Director of Senior Services

Senior Services

FLSA Exempt

Non Union Level 8

JOB SUMMARY: Responsible for the daily operations of the Town of Amherst Senior Center/Council on Aging (COA) office. Administers and oversees social, educational, recreational, and wellness services and programs to meet the psychological and social-health needs of our diverse and ever-changing senior population.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED:

Serves under the broad supervision of the Town Manager or designee. Performs regular duties independently, within the parameters of applicable law, policies, and procedures.  

SUPERVISION EXERCISED:

Responsible for supervising office staff and volunteers, including assigning work duties and evaluating staff performance.

MAJOR DUTIES:

• Oversees and administers the daily operations of the Senior Center/Council on Aging (COA) office, including direct services, financial management, keeping of records, and appropriate training and supervision of office staff and volunteers.
• Serves as an advocate for the needs of older adults in the community and collaborates with other Town Departments, as well as local universities and colleges, on programs and strategies that have an impact on seniors.
• Plans, organizes, promotes, supervises, and occasionally leads, social, educational, recreational and wellness programs to meet the psychological and social-health needs of patrons; Oversees the provision of direct services to patrons (g., resource connection and other support assistance, the Senior Health Services Program, the Tax Work-off Program).
• Administers and oversees the Highland Valley Elder Services nutrition program to seniors, including general oversight of delivery of services and food safety, and responsibility for monthly and annual reports.
• Meets regularly with the Council on Aging (COA), which provides guidance on matters of program policy; Consults with the COA Board as to office operations and related matters; Collaborates with COA members and other stakeholders to implement COA recommendations as practical and appropriate; Attends COA meeting and prepares meeting agendas with input from COA leadership; Consults with COA Secretary on the COA annual report.
• Consults with the Massachusetts Executive Office of Elder Affairs (EOEA) on state-wide policy relative to senior services.
• Acts as a liaison to local charitable organizations, foundations & trusts serving the senior population, including Amherst Neighbors and the Friends of the Amherst Senior Center-- supporting activities and fundraising efforts, and providing for media and public relations coverage (g., preparation and distribution of newsletters, press releases, and feature stories).
• Oversees and approves office expenditures, fees, purchases, payments, and payroll; Prepares and administers the Department budget; Drafts grant proposals and related reports and oversees the administration of grants, including the Executive Office of Elder Affairs (EOEA) Formula.
• Prepares and files a variety of reports as required or useful, including for Elder Affairs; Develops and updates the Department’s strategic plan; Keeps appropriate records (g., as to services provided, patron needs, demographics).
• Drafts content for a bi-monthly newsletter, and for radio, cable TV, and regular press releases through local newspapers; Responsible for updating the Department’s content on the Town’s website.
• Appropriately trains and supervises office staff, volunteers, and interns, to include conducting case conferences with outreach workers.
• Performs other related work as required, directed, or useful.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Bachelor’s Degree in Public Administration, Community Organization, Social Work, Gerontology, Human Relations, or related field, PLUS five (5) to seven (7) years of experience in the above fields, OR any combination of education and experience which demonstrates the ability to successfully perform the duties of the position.

• Certification in CPR and First Aid
• Familiarity with the senior service network; Knowledge of available federal, state, and local services, resources, and funding available to seniors
• Knowledge of methods of assessing the needs of older adults
• Experience researching and preparing proposals for funding, and in obtaining and managing grants from various sources
• Ability to communicate effectively, both in writing and verbally, with a diverse audience
• Ability to effectively advocate for seniors in a variety of situations which require knowledge, negotiation skills, diplomacy, and tact; Ability to use initiative, persuasion, tact, and judgment in dealing with the seniors, service providers, public officials, and the general public
• Familiarity and experience with creative problem-solving techniques
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously
• Ability to prepare and manage budgets and finances
• Ability to train and supervise employees and volunteers appropriately and effectively
• Working knowledge of public or private nonprofit boards, and common administrative practices
• Experience with cross-agency collaboration; Ability and desire to work with other agencies and Town departments to develop and improve services and supports for seniors.
• Compassion and respect for seniors

 TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT USED:

General office equipment; Computer; Printer/copier/scanner/fax machine; Microsoft Office Suite, including Outlook, Word and Excel, and other usual software applications; Adding machine/calculator; Motor vehicle. 

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

Valid Massachusetts driver’s license. 

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to walk, sit and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to use hands to finger, handle, feel or operate objects, tools, or controls; and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, push objects, or crawl.  The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, and the ability to adjust focus. 

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee generally works in an indoor setting with occasional outside activities and trips.  The noise level in the work environment ranges from moderately quite to loud.

SELECTION GUIDELINES:

Formal application; rating of education and experience; interview and reference check; job related tests may be required. The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position.

The job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.

The Town enjoys a long tradition of active, participatory, & professional government, and seeks a workforce that reflects the diversity of the community.