Job Listing
Youth & Family Program Director
Company:
Rise Academy
Industry:
Non-profit
Job title:
Youth & Family Program Director
Job level:
Mid
Job description:
Position Description
The RISE Youth & Family Program Director is passionate about supporting healing and restoration within families impacted by the criminal justice system in support of RISE’s mission to break generational cycles of incarceration. They are strategic, able to quickly build rapport with diverse populations, and highly adaptable while maintaining programmatic integrity. They bring their expertise to build healing-centered programming opportunities that build healthy support systems for adults and youth coming out of incarceration.
As part of this role, the Director is responsible for curriculum and program development, building and maintaining community partnerships and supporting incarcerated program participants and their loved ones. They identify client needs and put together a structure and team to build sustainable programming. The Director’s role is to manage the relationships, data, program development and personnel directly related to RISE’s Youth & Family Program. The Director also seeks grants and financial resources in partnership with the RISE development team to sustain and grow the program. This position reports to the Director of Programs.
About RISE
RISE is the largest nonprofit organization in Nebraska focused solely on habilitative programming in prisons and reentry support. At RISE, transformation starts pre-release and continues post-release. Our inside/out model bridges incarceration to the community and considers all the critical steps in that journey. We prepare and train people for each phase through intensive character development, employment readiness, job creation through entrepreneurship, family programming and case management. We transform people in the community by building awareness and empathy that leads to support and opportunity. These connections heal families, create employment pathways and lower recidivism. The mission of RISE is to break generational cycles of incarceration.
RISE has received a “Best Places to Work in Omaha” award from Baird Holm and the Greater Omaha Chamber. RISE is a recipient of the Non-Profit Association of the Midlands Catalyst Award, honoring non-profits that inspire action, advance excellence and innovation, and drive transformation while making a meaningful impact. In 2025, RISE received the Roger Baldwin Civil Libertarian of the Year Award from the ACLU of Nebraska.
Responsibilities
Research and develop evidence-informed best practices for supportive youth and family reentry programming and services.
Work with the RISE Reentry team, In Prison Program team, and program participants to identify their needs and those of their families to increase the likelihood of reentry success.
Explore and compile resources and services in Nebraska available to serve youth and families navigating incarceration, including reentry support and reunification.
Develop and lead workshops both inside correctional facilities and in the community.
Engage in community outreach and speaking engagements focused on fostering improved services and understanding for system-impacted families.
Onboard and train new team members, providing ongoing coaching and timely feedback and identifying professional development opportunities for the team.
Foster teamwork within the team and collaboration with other departments.
Coordinate with RISE’s Director of Programs to ensure programming runs smoothly and programmatic requirements are met.
Visit classes regularly to identify and manage program challenges and opportunities, build relationships with facility staff and participants, address questions and concerns, and support program implementation.
Oversee the management of all RISE Youth & Family Program materials and fiscal resources, including budget planning, monitoring, and oversight of expense tracking.
Oversee Program Continuous Quality Improvement, program Key Performance Indicators and compliance with grant requirements; monitor industry trends; and prepare necessary documentation and reports, when needed.
Supervise Family Program team members, including reviewing team expense reports, timesheets, and time off requests.
Coordinate communication and logistics for program-related events in partnership with the Event Manager.
Work with the Development team to find and secure resources to sustain and grow the program.
Qualifications
Degree in Social Sciences, Human Services, Criminal Justice, Psychology, or related field or equivalent experience required.
Minimum 5 years of experience in developing, managing, and leading social service programs required
Experience supervising and managing teams required
Certified peer support specialist preferred
Combination of training, education, or lived experience working/participating in a program or organization serving individuals with criminal histories
Experienced in facilitating group discussions in a trauma-informed/healing-centered approach, preferred
Proficient in Microsoft Office and Google Suite or other comparable office software. Comfortable learning new software and client-management systems, building and interpreting data reports.
Ability to work independently and effectively in collaboration with diverse groups of people
Strong written and verbal communication skills, able to navigate emotionally charged situations with poise and professionalism
Scrappy, adaptable, entrepreneurial and innovative
Other
Must be willing to work flexible hours, including working evenings and weekends.
Must have access to a vehicle, possess a valid driver’s license and proof of insurance.
RISE is a background-friendly employer and seeks to employ those with lived experience within the system we serve; however, this job is contingent on receiving approval to enter correctional facilities following a security check. Additionally, background checks may be run on final candidates as a compliance measure.
Positions available:
1
Posted on:
October 31, 2025