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Posted August 23, 2026

Interim Managing Director of Programs

Shanti Project
San Francisco, CA, US Full Time

Job Description

Job Description

Shanti Project (Shanti) is a nonprofit organization that builds human connections to reduce isolation, enhance health and well-being, and improve quality of life for local community members. Through comprehensive, continuum-of-care programs, including in-home and onsite care navigation, emotional and practical support, and services to preserve the human-animal bond, Shanti strives to enhance the lives of aging community members and those living with terminal, life-threatening, or disabling illnesses or conditions.

POSITION SUMMARY: Shanti is currently looking for an Interim Managing Director of Programs to support the agency during a leave of absence. To accommodate the right leadership talent, this temporary position is available on either a full-time or part-time basis. The Interim Managing Director of Programs reports to and works collaboratively with the CEO to ensure Shanti programs are operating effectively and meeting service and fiscal goals. This position helps develop systems and procedures to ensure smooth daily program operations and data collection and analysis, as well as manages contract compliance. The Interim Managing Director of Programs supervises directors, coaches and supports staff to meet service goals, and is responsible for managing and enhancing the internal infrastructure necessary for Shanti’s continued success and growth. The role oversees site operations, assists in employment and labor matters, and builds and manages standard operating procedures and safety protocols. The Interim Managing Director acts as a thought partner to the CEO, works on organization-wide projects, and builds collaborative teams and positive work culture.



PRIMARY DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Lead program directors and teams in ensuring consistent provision of high quality, impactful services that align with Shanti’s mission, vision, and values, as well as delivers on contractual and partnership obligations.
  • Supervise directors and help ensure team members maintain equitable workloads by monitoring staff capacity, workflow, and individual and team outcomes. Provide leadership and technical support for adjusting workloads as needed.
  • Drive operational excellence by maintaining program standards, cultivating equitable accountability, and ensuring staff are fully trained in key areas, including safety, privacy, and compliance.
  • Assess current procedures, practices, and systems, and make recommendations to identify and implement best practices and innovative approaches where needed. Manage onsite and building logistics, as needed, to ensure program operations.
  • Meet service benchmarks and contract obligations. Track, analyze, and utilize data to create dashboards that can be shared with stakeholders and help inform program refinement and development.
  • Serve as a trusted and collaborative partner to the CEO and other executive leaders on evolving program needs and opportunities. Report to the CEO and Board of Directors on program outcomes, service impact, and anticipated challenges and opportunities.
  • Facilitate efficient processes between all programs with the Development and Finance & Administrative functional areas.
  • Encourage collaboration, recognize achievement, and inspire and engage staff in ways that promote strong service delivery and cross program collaboration. Cultivate an organizational culture focused on transparency, learning, collaboration, and equity.
  • Represent organization at external functions related to programs and organizational opportunities. Engage in union bargaining efforts, as needed.
  • Other duties as assigned.


CORE COMPETENCIES

  • Ability to implement long-term goals and strategies and hold individuals accountable to contractual and organizational requirements.
  • Strong facilitation skills and ability to problem solve and create collaboration across functional areas.
  • Skills in auditing programs, developing and managing corrective action plans, and designing and implementing program evaluation systems.
  • Experience making recommendations for organizational changes based on current community and organizational needs and resources. A background in union negotiations and setting organizational management and legal standards a plus.
  • Strong decision-making and problem-solving skills. Ability to hold difficult conversations with employees and management staff as needed.
  • Ability to facilitate trainings, lead task forces, and train staff on safety, client privacy, and other required competencies.
  • Exceptional interpersonal skills with the ability to supervise and support a diverse team with a high level of emotional intelligence (EQ) and commitment to equity and inclusion, as well as interact professionally across all parts of the organization.

POSITION REQUIREMENTS Shanti seeks highly qualified candidates with as many of the following areas of knowledge, ability, skills, and experience as possible.

  • A minimum of five (5) to seven (7) years of organizational leadership experience, including direct staff supervision. Strong personnel management, training, and supervision experience, including performance management best practices.
  • Solid team leadership skills, with experience in leading change management, organizational redesign, and streamlining of processes preferred.
  • Understanding of program evaluation, data tracking, and analysis and outcomes measurement. Experience auditing and evaluating programs preferred.
  • Demonstrated experience with financial planning and budget management and effective tracking and stewardship of resources.
  • Ability to implement best practices and lead program operations, safety, and compliance matters.
  • Excellent verbal and written communication, problem-solving, and program management skills.
  • A knowledge and understanding of nonprofit best practices and the service community in San Francisco and the Bay Area preferred.


PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
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.

  • Ability to sit for long durations while performing tasks at a desk.
  • Frequent typing, mouse usage, and navigating screens, requiring fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination.
  • Engaging in repetitive tasks, such as clicking, scrolling, and typing, which may lead to strain.

COMPENSATION AND HOURS: This is a temporary position to cover duties during a staff leave of absence. The position is at-will and full time, exempt, and salaried, although considerations will be made for contract or fractional engagement. Exact salary determined upon hiring, in the range of $115,000 to $125,000 for 1.0 FTE, prorated as needed, depending on experience.



EQUAL OPPORTUNITY: Shanti is an equal opportunity employer that supports and lives diversity in our staffing and values. Shanti complies with applicable federal, state, and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. We actively encourage and seek qualified candidates of all backgrounds. We also will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.



APPLICATION PROCESS: Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis, and therefore early submissions are encouraged. Due to the anticipated volume of applicants, we regret that we will not be able to respond individually to every applicant. No phone calls, please. To apply, please send a resume and a cover letter outlining interest in the position to [email protected].

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