Job Description

Job Title: Director, The Umbrella Center

Reports To: President & Chief Executive Officer, Safe Alliance

Status: Full-Time

The Umbrella Center (TUC), Charlotte-Mecklenburg's Family Justice Center, seeks an innovative and experienced Director to lead its operations and ensure the delivery of high-quality, trauma-informed services to individuals impacted by domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, elder abuse, child abuse, and other forms of victimization.

The Director provides strategic leadership, oversees daily operations, and fosters a collaborative, client-centered environment among partner agencies. This role is responsible for program development and implementation, staff management and training, service evaluation, partner coordination and collaboration, and community engagement. The Director will cultivate and sustain positive, effective relationships with staff and partner agencies in alignment with the Family Justice Center framework, a best practice in victim services and violence prevention.

The Director will be an employee of Safe Alliance, the Administrative Lead Agency of The Umbrella Center.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Support The Umbrella Center mission by providing holistic and collaborative services to those impacted by domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, child abuse, and elder abuse:

• Using a trauma-informed, client-centered approach to:
  • Through coordination with agency and program leadership, ensure the provision of high-quality, trauma-informed services.
  • Support cross-program coordination to ensure comprehensive client care.
  • Drive continuous quality improvement across programs and services.
  • Ensure alignment with best practices and trauma-informed care principles.
  • Provide effective and inspiring leadership across all partners and services.
  • Collaborate with partner leadership to develop strategies that support improved systems and client services.
  • Develop and maintain centralized intake processes and infrastructure for multidisciplinary collaboration.
  • Actively engage with clients to meet their needs and expectations.
  • Manage client complaints and grievances with professionalism and empathy.
  • Implement additional expectations as directed by the Safe Alliance President & CEO and the Partner Advisory Board.
• Administration
  • Maintain accurate and confidential records in agency databases (e.g., CSN, Raiser's Edge, Timeforce).
  • Research, write, and manage grants and reporting requirements.
  • Ensure compliance with documentation standards, incident reporting, and satisfaction surveys.
  • Supervise, train, and evaluate staff, volunteers, and interns.
  • Oversee performance measures, timesheet approvals, and staff coverage.
  • Support budget development.
  • Foster a positive work environment that attracts and retains high-quality staff.
  • Plan and lead staff meetings to promote a healthy organizational culture.
  • Provide regular briefings to the Safe Alliance President & CEO on center needs and risks.
• Partner Agencies
• Cultivate and maintain relationships with all TUC partners to ensure effective and coordinated client care.
• Oversee partner services, contracts, compliance, and program changes.
• Lead regular partner meetings and disperse adequate communications to foster community, engagement, and awareness.
• Facilitate survivor-focused meetings and collaborations with partner agencies, including multi-disciplinary teams and case reviews.
• Evaluate service gaps and explore new partnerships to enhance client support.
• Recommend improvements to partner agencies to enhance service delivery, including biannual meetings with all partners to provide feedback and gather input.
• Facilitate introductions and engagement between new service providers and all onsite partners.
• Promote a welcoming and inclusive culture for all partners.
• Oversee effective and unbiased conflict resolution between staff and partner agencies when necessary.
• Stewardship and Outreach
  • Increase public awareness of victimization, prevention, and available resources through speaking engagements, media coordination, and representation at public functions and events.
  • Represent The Umbrella Center in community meetings, committees, and public events.
  • Maintain professional relationships with staff, volunteers, interns, stakeholders, and community partners.
  • Host tours and dignitary visits to The Umbrella Center.
  • Coordinate media communications with the Safe Alliance Advancement team and other appropriate partners.
  • Designate and train staff to handle media and public speaking requests.
  • Collaborate with Family Justice Center directors nationwide to share best practices.
• Outcomes and Impact
  • Support the development and maintenance of The Umbrella Center's shared technology infrastructure.
  • Oversee the development, implementation and improvement of TUC's Program Evaluation Project, including the identification, collection, and reporting of metrics to assess and communicate TUC's impact and guide future program development.
  • Ensure timely and accurate documentation and reporting by all onsite providers
  • Produce regular impact reports for staff, TUC governing committees, stakeholders, and community members to promote accountability, outreach, and education.
  • Utilize TUC data and evaluation to support systems-level changes in the community.
  • Coordinate ongoing safety training for center partners in collaboration with law enforcement
• Training
  • Oversee onboarding for all new onsite service providers, including center tours, facility operations, and trainings on victimizations, onsite partners, and the FJC model.
  • Host ongoing trainings for staff and community partners on trauma-informed care, partner services, and emerging industry topics.
  • Ensure advocates are educated on partner service developments and high-risk response.
• Professional Development
  • Stay informed of best practices and current issues in trauma and victimization, especially related to domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, child abuse, and elder abuse.
  • Maintain required licensure and certifications.
  • Maintain strong working knowledge of the criminal justice system and relevant laws affecting victims and perpetrators.
  • Perform other duties as assigned to support agency effectiveness.
• Core Competencies
  • Demonstrate agency-wide and position-specific competencies:
    • Mission-Focused
    • Action Oriented
    • Relationship Builder
    • Collaborative and Diplomatic
    • Organized
    • Strong and Positive Mentor
    • Innovative and Strategic
    • Visionary Leader
    • Systems Thinker

Qualifications & Requirements

• Education & Professional Experience
  • Master's degree in Social Work, Public Administration, Public Health, Law, Criminal Justice, Psychology, or a related field preferred; Bachelor's degree required.
  • Minimum of 10 years of experience in social services, community agencies, or related human services fields, with at least 5 years in a management role.
  • Experience working in or with nonprofit organizations, particularly in human services, violence prevention, or legal advocacy for trauma survivors.
  • Demonstrated success in hiring, managing, and developing varied teams and skillsets, including co-located staff and volunteers.
• Subject Matter Expertise
  • Strong working knowledge of domestic violence, sexual assault, elder abuse, child abuse, human trafficking, and other forms of interpersonal violence.
  • Familiarity with the Family Justice Center model and its multidisciplinary approach to service delivery.
  • Understanding of legal issues related to confidentiality, mandated reporting, liability, and partnership agreements.
  • Knowledge of the criminal justice system and laws affecting victims and perpetrators of abuse.
• Leadership & Collaboration
  • Proven ability to lead collaborative, multi-agency initiatives using participatory decision-making and conflict resolution strategies.
  • Experience building and maintaining relationships with key stakeholders, including elected officials, funders, and community partners.
• Communication & Public Engagement
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including public speaking and media relations.
  • Ability to represent the organization with professionalism and clarity in public forums and media engagements.
  • Sensitivity to and respect for individuals from various backgrounds and lived experiences.
• Operational & Administrative Skills
  • Experience managing program budgets.
  • Proficiency in grant reporting and management.
  • Skilled in compiling and analyzing performance metrics and statistical data.
  • Ability to prepare reports, maintain accurate records, and support related activities.
• Additional Requirements
  • Ability to travel as needed.

Physical Requirements

• Light work: Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly lift, twist, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body.
• Ability for close vision, distance vision, color vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus to perform an activity to determine accuracy and thoroughness of work assignment.
• Ability to reach, stand, crouch, walk, and finger, grasp, sit, twist, talk, hear, and perform repeated motions.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• Employee must have access to transportation that allows them to meet all job requirements in a timely fashion. Position may require staff to work outside of the typical work hours as the agency provides services 24/7.