Chief Program Officer

THE ORGANIZATION  

 

Rancho San Antonio is a multi-service non-profit organization that provides both traditional and non-traditional trauma-informed therapeutic services to youth and families. 

 

Since 1933, Rancho’s mission has been to provide strength-based, trauma-informed, culturally relevant therapeutic services to youth and families in order to instill hope, foster resiliency, and create pathways for future success. 

 

Rancho San Antonio is a $24.3 million organization based in Chatsworth, California. In 2025, its 248 staff served 742 youth and delivered 27,757 sessions across its programs. For more information, visit ranchosanantonio.org. 

 

Programs  

 

Mental and Behavioral Health Services (BHS) Rancho San Antonio provides mental and behavioral health services that support the individual needs of youth and families. Services include assessment, individual and family therapy, care coordination, discharge planning, and connections to helpful resources.

Short-Term Residential Therapeutic Programs (STRTP). Rancho’s trauma-informed STRTPs serve court-referred male youth, 13–18, and non-minor dependents. Youth have the opportunity to address the life patterns that led to their placement outside of home. All residents receive Specialty Mental Health Services including individual therapy, family therapy, and group therapy. In 2025, STRTP delivered 18,349 sessions. 

Substance Use Disorder Treatment (SUD). This program offers outpatient and intensive outpatient substance use treatment including prevention and early intervention for youth and young adults, including pregnant and parenting women. SUD follows a life recovery model with best practice principles such as assessment, relapse prevention, trauma-informed treatment, Medication for Addiction Treatment (MAT), and psychoeducation. The program delivered 4,726 sessions in 2025. 

Youth Diversion and Development (YDD). The Youth Diversion program works with at-risk youth to prevent involvement with the juvenile justice system. Case managers utilize a strength-based case management approach and individual assessments to support each youth and connect them with community resources. The program delivered 2,385 sessions in 2025. 

Shelter for Unaccompanied Children (ORR). The ORR program provides licensed shelter, education, case management, mental health, and recreational services to unaccompanied males, 13–17. These minors enter the United States without immigration status or parental support. The program delivered 2,297 sessions in 2025. 

Transitional Age Youth Housing (TAY). Rancho offers 18–23-year-old males with housing insecurity the opportunity to live in apartments on the Rancho campus and to build a 

solid base for the future. Participants are encouraged and guided towards financial security and the pursuit of educational goals. 

Creative Healing Arts (CHA). Rancho’s Creative Healing Arts promotes healing and self-expression through collaboration between staff and youth. The studio serves as a platform for creative expression, skill development, and trauma-informed approaches, allowing youth to “heal and be heard.” 

Trauma-Informed Services and Training. Training in Attachment, Regulation, and Competency (ARC) supports a shared trauma-informed approach across clinical, direct care, and other staff roles. Rancho is a Complex Trauma Training Consortium (CTTC) site to provide an array of complex trauma training to our staff members and throughout the Greater Los Angeles metropolitan and Southern California areas. 

 

Government Partnerships  

Rancho’s government partnerships include Los Angeles County’s departments of Mental Health, Public Health (Substance Abuse Prevention and Control), Youth Development, Children and Family Services, and Probation. These relationships support mental health, substance use treatment, youth diversion, and STRTP services. Rancho also provides shelter services for unaccompanied youth through a funding agreement with the Office of Refugee Resettlement, part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Children and Families. 

 

THE OPPORTUNITY  

 

Reporting directly to the Chief Operating Officer, the Chief Program Officer (CPO) will provide strategic, clinical, and operational leadership across Rancho’s full range of programs. As a member of the executive leadership team, the CPO will partner with the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Campus Officer, and Human Resources to advance program quality, strengthen coordination, and ensure consistent implementation of best practices, policies, and procedures. 

 

The CPO will directly supervise the Director of Outpatient and Community Programs, Director of STRTP Services and Operations, and Director of ORR Services and Operations. The position also encompasses oversight of creative healing arts, medical services, transitional housing, activities, and training. The CPO will establish clear expectations and accountability across these programs while recognizing their distinct populations, service models, and regulatory requirements.

 

Providing leadership and oversight of trauma-informed, culturally sensitive therapeutic services, the CPO will promote consistent application of Rancho’s Attachment, Regulation, and Competency (ARC) model and all applicable clinical interventions. The CPO will also ensure adherence to program statements, government contracts, and regulatory requirements while maintaining readiness for clinical and program audits. This is an opportunity for an experienced, engaged leader to strengthen program operations, develop and support staff, and foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement. The CPO will translate organizational priorities into clear expectations and measurable outcomes while maintaining a visible presence across Rancho’s programs.

 

RESPONSIBILITIES  

 

Strategic Leadership and Program Oversight  

• Partner with the CEO, COO, and executive leadership team to establish program priorities and translate the strategic plan into coordinated goals for residential, outpatient, and community-based services. 

• Implement established best practices across programs and ensure staff have the training, resources, and guidance to follow policies and procedures consistently. 

• Build and maintain relationships with government agencies, referral sources, schools, and community partners to strengthen access to services and support program development. 

 

Program Growth and Development  

• Partner with the CEO, COO and CFO to expand existing programs and evaluate opportunities for new service lines and program diversification that align with Rancho’s mission and community needs. 

