Program Director - Supportive Housing

Job Description

Location: New York, NY

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Job Type: Full-Time

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Industry: Human Services / Behavioral Health / Supportive Housing/Non-Profit Organization

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About the Role

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We are seeking an experienced and mission-driven Program Director to provide strategic, operational, and clinical leadership for a supportive housing program serving adults age 55 and older with histories of homelessness .

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This senior leadership position is responsible for ensuring the delivery of high-quality, trauma-informed, person-centered, and culturally responsive services while maintaining strong operational performance, regulatory compliance, staff development, and financial accountability.

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The ideal candidate is a results-oriented, equity-focused leader with strong clinical and operational expertise and experience working within complex, highly regulated, and unionized human services environments.

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Key Responsibilities

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Program Leadership & Service Delivery

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• Provide overall leadership and operational oversight of the supportive housing program.
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• Ensure services are person-centered, trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and aligned with evidence-based practices.
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• Oversee clinical and case management services, including assessments, service planning, documentation, evaluation, and ongoing client support.
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• Implement and monitor evidence-based approaches such as Housing First, harm reduction, and trauma-informed care .
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• Identify opportunities for service improvements based on client needs, data, emerging trends, and best practices.
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• Maintain efficient administrative systems, accurate reporting, strong data integrity, and compliance with contractual requirements.
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• Promote effective communication across staff, clients, leadership, and external partners.
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Crisis Management & Incident Response

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• Lead staff through critical incidents and emergencies while prioritizing client and staff safety.
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• Coordinate responses to psychiatric emergencies, housing disruptions, overdoses, and other high-risk situations.
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• Ensure timely escalation and documentation of critical incidents.
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• Conduct or oversee post-incident debriefings and support staff wellness.
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• Participate in an on-call rotation and respond to emergencies outside regular business hours, including 24-hour on-call responsibilities as required.
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Team Leadership & Staff Development

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• Recruit, onboard, supervise, develop, and retain high-performing teams.
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• Provide visible, consistent leadership across program operations and shifts.
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• Build leadership capacity among managers and emerging leaders.
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• Establish a culture of accountability, collaboration, professional development, and continuous learning.
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• Provide regular supervision and coaching to managers and assigned staff.
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• Support managers in clinical and administrative decision-making, workflow management, documentation, and staff supervision.
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• Conduct performance evaluations and implement coaching or performance improvement plans when appropriate.
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• Manage performance issues fairly and consistently in accordance with agency policies and applicable labor requirements.
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• Work effectively within a unionized environment , applying collective bargaining agreements and progressive discipline procedures appropriately.
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• Address team conflicts and interpersonal challenges through coaching, mediation, and appropriate interventions.
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• Ensure adequate staffing levels, timely recruitment, and appropriate coverage across shifts.
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Compliance, Quality Assurance & Risk Management

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• Ensure compliance with applicable city, state, federal, regulatory, contractual, and organizational requirements.
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• Maintain audit readiness and high standards for documentation, service quality, and client records.
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• Monitor program performance and develop corrective action plans when necessary.
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• Respond promptly to incidents, grievances, and risk-management concerns.
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• Protect client confidentiality and uphold ethical standards.
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• Ensure completion of required staff training, policy reviews, documentation requirements, outreach, and care coordination activities.
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• Support grant proposals, contract renewals, funder reports, audits, and site visits.
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Budget & Fiscal Management

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• Partner with senior leadership and finance teams to develop and manage program budgets.
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• Monitor expenditures, staffing costs, overtime, and operational expenses.
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• Identify budget variances, financial risks, and funding gaps and develop appropriate mitigation strategies.
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• Ensure expenditures comply with contractual, funding, and internal fiscal requirements.
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• Support billing, revenue tracking, reimbursement, contract modifications, and financial reporting.
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• Maintain fiscal sustainability while ensuring appropriate staffing and service delivery.
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External Partnerships

