Program Analyst

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Title: Program Analyst

Unit: Evaluation and Quality Improvement

Reports to: EQI Program Manager

Status: Full Time, Regular, Exempt

Salary Range: $66,000 to $71,000 annually

Location: Long Island City, Queens

Days/Hours: Monday to Friday, TBD

Organization Overview:

The Fortune Society, Inc. (Fortune) has been working for over 57 years in service to our mission: to support successful reentry from incarceration and promote alternatives to incarceration, thus strengthening the fabric of our communities. The organization has evolved into one of the nation’s preeminent reentry and justice-informed service organizations, providing formerly incarcerated people with the skills and wrap-around services needed to break the cycle of crime and incarceration and to build productive lives in their communities.

Fortune has grown steadily over the years to an agency with over $90 million in annual budget with approximately 600 staff. We anticipate that we will keep growing, both in size and depth of service. Fortune has a dual mission: both advocacy and service. The advocacy portion of our mission focuses on building a more just criminal legal system and reducing the barriers to reentry into society. The service side of Fortune has evolved to encompass a broad range of programs that started with employment and education and now includes a robust array of services, among them: alternatives to incarceration, supervised release, court advocacy, discharge planning within correctional facilities, licensed substance use and mental health treatment, a housing continuum ranging from emergency and transitional through permanent congregate and scattered site housing, assistance in obtaining benefits, a care management unit, HIV services, a food and nutrition program, and an arts program. Each service we provide is informed by the needs of the population we serve. Fortune currently serves approximately 18,000 people a year. Our program models are recognized, both nationally and internationally, for their quality and innovation. We have locations in Brooklyn, The Bronx, Manhattan and Queens.

Position Summary:

Under the direct supervision of the EQI Program Manager, the Program Analyst supports Fortune Society's programs through the evaluation of data related to service delivery and outcomes. The position engages directly with assigned programs to develop system improvements, using brainstorming, root cause analysis, and other tools/techniques to enhance programs' overall operating efficiency and effectiveness and the quality and timeliness of their internal/external reporting capabilities.

Core Competencies:

Mission and Fit: Embodies Fortune’s mission and values and will be an effective member of the team in furthering both. The candidate should exhibit compassion and understanding for our participants (wherever they are in their re-entry process) and embrace Fortune’s core value that none of us should be measured against the worst things we have done.

Collaboration – The Program Analyst should be comfortable collaborating with staff at all levels (senior staff and peers) within the EQI department, as well as the IT Development team and assigned programs to understand complex problems and create solutions. The Program Analyst will be asked for input on department projects, so they should be comfortable contributing constructive feedback and be a team player in supporting the team in completing department projects. The Program Analyst should be comfortable leading group conversations and facilitating meetings. The Program Analyst should be in command of critical issues and be able to prioritize effectively as new projects come up and communicate project progress with assigned programs.

Systems Thinking – The Program Analyst should possess an ability to do “big picture” thinking and solve problems in a way that is creative and collaborative.

Data collection, analysis, and Excel expertise – The Program Analyst needs to have experience using Excel for data analysis. They should understand basic Excel formulas and functions, PivotTables, charts, and graphs. The Program Analyst should also have familiarity with using client databases or electronic health records for data entry and reporting. The Program Analyst should have a foundational understanding of quantitative and qualitative methods.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Work with managers of assigned programs to promote a genuine understanding of using data to manage their programs and ensure that internal/external performance targets are met and desired outcomes achieved and properly documented. Reinforce the importance of entering and reporting data through the agency's primary database.

Work with managers and front-line staff of assigned programs to develop and implement a system of continuous quality improvement (CQI) and quality assurance (QA), which they will be responsible for maintaining.

Monitor the performance of assigned programs and work with program managers to develop corrective action plans as needed. Alert senior management (program and administration) to issues of noncompliance and/or performance shortfalls, ensuring that such problems are addressed promptly.

Support the Development team in obtaining data required to demonstrate Fortune's expertise;

Create logic models; produce evaluation designs and actual evaluation tools as necessary.

Coordinate with program managers on the start-up of new programs and contract/grant renewals, ensuring that critical tasks (such as having an appropriate system for data collection and reporting) are clearly defined and monitored for completion.

Act as liaison between program staff and the I/T department; translating program needs related to database functionality and reporting. Identify and facilitate staff training needs and requests.

Support routine audits and compliance reviews of programs and recommend system improvement to management based on audit/review findings. Follow up on program response and implementation of accepted recommendations.

Evaluate client satisfaction through surveys and focus groups, analyze and report work results, and any recommendations to enhance program quality.

Perform other duties as assigned.