested in implementing trauma-informed approaches.

• Ability to develop, initiate and evaluate research processes in program design and delivery.

• Serve as a subject matter expert on the bio-psycho-social-cultural etiology of trauma, and the trauma-informed systems and approach. 

• Dynamic critical and strategic-thinking skills relative to building and growing a new organization.

• Strong interpersonal and relationship-management skills with individuals, organizations and interestholders of diverse identities, belief systems, and backgrounds.

• Superb writing, public speaking and presentation skills. 

• Capacity and enthusiasm to synthesize and integrate complex and evolving theories, ideas, information, concepts and perspectives regarding the trauma-informed approach. 

• Curriculum design around the education and sharing of the concepts.

• Translate complex concepts regarding trauma and trauma-informed approach into digestible concepts for audiences with diverse levels of experience.

• Engage in advocacy work and policy discussions related to trauma-informed approaches in state and national policy development.

Essential Qualifications:

• Thorough knowledge of the neurobiology of traumatic stress; the bio-psycho-social-cultural etiology of trauma; the Adverse Childhood Experiences Study;

• In-depth familiarity with SAMHSA’s Concept on Trauma and Trauma-Informed Approach and other trauma-informed frameworks;

• Experience with translational research design, methods, and analysis for program evaluation;

• Knowledge of DEI principles and translational application;

• Familiarity with program evaluation and implementation science;

• Master’s degree (Clinical or related field) and at least 3 years post-graduate experience OR 6+ years professional experience working in nonprofits, public policy, social services, or related field OR an equivalent combination of education and professional experience;

• Willingness and ability to travel independently, both in-state and nationally;

• Valid Driver's license and vehicle transportation (mileage will be reimbursed).

What to Expect When You Apply:

• Please send a cover letter (one page maximum), resume, and the names and contact information of three references to info@tiutah.org. Please note that candidates will be notified before references are contacted, and before a final interview.

• Final candidates will be subject to a universal background check.

• Qualified candidates may be asked to participate in up to three rounds of  interviews; the final interview will include a 15-minute presentation on a topic related to integrating a trauma-informed approach.