• Identify and pursue government contracts and other funding opportunities, lead proposal development, and build referral relationships to support program growth. 

• Assess financial feasibility, staffing needs, regulatory requirements, and organizational capacity, and lead the implementation of approved programs and expansions. 

• Advance growth while strengthening existing services, ensuring that best practices, service quality, and fiscal sustainability remain central to program decisions. 

 

Program Management and Staff Leadership  

• Supervise and mentor the program leadership, establish clear responsibilities and performance expectations, and support the development of supervisors and emerging leaders. 

• Maintain a visible campus presence and coordinate staffing, treatment services, and training schedules with program leaders to support effective daily operations. 

• Establish consistent professional standards, provide constructive feedback, and address performance concerns respectfully and promptly. 

• Partner with Human Resources and program leaders on recruitment, onboarding, staff training, performance evaluation, engagement, and retention. 

• Communicate expectations and policy updates clearly, involve staff in implementation, and follow through to ensure consistent application. 

 

Clinical Quality and Service Integration  

• Guide consistent implementation of ARC principles, and evidence-based treatment approaches across therapeutic services, direct care, medical services, and the residential milieu. 

•  Oversee individual and group clinical supervision, mentor clinical and direct care teams, and ensure supervision meets applicable California Board of Behavioral Sciences requirements. 

• Oversee mental health assessments, admission suitability, individualized treatment plans, care coordination, and discharge planning to ensure services meet each youth’s needs and support a safe therapeutic environment. 

•  Oversee the support services conducted by psychologists, psychiatrists, nursing staff, and other providers on treatment and crisis consultation. Arrange access to services that cannot be provided on-site, including appropriate accommodation for youth with disabilities. 

• Establish and review measures of service quality, client outcomes, and youth and family feedback; use findings to guide continuous improvement. 

 

Fiscal Management and Program Sustainability  

• Partner with the CEO, CFO, COO, and program directors to develop and monitor program budgets, assess fiscal performance, and align spending with funding requirements. 

• Review staffing, service utilization, and resource allocation to support efficient operations and the long-term sustainability of all programs. 

• Evaluate the financial and operational implications of staffing, service delivery, and government contract requirements with executive leadership. 

 

Government Contracts and Compliance  

• Partner with the COO and program leaders to maintain program statements, treatment manuals, policies, and procedures that meet government contract, licensing, accreditation, and regulatory requirements. 

• Ensure clinical documentation, recordkeeping, and service delivery meet contractual guidelines, Board of Behavioral Sciences, and other applicable requirements, including Medi-Cal documentation and funding requirements. 

• Maintain ongoing readiness for clinical and program audits, monitoring, and quality reviews; work with quality assurance personnel and program directors to implement and sustain required improvements. 

• Ensure timely reporting and appropriate responses to program incidents and emerging risks, coordinating with executive leadership and program directors. 

 

TRAITS AND CHARACTERISTICS DESIRED  

 

The CPO will be a collaborative, mission-driven leader with a sincere commitment to youth and their families. Approachable, visible, and engaged, this individual will build trust and productive relationships across programs, listen carefully, and value different perspectives. The successful candidate will demonstrate integrity, professionalism, and respect while ensuring that each program receives thoughtful attention and support. Due to the agency’s strategic plan to grow the continuum of care, the CPO should have vision and an ability to build and implement new programs.

 

The ideal candidate will balance empathy with accountability, communicate clearly and transparently, and demonstrate sound judgment when navigating complex or sensitive situations. This individual will establish clear expectations, address challenges constructively, and foster a culture of mutual respect and responsibility. Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and consistent follow-through will be essential to ensuring that best practices, policies, and procedures are implemented effectively. The CPO will lead by example, support staff development, and promote a positive, collaborative work environment.

 

CAREER TRACK LEADING TO THIS POSITION  

 

Progressively responsible leadership experience in behavioral health, youth services, or a related human services setting is preferred. The ideal candidate will bring experience leading multidisciplinary program teams, developing supervisors, strengthening service quality, and overseeing multiple programs. Experience implementing best practices, ensuring regulatory compliance, managing program budgets, and overseeing government contracts is also preferred. 

 

Experience serving youth with significant emotional and behavioral health needs, including transition-age youth, is preferred. Familiarity with residential treatment, Short-Term Residential Therapeutic Programs (STRTP), Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) services, outpatient mental health, substance use treatment, or community-based services would be valuable. California or Los Angeles County experience is preferred. Candidates should demonstrate the ability and willingness to learn new service models and government contract requirements. 

 

EDUCATION AND CERTIFICATIONS  

 

A master’s degree in social work, marriage and family therapy, counseling, or a related field and a current California license as an LCSW, LMFT, or LPCC are required. The CPO must meet applicable California Board of Behavioral Sciences requirements to provide clinical supervision to associates and other eligible supervisees. 

 

COMPENSATION & ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS  

 

The annual salary range for this position is $150,000 – 175,000. Benefits are included. Relocation assistance, if needed, is negotiable. This position is fully on-site in Chatsworth and requires evening and weekend availability, including the ability to respond to emergencies.

Employment Type: Full Time
Salary: $150,000 - $175,000 Annual
Bonus/Commission: No