Director of Education and Engagement

Description

Type: Full-Time

Reports to: Chief Program Officer

Office Location: 224 W. Hill, Suite 410, Chicago IL; required in-office minimum of 3 days per week (hybrid work policy subject to change). Some weekends or evenings are required.

Background

Guided by the experiences of those living with mental health conditions and rooted in equity, NAMI Chicago educates to fight stigma and discrimination, fiercely advocates for our community, and shares hope, connection, and expertise with people on their mental health journey. NAMI Chicago seeks to fill gaps in Chicago's mental health system, with an intentional emphasis on racial equity and breaking down barriers to care.

Who We Are Looking For

The Director of Education and Community Engagement leads the Education and Engagement team and plays a critical role in advancing NAMI Chicago’s mission by building our training center of excellence, overseeing training services, and strengthening community engagement. The Director will also shape NAMI Chicago’s educational narrative around mental health, raise awareness of our Helpline and other program offerings, and foster connections with local providers and organizations.

Reporting to the Chief Program Officer, the Director will lead the development and implementation of targeted outreach strategies across key stakeholder groups including outreach based on program focus (e.g., government partners, healthcare providers, youth), ensuring tailored engagement and collaboration. Additionally, this Director will collaborate with our Policy team to engage in community discussions to better understand the needs of the communities NAMI Chicago serves with the intention to impact policy decisions.

This position will drive innovation in training and engagement through thought leadership, measurement strategies, and best practices. The Director will also analyze engagement and workplace culture metrics to inform strategy, with the ultimate goal of positioning NAMI Chicago as a leading hub for education, support, collaboration, advocacy, and thought leadership for the current and aspiring mental health workforce.

Requirements

Essential Functions & Responsibilities:

• Represent NAMI Chicago in meetings and other gatherings representing NAMI Chicago’s perspective and content expertise.
• Sustain and expand circle of community and professional relationships.
• Ensure consistency of training and educational content and experience across the Education & Engagement team and within other program departments.
• Maintain an inclusive approach, encouraging feedback from staff across all internal departments and external stakeholders.
• Collaborate with the Leadership Team to ensure the marketing, content, and communications produce consistent, forward-thinking, inclusive touchpoints.
• Oversee and execute targeted engagement strategies aligned with program-specific and policy outreach needs.
• Direct engagement efforts with a focus on specific outreach initiatives, ensuring tailored engagement strategies for diverse sectors such as healthcare providers, government agencies, and youth.
• Collaborate with the Program Evaluation team to oversee quality assurance activities for training and education programs.
• Provide strategic leadership in expanding NAMI Chicago’s training offerings and directing curriculum development.
• Engage with external partners to promote NAMI Chicago’s training and education offerings and support partner cultivation.
  
  

Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities

• Demonstrates ability to well-serve underrepresented and vulnerable populations, including social and racial/ethnic minorities as well as those living with mental illnesses and/or substance use disorders.
• Proven record of success working in a diverse environment that includes people of different identities, including but not limited to race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender, and physical/mental ability.
• Displays compassion, integrity, and the willingness to connect with others across the organization and in the community.
  
  

Minimum Qualifications

• Master’s Degree in social services field or equivalent. LCSW or LCPC preferred.
• Minimum 7 years of successful experience leading education and/or engagement.
• Minimum 5 years of successful experience working in mental health advocacy and support, or related social service field.
• Excellent leadership and team management skills, with experience in guiding and motivating a team to achieve outreach and engagement goals.
• Familiarity with healthcare and hospital systems in Chicago and Cook County.
• Strong understanding of engagement strategies, particularly within the healthcare sector.
• Expert project management and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple workstreams, deadlines, and team dynamics concurrently.
• Awareness of the unique challenges faced by healthcare providers in addressing mental health needs.
• Effective communication skills, both verbal and written, with the ability to convey complex mental health concepts clearly and effectively.
• Strong problem-solving abilities, with a focus on creating practical, results-oriented solutions to challenges in engagement and training.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, PowerPoint, and Word), CRM tools (e.g., Bloomerang), data visualization platforms (e.g., Tableau), and other software routinely used by NAMI Chicago.
• Familiarity with federal and local policies that impact the mental health ecosystem.
  
  

Available Benefits

• Company sponsored wellness activities.
• Medical, Dental and Vision benefits.
• Company sponsored Life and AD&D Insurance and Long-Term Disability.
• 401k Retirement plan.
• Critical Illness Insurance, Hospital Indemnity, Accident Insurance, Short Term Disability Coverage.
• Generous PTO.
  
  

Annual Salary Range: $100,000 - $110,000