Senior Center Manager

The Senior Center Manager manages a multi-purpose Senior Wellness Center. Managers plan, coordinate, implement, and evaluate a wide range of activities, programs, events, and community service initiatives that educate, promote wellness, and motivate clients toward healthy behaviors while helping them develop a sense of purpose, all of which contribute to clients' physical and emotional well-being and lessen the isolation of people age 60 and above. The Manager supervises the center's food service operation to ensure that staff/volunteer practices adhere to the NJ Food Sanitation Code. In addition to tasks described above, the incumbent's responsibilities include the provision of information & assistance about community-based services, marketing, report preparation required for Federal/State/County funding, records maintenance, quality assurance activities, and emergency preparation tasks/response activities to address building and client emergencies. The manager works with volunteers who provide administrative support and implement activities. As some clients have chronic conditions or physical disabilities, staff maintain a heightened awareness of attendees who may be in distress requiring intervention to ensure client safety. The manager provides coverage of essential support staff functions during staff absences.

Essential Functions

Under the direction of the Health/Nutrition Administrator, performs the following functions:

• Manages the operation of the Senior Center by implementing the activities and meal components of the Nutrition Program for the Elderly according to Federal, State, County and Office on Aging & Disability Services (OOA&DS) policies and procedures, Chapter 24 of the NJ State Sanitary Code and local Health and Fire Department regulations
• Supervises support staff and volunteers, determining necessary shifts in responsibility or work hours so that all essential functions related to kitchen, maintenance and administrative duties are covered
• Evaluates staff work and prepares related performance evaluations as required by county
• Recruits, trains, supervises, schedules kitchen/maintenance/activity/reception desk volunteers. Ensures volunteer records are completed
• Identifies organizations, individuals, and service providers whose services and/or knowledge can benefit senior center participants
• Interactive, mind-stimulating activities
• Intellectual programs (i.e., art, history, science, literature, music)
• Intergenerational/Performance, Learning/Health/Safety, Nutrition, Healthy Food Tasting, Multicultural, Theme Events, Demonstrations/Crafts, and Special Events
• Exercise/Dance/activities that encourage physical movement
• Volunteer Recognition
• Service projects to instill a sense of purpose for center members
• With assistance from the Health Promotion Specialist, various Health Screenings and programs such as: Hearing, Blood Sugar, Cholesterol/Stroke, Bone Density, Cancer Risk Screening (i.e., Breast, Skin, Colorectal, Prostate/Ovarian, Lung/Bronchus/Kidney; Note: typically such screenings are done using a question/answer survey tool), Medication Management and Emergency Preparedness through OOA&DS/County Health Department/Red Cross/Other Emergency Management, Falls Prevention, Mental Wellness, Consumer Protection through Somerset County/State Consumer Affairs or similar organization, Grief, Substance Abuse and availability of Adult Protective Services)
• Actively leads/participates in selected activities with clients as per an activity calendar designed according to standards that emphasize wellness
• Promotes the center by planning/implementing community - based presentations, developing/distributing promotional literature/fliers to key locations frequented by seniors and by providing ongoing communications to community leaders and the public about upcoming programs; works with Public Information to request press coverage of events to ensure the public is informed
• Interviews key leader contacts to identify potential partnerships that will benefit clients at the center
• Follows policies/procedures to account for all senior center and homebound meals ordered and served and completes related reports that identify correct funding source and result in State/Federal funding reimbursement for meals served
• Completes the client orientation process at senior centers to obtain necessary federally - mandated demographic information, educate clients on safety practices and related policies and to obtain client signatures on forms designed to release the county from legal action
• Ensures client confidentiality and stores records in a secure location
• Cross checks senior center clients (with reservations) against actual attendees to identify any "no show" clients; implements appropriate follow - up procedures for "no show" senior center and MOW clients who have not responded during meal delivery; documents incidents on client records
• Identifies unmet needs of senior population; provides information to clients/caregivers as requested; refers more in - depth inquiries to appropriate Office on Aging & Disability Services staff as needed and as per policy; documents information provided to clients/caregivers/service providers
• Responds to senior center client accidents/health emergencies/illness/behavior issues, etc. (potential or otherwise) that have occurred on center property according to policy; documents incidents in client record and on Nutrition Program Incident Report, submitting by due dates
• Follows policies/procedures to facilitate communication regarding client status changes between senior centers and the OOA&DS Eldercare Services Unit that result in accurate service delivery and data entry with the required corresponding client follow up as per Federal regulations
• Follows policies/procedures to communicate pertinent information re: clients who may require alternative programs to meet their individual needs; (i.e., physical or emotional changes, client concerns, issues and/or problems); meets with Eldercare Specialists/Care Managers and caregivers for consultations; documents referrals to Eldercare Services unit on client records
• Assists Eldercare Services staff in coordinating comprehensive assessments on senior center clients
• Implements quality assurance surveys on activities, meals, center services or other issues as directed; monitors standard activities to ensure quality of experience and annually re - evaluates to determine which programs should be continued/modified/eliminated, etc.
• Communicates with Transportation to set up/modify service; completes forms as required
• Supervises counting/recording donations and/or banking as per Office on Aging & Disability Services/Nutrition Program fiscal policies
• Ensures accurate completion of all assignments/duties/paperwork according to policy and submits by due dates
• Introduces and thanks guest speakers/presenters/entertainers, etc.; makes pre - lunch announcements, leads prayer and flag salute sufficiently early to allow for prompt noon lunch serving
• Actively participates in meetings to devise innovative solutions to ongoing challenges
• Attends educational seminars as directed and prepares detailed summary of key points to be presented to fellow Managers at designated meetings
• Interacts and communicates with senior center participants, volunteers and all work-related contacts courteously, professionally, sensitively and tactfully (verbally and in writing) being sure to handle all difficult situations in a private setting
• Notifies the Nutrition Office of any necessary building/equipment repairs
• Works on special projects as assigned
• Participates in Office on Aging & Disability Services special functions (i.e., Performing Arts Festival, 4 - H Fair), etc.
• Perform other duties as assigned by management.