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• Represent the program professionally with government agencies, funders, community organizations, and other stakeholders.
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• Develop strong working relationships with property managers, landlords, healthcare providers, and community-based service organizations.
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• Participate in relevant coalitions, conferences, and advocacy initiatives.
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• Collaborate with internal departments and external partners to address operational, clinical, and service-related challenges.
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Performance & Continuous Improvement

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• Use performance data, dashboards, client feedback, and outcome measures to guide decision-making.
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• Monitor outcomes related to housing stability, client engagement, income, wellness, and other contractual or organizational goals.
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• Establish program goals and regularly review progress with leadership and staff.
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• Identify opportunities for innovation and continuous improvement.
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• Share successful practices, lessons learned, and program innovations across the organization.
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Facility & Site Operations

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• Ensure the program environment is safe, welcoming, professional, clean, and functional.
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• Monitor facility conditions and coordinate timely resolution of maintenance and safety concerns.
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• Ensure compliance with applicable building, fire safety, housing, and regulatory requirements.
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• Coordinate with internal departments, vendors, property management, and program staff regarding facility operations.
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Required Qualifications

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• Master’s degree in Social Work, Mental Health Counseling, Public Administration, Public Health, Human Services, Psychology, or a related field.
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• Minimum 5 years of relevant experience working with populations impacted by homelessness, behavioral health challenges, substance use, supportive housing, or related human services.
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• Minimum 3 years of supervisory or management experience in human services, public health, behavioral health, or social services.
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• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams in complex service environments.
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• Strong understanding of supportive housing and/or behavioral health service delivery.
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• Demonstrated experience implementing evidence-based approaches such as Housing First and harm reduction.
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• Experience managing staff performance within a unionized workforce.
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• Strong understanding of regulatory compliance, quality assurance, and risk management.
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• Experience managing budgets and demonstrating financial accountability.
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• Strong crisis intervention, de-escalation, and incident-management skills.
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• Excellent written, verbal, interpersonal, and organizational skills.
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• Strong data analysis and program evaluation capabilities.
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• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and human services/service-related databases.
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• LCSW or LMHC required for applicable intensive mobile treatment programs.
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• LCSW preferred.
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• Multilingual skills are a plus.
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Ideal Candidate Profile

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The successful candidate will be a collaborative and accountable leader who can balance clinical quality, operational excellence, staff development, compliance, and client outcomes .

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You should be comfortable working in a fast-paced environment, making sound decisions during crises, developing strong teams, managing competing priorities, and building effective relationships with clients, staff, funders, government agencies, and community partners.

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Physical & Work Requirements

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• Ability to sit and stand for extended periods.
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• Ability to walk, bend, reach, grasp, push, pull, and move throughout the work environment.
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• Ability to lift and move items weighing up to 15 pounds.
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• Ability to use stairs when necessary.
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• Ability to work in an office and community-based environment.
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• Ability to use standard office equipment and computer systems.
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• Ability to read computer screens and written documentation and enter information into databases.
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• Ability to travel to various program and community locations.
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• Ability to accompany clients on public transportation when required.
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• Some assignments may require a valid driver’s license and satisfactory driving record.
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• Reasonable accommodations may be provided for individuals with disabilities.
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Benefits

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Employees in this role are eligible for a comprehensive benefits package, including:

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• Paid Time Off: 17 days for new hires, increasing to 20 days after 1 year and 27 days after 5 years
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• 10 paid sick days and 3 personal days
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• 12 paid holidays
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• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance
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• 403(b) retirement plan
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• Health Savings Account (HSA)
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• Pre-tax savings programs , including Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) and Commuter Benefits
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• Paid Family Leave
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• Short-Term Disability Insurance
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• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
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• Tuition reimbursement
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• Life insurance
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• Transit subsidy
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Why Join This Opportunity?

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This is an opportunity to take on a meaningful senior leadership role supporting older adults who have experienced homelessness , while leading a multidisciplinary team and contributing to the delivery of high-quality supportive housing and human services.

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If you are an experienced human services leader with strong operational, clinical, and people-management skills, we encourage you to apply.

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