Vice President of Programs

Job Description

Job Description

Vice President of Programs

JOB TYPE
Full-time

REPORTS TO
Senior Vice President of Operations

CLASSIFICATION
Exempt

SALARY RANGE
$90,000-$110,000

TRAVEL
Rochester, Ithaca, Binghamton and other agency locations

PRIMARY FOCUS
Social work practice, coaching, leadership development, and service quality

Position Summary

The Vice President of Programs is a senior organizational leader reporting to the Senior Vice President of Operations. The position provides executive oversight for assigned Children’s Center and VOA housing programs, with primary responsibility for strengthening trauma-informed and person-centered practice, coaching and developing Program Directors, improving leadership effectiveness, and advancing participant outcomes. The Vice President applies a professional social work perspective to supervision, organizational decision-making, workforce development, service coordination, and continuous improvement while ensuring directors meet operational, compliance, financial, and performance expectations.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

1. Social Work-Informed Program Leadership

·       Provide oversight of assigned Children’s Center and VOA housing programs using trauma-informed, person-centered, strengths-based, culturally responsive, and evidence-based approaches.

·       Apply social work principles to leadership decisions involving participant safety, dignity, self-determination, access, service coordination, ethical practice, and family or community context.

·       Promote consistent, high-quality practice while balancing participant needs with regulatory, contractual, operational, and fiscal requirements.

·       Use participant feedback, grievances, incidents, outcomes, and quality reviews to strengthen practice and service design.

·       Promote interdisciplinary collaboration and continuity of care across programs and community partners.

2. Coaching and Development

·       Directly supervise, coach, mentor, and develop Program Directors across assigned service lines.

·       Conduct structured individual supervision focused on leadership judgment, reflective practice, staff development, program culture, participant outcomes, and operational problem-solving.

·       Help directors strengthen case consultation, boundary management, crisis response, conflict resolution, interdisciplinary collaboration, and participant-centered decision-making.

·       Provide timely, candid, and supportive feedback while maintaining clear accountability for results and conduct.

·       Create individualized leadership-development plans and promote continuing education, professional development, succession readiness, and leadership continuity.

3. Team Culture, Workforce Development, and Accountability

·       Build a high-performing, inclusive, respectful, and values-aligned director team.

·       Ensure performance concerns are addressed through coaching, clear expectations, improvement planning, and corrective action when required.

·       Promote psychologically supportive learning environments where leaders examine challenges, share effective practices, and learn from outcomes.

·       Partner with Human Resources and organizational leaders on employee development, investigations, corrective action, and policy adherence, as appropriate.

4. Program Quality, Outcomes, and Continuous Improvement

·       Partner with the Director of Compliance and SVP of Operations to establish leadership expectations and measurable objectives for service quality, participant outcomes, enrollment, occupancy, utilization, compliance, and budget performance.

·       Use program data and participant outcomes to guide coaching, identify practice gaps, and support continuous improvement.

·       Ensure quality improvement and corrective action plans are implemented and sustained.

·       Promote evidence-based practices and consistent service standards across programs.

·       Ensure Program Directors understand and fulfill regulatory, contractual, licensing, accreditation, reporting, and financial responsibilities.

5. Strategic, Community, and System Leadership

·       Partner with the Senior Vice President of Operations and executive leadership to implement strategic priorities and strengthen services.

·       Assess community needs and recommend program enhancements, partnerships, and new service opportunities.

·       Represent VOA UPNY with participants, families, funders, government agencies, community partners, and stakeholder groups.

·       Support grant implementation, program start-up, relationship development, and cross-system coordination.

Supervisory Responsibilities

Directly supervises designated Program Directors and is responsible for hiring and onboarding, regular supervision, performance management, coaching, professional development, corrective action, succession planning, and leadership continuity within the assigned portfolio.

Qualifications

Education

·       Bachelor’s degree in social work required; a closely related human services degree may be considered when accompanied by substantial professional social work experience.

·       Master’s degree in social work or a related clinical or human services field preferred.

·       Professional social work background required; clinical licensure preferred when relevant to the scope of assigned programs.

Experience

·       Minimum of eight years of progressive leadership, supervision, and administration experience in housing, behavioral health, human services, early childhood, healthcare, or community services.

·       Demonstrated experience supervising, coaching, and developing Program Directors, senior managers, or equivalent leaders.

·       Experience leading multidisciplinary teams and applying trauma-informed, person-centered, strengths-based, and evidence-based practices.

·       Experience with case consultation, crisis response, quality improvement, participant outcomes, staff development, and performance management.

·       Working knowledge of regulatory compliance, licensing, accreditation, budgets, utilization, and contractual accountability.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

·       Strategic planning, sound judgment, and organizational change leadership.

·       Strong written, verbal, presentation, collaboration, and external relationship-building skills.

·       Ability to interpret program, outcome, workforce, utilization, and financial information and convert findings into action.

·       Budget management, resource allocation, and operational problem-solving skills.

·       Proficiency with Microsoft Office, reporting systems, and multiple database platforms.

Travel and Work Requirements

·       Valid New York State driver’s license, safe driving record, reliable transportation, and ability to travel regularly among agency locations including Ithaca and Binghamton.

·       Ability to respond to programmatic emergencies and work occasional evenings or weekends as organizational needs require.

·       Ability to perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation, including prolonged sitting, standing, walking, computer use, and occasional lifting of up to 20 pounds.

Expected Results

·       Strong Program Director performance, leadership growth, succession readiness, and accountability.

·       Consistent trauma-informed, person-centered, strengths-based, culturally responsive, and evidence-based services.

·       Improved participant outcomes, service coordination, leadership judgment, team culture, staff engagement, and retention.

·       Timely resolution of practice, workforce, quality, compliance, and operational concerns.

·       Strong relationships with participants, families, staff, funders, regulators, and community partners.

Equal Employment Opportunity and Reasonable Accommodation

All qualified applicants will be afforded equal employment opportunity and will be considered for employment without regard to race, creed, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age disability, protected veteran status, or marital status.

Disclaimer

This position description describes the general nature and level of work performed. It is not an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, or qualifications. VOA UPNY may modify or assign responsibilities as organizational needs evolve.

Company Description

At Volunteers of America, we are dedicated to creating lasting change in the community through safe housing, comprehensive human services, enriching education, and access to quality healthcare. By focusing on long-term solutions to poverty and homelessness, we strive to restore hope, dignity, and a sense of belonging for people facing challenges. Together, we can build a brighter future by addressing the root causes of inequality and foster self-reliance and stability.

Company Description

At Volunteers of America, we are dedicated to creating lasting change in the community through safe housing, comprehensive human services, enriching education, and access to quality healthcare. By focusing on long-term solutions to poverty and homelessness, we strive to restore hope, dignity, and a sense of belonging for people facing challenges. Together, we can build a brighter future by addressing the root causes of inequality and foster self-reliance and stability.