Qualifications

Essential

• Associate Degree in Social Services, Recreation, Health, or Geriatric-related field
• Experience planning & executing events & activities
• 1-year supervisory experience
• Excellent decision making, time management, and organizational skills; ability to work effectively as part of a team; experience in problem solving and ability to resolve issues by applying knowledge of policies/procedures
• Detail-oriented and ability to produce accurate work; ability to prioritize tasks to result in smooth operations; ability to multitask in a direct service environment
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills
• Highly creative
• Ability to read, write, understand, and communicate clearly in English; ability to communicate effectively with diverse clientele; public speaking experience
• Computer Literacy (Word, Excel/PowerPoint)
• Intermediate math/clerical skills
• Ability to pass state or local food handlers' training tests
• Ability to pass the Office on Aging & Disability Services tests on Nutrition Program policies and procedures
• Valid NJ driver's license and ability to travel independently to various work locations as assigned; during staffing or other emergencies, travel may be required with little to no advance notice

Preferred

• Certified Activities Professional from the National Certification Council for Activity Professionals (NCCAP)
• Bilingual (Spanish, Mandarin, Hindi)
• Knowledge of and experience networking with Somerset County community-based service personnel
• 1 year Food Service experience/Serv Safe Certified/ability to pass state and local food safety/sanitation tests
• 1 year of experience working with older adults
• 1 year Customer Service experience
• Experience in promoting events

Hours: 35/week (8:30am - 4:30pm)

Salary: $45,000 - $50,000/year

Benefits include health coverage (medical, prescription, and dental), paid time off (vacation, holidays, and sick), a deferred compensation plan, and enrollment in the NJ State Pension System.

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