Sample Non Profit Director of Programs Job Description

Caring and compassion are not often included in the average job description, but the goals and results of a program can depend greatly on a director of program's empathy and understanding of a non profit's mission. In general, a director of programs either runs a single program or a series of programs depending on the needs and size of an organization. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and United Way have hundreds of programs backed with millions of dollars each either from a single donation source or multiple high level sources. On the other hand, smaller nonprofit organizations that survive off of grants, donations, and small events may run a single program such as a homeless shelter, be a donation source for a specific type of medical research, or have a civil or political function. The salaries, responsibilities, education, and experience associated with positions in these different types of nonprofit organizations can vary greatly. The director of programs often manages staff and budgets, organizes events, collects volunteers, and manages marketing. They are usually the driving force behind the program and the momentum of the program depends on their energy and dedication. Of course, all good intentions aside, the director of programs must be organized, have the ability to market and solicit donations effectively, and keep the staff morale high in order to keep the program constantly moving forward.

Non Profit Education and Experience

In a sample non profit director of programs job description, the education requirements would be very specific to the program and organization. For example, a medical non profit program is generally run by someone with a background and education in the medical field. This is not always the case, though, because the needs of the program must also be brought into consideration. A Degree in Marketing may be just what the organization requires to boost awareness. A dedicated professional with a degree in communications may be more qualified to create the “call to action” for donations, volunteers, and activism that the program lacks. On the other hand, a Degree in Accounting or human resources may be required to keep the program on budget or the staff motivated. In the case of a higher level position like the director of programs, at least a four-year degree is highly recommended, but experience is certainly a consideration. In some cases the executive director of a successful small organization could be the perfect person for a director of programs position at a large organization. You might be asking yourself why a person would take a step down. In the world of non profit this would not necessarily be considered a step down; in many cases it would be considered a step up. The executive director of a small organization is often the founder, does the job out of love, and gets paid very little for long hours. Transitioning to director of programs of a larger organization could translate to more money, better benefits, fewer hours, and the ability to help more people.

Director of Programs Salary Information

According to a recent PayScale salary survey, a Director of Programs Salary tends to be greatly influenced by the size of the non profit organization for which he or she works. You will notice that the largest organization has a lower median salary than many smaller non profits. This shows that the size of a given employer is just one factor to consider when researching nonprofit salaries. To get a broader picture of the earning potential for this position, compare median Non profit Director Salaries by City as well as Non profit Salaries by Industry.

For more information regarding non profit job descriptions and salaries, read personal stories from non profit professionals over in the PayScale blog section. You'll find an interview with Pamela, an experienced Program Specialist working in the non profit sector. Also, find a Sample Executive Director Job Description from Ann E. Tucker, the executive director of United Way in Tennessee.