Director, Connect Through Tech

Overview

Location

DOROT is a hybrid work environment where team members work part-time onsite and part- time remotely. The Director will report to the headquarters located on the Upper West Side of Manhattan and should expect to be in the office three to five days a week.

About DOROT

DOROT, which means “generations” is Hebrew, was founded in 1976 by Columbia University students seeking to make a difference for older adults in their community. We provide a dynamic partnership of seniors, volunteers and professionals dedicated to enhancing the lives of older adults to help them live independently as valued members of the community. Our wide array of programs – conducted onsite, in the home, online, and in the community – are designed to combat loneliness and social isolation. Compassionate care and a commitment to excellence are hallmarks of our programs and staff.

DOROT’s client’s range in age from 60 to over 100, vary in physical mobility and economic status, and come from diverse backgrounds. We bring generations together in mutually beneficial partnerships, engaging over 6,000 volunteers of all ages each year. DOROT offers programs in our Manhattan catchment area (the Upper West Side from 59th to 125th Streets, East Side from 14th to 96th Streets and Westchester County) and throughout New York and more broadly through a rich array of telephone and online programming. 

The Connect Through Tech Department

DOROT recognizes the potential for technology to facilitate the vital connections that older adults need to maintain social ties and build new connections in an increasingly digital world. Access to and comfort with using technology are effective in alleviating social isolation and are essential to remaining independent, yet many older adults do not have the skills and confidence to use technology and few resources exist to help late adopters learn and practice these skills. Connect Through Tech (CTT)’s growing portfolio of programs help older adults leverage technology. The portfolio includes:

• Tech Coaching: Trained volunteers are matched with older adults to provide one-to-one multi-session support to grow their confidence and skills in using their devices. 
• Living Well Digitally: Older adults are encouraged to embrace technology by presenting emerging tech solutions to enrich and improve daily life
• University Without Walls (UWW): DOROT’s long-standing teleconference program, connects home-based older adults to a vibrant community of lifelong learning and social engagement while exploring topics on arts, literature, health, current events, support groups and more.

The Opportunity

Reporting to the Senior Program Officer for Community Based Programs, the Director of Connect Through Tech is a creative and strategic leader in building on the existing programs and exploring and piloting new strategies to promote tech adoption, share our models and extend DOROT’s reach and impact to further DOROT’s mission and strategic priorities. 

What You’ll Do

The Director will be asked to execute on the following as well as other project, initiatives assigned by their manger the Senior Program Officer for Community Based Programs:

Leadership & Program Management

•  Manage all department programs and staff teams to deliver high quality programs that are consumer focused and outcome driven. 
•  Supervise and inspire a staff team of 7-8 staff including hiring, training, conducting annual employee evaluations, and supporting and mentoring each in meeting goals and achieving results.
•  Develop work plans for building internal capacity to meet existing programs’ growth goals and for the implementation of new initiatives. Monitor attainment of goals and outcomes and adjust strategies as needed.
•  Ensure effective systems are in place for timely program tracking: oversee the collection of participant data and program metrics in DOROT’s client database, review metrics, prepare internal reports and utilize data for program improvement. 
•  Manage program budgets and monitor expenditures and oversee the implementation of program grants and deliverables.
•  Work with the Development department staff on grant proposals, and donor engagement materials.
•  Ensure operational excellence by working with DOROT’s Finance, Operations, People & Culture, and Development departments to implement and adhere to policies and practices.

Program Development & Growing Scope Reach and Impact

•  Stay abreast of advances in technology and trends for older adults, explore promising ideas, seek out strategic partnerships, and cultivate and maintain effective relationships with collaborators to meet mutual goals of advancing the use of technology and older adults. 
•  Partner with DOROT’s Program Directors on key program components including successful recruitment and management of interns and volunteers, supporting older adults who face challenges and bringing CTT programs into homes and the community through partnership arrangements. 
•  Collaborate with DOROT’s Impact and Evaluation Department to integrate client feedback, measure impact and assess the evolving needs of older adults and technology. 
•  Elevate DOROT’s profile within the tech and aging community by presenting at conferences, collaborating with local partners and serving as a thought leader to champion the potential of technology to improve the lives of older adults. 

Who You Are

•  You are a versatile professional who can move easily between and balance a range of responsibilities. 
•  You need not be a technology expert, but you are comfortable in learning new applications, are curious about new tech developments and excited by technology-based solutions to everyday activities. 
•  You have experience in leading a diverse staff team and demonstrated success in motivating staff, developing individual capacities and creating a cohesive team that delivers high quality services. 
•  You have a passion for helping others and share DOROT’s commitment to excellence, communal responsibility and compassion. You come to work each day motivated to make a difference.
•  You are data driven and analytical. You ask questions and seek to understand how our programs can be improved, iterated and made more efficient and impactful. You continually seek to improve the experience of our constituents. 
•  You are articulate, have excellent writing skills and are comfortable communicating with and presenting to a range of audiences. 
•  You have experience working with diverse communities and have a deep sensitivity to and awareness of differences across a range of dimensions including gender, culture, economic status, race and ethnicity and disability. 

Qualifications

•  Master’s degree (or years of commensurate experience) in education, social work, business administration, nonprofit management or another related field.
•  A minimum of seven years of professional work including positions in the nonprofit sector, education, or public service, preferably with a mission-driven organization. Your work experience demonstrates progressive growth while taking on new challenges, implementing change and developing new programs and initiatives. 
•  Availability to work occasional evening and weekend hours for department programs and presentations, and agency wide activities and events.
•  Proficient in Microsoft Office programs and experience with client information databases.
• Experience with older adults and knowledge of aging issues and/or volunteer management is a plus. 

DOROT, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer providing for employment or advancement without discrimination because of race, color, religion creed, political association, ancestry, gender, gender identity, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, domestic violence or stalking victim status, national origin, citizenship, age, veteran status, pregnancy, handicap disability, genetic, genetic characteristics, or other protected status.