Mission Impact Specialist (Chicago)

POSITION: Mission Impact Specialist

CLASSIFICATION: Full-time, exempt position

TYPICAL SCHEDULE: 9a-5p Monday to Friday, with occasional work during the evenings and weekends as needed

REPORTS TO: Vice President of Mission Impact (VPMI)

DIRECT REPORTS: Resident Service Coordinators, Interns

COMPENSATION: We offer a competitive starting salary of $70,000-$90,000. In line with our commitments to internal equity, we will not hire someone at this job level below or above the stated range.

LOCATION AND TRAVEL

• This position is based in Chicago, Illinois with at least 2 days in office.
• This is a hybrid role requiring occasional travel to portfolio sites.

BENEFITS: At Full Circle Communities, our benefits are designed to support your well-being, growth, and day-to-day life. The goal is simple: make sure you have what you need to do your best work while maintaining balance.

• Hybrid work environment with up to three remote days per week
• 11 days of paid vacation, plus 12 company holidays and 3 floating holidays
• Employer-supported medical, dental, and vision benefits
• Paid parental leave
• SIMPLE IRA with up to a 3% employer match
• Employee Assistance Program
• Up to $5,250 annually for professional development and education assistance
• Mission-driven work with opportunities for growth and advancement

Benefits may vary based on role, location, and employment status. Eligibility requirements and additional details are provided during the hiring process and outlined in the employee handbook.

ABOUT FULL CIRCLE COMMUNITIES

Full Circle Communities is a non-profit organization that develops and operates affordable and permanent supportive housing across Illinois, Michigan, and Iowa. We believe that housing is the foundation on which lives are built. Education, employment, health, social connection and well-being are all improved when housing is stable and secure. Our person-centered approach goes beyond housing affordability through the provision of supportive services designed to help residents maintain stable housing and achieve their personal goals. Across our portfolio, we serve a diverse range of residents including seniors, families, and individuals with complex experiences such as mental illness, substance use disorders, chronic medical conditions, or histories of homelessness. We support our residents’ needs and goals through crucial services such as case management, healthcare, behavioral health and substance use support, childcare, employment, and education.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Mission Impact Specialist supports the organization’s integrated, resident-centered operating model by focusing on resident stabilization. Reporting directly to the Vice President of Mission Impact, the core purpose of this role is keeping residents safe, actionable goals, and preserving the housing environment for future vulnerable populations. The Specialist aligns daily project execution with strategic mission goals through effective service funding management, facilitating blended management teams, and addressing acute tenant crises. By translating data into actionable policies and prioritizing property financial health, this role supports a culture of equity and meaningful outcomes for residents.

Within 6 months in the role, a successful Mission Impact Specialist will:

• Serve as the lead for coordinating communication between the community manager, service providers, and the Mission Impact department. Lead blended management meetings, help resolve resident issues before they become crises, and support staff in responding to emergencies in ways that help residents stay safely housed.
• Help staff and service providers understand and consistently apply Mission Impact / Operations policies and procedures. Implement onboarding, training, and tools that strengthen collaboration, improve service delivery, and ensure that services funding is used effectively to support residents.
• Implement and maintain reliable systems for collecting and analyzing resident data from various sources. Use results to identify trends, flag issues, and recommend interventions to improve resident housing stability.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

In service of our mission, this role’s responsibilities include but are not limited to:

Service Funding Management and Property Financial Health

• Identify and implement opportunities to efficiently use and leverage service funding to support both resident needs and long-term property financial health.
• Support key aspects of contracting with service providers, from selection to contract renewal and invoice processing.
• Provide guidance on service provider quarterly reporting, budgeting, and scope of work to ensure fiscal responsibility and maximum impact.
• Support the creation and administration of CHDOs and grant deployment to optimize funding across the portfolio.

Blended Management and Crisis Leadership

• Facilitate on-site communication and coordination between service providers, property management, and ownership using the blended management model.
• Lead the blended management team during emergencies or acute tenant crises to prioritize resident safety and stability.
• Implement crisis response and communication policies to promote accountability and support staff, residents, and communities.
• Serve as a project leader, facilitator, or support within a team environment to mediate complex resident issues.

Resident Stabilization

• Serve as the implementation and data analysis lead for site surveys, focus groups, and tenant councils to drive stabilization efforts.
• Lead the implementation of grants, monitor progress, and draft required reports for funders focused on resident outcomes.
• Represent the organization and participate in local and national homelessness assessment efforts to ensure alignment with stabilization best practices.
• With direction from the VPMI, translate resident services data into actionable goals that help residents maintain stable housing and achieve personal milestones.

Administration and Data Management

• Maintain databases and project management tools, including Airtable, Yardi, and PowerBI, to track mission metrics and deliverables.
• Conduct regular reviews of service delivery data to ensure compliance with funder requirements and internal organizational benchmarks.
• Draft and process all necessary administrative reports, grant updates, and compliance documentation for stakeholders.
• Provide ongoing administrative support for interdepartmental initiatives and coordinate communication across regional portfolios.
• Recruit and supervise resident service coordinators and interns.

Policy Coordination and Training

• Contribute to and implement resident-centered policies, procedures, and tools informed by resident services data and interdepartmental priorities.
• Ensure that the equity framework developed by the Anti-Racism Committee is incorporated throughout all initiatives.
• Provide regular technical assistance, onboarding, and training on the Mission Impact model to incoming service providers and staff.
• Support site staff learning through regular training interest surveys, identifying training vendors, and coordinating training logistics.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• High degree of initiative, growth mindset, and strong sense of accountability in executing projects and responsibilities.
• Professional communication skills with the ability to produce materials for and present to diverse audiences, from residents to the Board of Directors.
• Ability to productively collaborate across departments and handle challenging situations under pressure.
• Demonstrated collaborative and interpersonal skills to serve as a project leader, facilitator, or support within a team environment.
• Willingness to quickly learn and use project management and data analysis tools, including Airtable, Yardi, and PowerBI.
• Intermediate proficiency in MS Office and Google Workspace.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• 5 years of professional experience with permanent supportive housing projects and programmatic structures for highly vulnerable groups; a Master's degree in related fields may substitute for one year of experience.
• Educational background or certifications in social work, public policy, behavioral health, or related fields.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in social work, public policy, behavioral health, or a related field.
• Experience in grant writing, administration, and compliance.
• Lived experience with homelessness, housing instability, or participation in housing subsidy programs.
• Experience with data analysis and resident services provision in affordable housing.