Program Director - Supportive Housing

Location: New York, NY

Job Type: Full-Time

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

About the Role

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 .

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.

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.

Key Responsibilities

Program Leadership & Service Delivery

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

Crisis Management & Incident Response

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

Team Leadership & Staff Development

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

Compliance, Quality Assurance & Risk Management

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

Budget & Fiscal Management

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

External Partnerships

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

Performance & Continuous Improvement

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

Facility & Site Operations

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

Required Qualifications

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

Ideal Candidate Profile

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

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.

Physical & Work Requirements

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

Benefits

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

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

Why Join This Opportunity?

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.

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