Senior Director of Residential & Transitional Programs

Full-Time, Exempt position

$90,000 to $100,000 per year; depending on experience

Basic Function

Reporting to the President & CEO, the Senior Director of Residential & Transitional Programs provides strategic leadership and oversight of the agency’s residential, housing, shelter, and coordinated access programs, including 24-hour operations and other programs as assigned. The position is responsible for ensuring program excellence through strong leadership in program operations, compliance, quality assurance, performance management, data analysis, reporting, staff development, contract management, and resource development.

Given the nature of these services, the Senior Director plays a key role in ensuring continuity of operations, customer safety, service quality, and regulatory compliance. The position works collaboratively with agency leadership, funders, community partners, and stakeholders to strengthen service delivery, improve outcomes, and advance the organization’s mission and strategic priorities. This leader is expected to be self-driven, highly responsive, and an effective communicator who fosters a supportive team environment and empowers staff to achieve shared goals.at

Responsibilities

• Provide high-level oversight of assigned residential, housing, shelter, and coordinated access programs across multiple sites.
• Direct, supervise, and mentor program directors and assigned staff in a multi-site structure.
• Ensure effective program operations, staffing, customer service, and service delivery.
• Drive program planning efforts by analyzing trends, community needs, customer feedback, and service outcomes.
• Foster a customer-focused culture rooted in accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Promote coordination and integration across agency programs to improve customer access, service delivery, and organizational effectiveness.
• Support staff development and succession planning strategies.
• Maintain continuity of operations and promptly respond to program, facility, customer, staffing, or safety issues as needed.
• Monitor program outcomes, contractual and licensing requirements, regulatory compliance, leading quality assurance activities and implementing corrective actions when necessary.
• Identify operational challenges and lead continuous improvement efforts.
• Promote the effective use of case management systems and databases to ensure data integrity, accurate documentation, and service coordination.
• Utilize data and performance metrics to evaluate program effectiveness and inform decision-making.
• Participate in budget development, fiscal oversight, and fiscal stewardship.
• Partner with the Research, Development and Planning Department on community needs assessment, strategic initiatives, grant development, performance reporting, and program sustainability.
• Identify opportunities for program expansion, partnerships, strategic development, and alternative funding streams.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with funders, community partners, government agencies, and other key stakeholders.
• Represent the agency at meetings, coalitions, committees, and community events as assigned.
• Support organizational initiatives, special projects, and other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in human services, Social Work, Public Administration, Criminal Justice, Nonprofit Management, Business Administration, or a related field required or equivalent professional experience.
• Master’s degree preferred.

Experience

Five or more years of progressively responsible leadership experience in housing, homelessness, residential, shelter, community-based, or related human service programs.

• Experience overseeing multiple programs, contracts, facilities, or service locations preferred.
• Experience with program compliance, performance management, reporting, and staff supervision.
• Experience managing programs that operate beyond traditional business hours preferred.

Job Skills

• Strong leadership, supervisory, and team development skills.
• Knowledge of residential, housing, shelter, homelessness, or related human service programs.
• Knowledge of program administration, contract management, and regulatory compliance.
• Ability to analyze data, identify trends, and drive performance improvement.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to build collaborative relationships with staff, funders, partners, housing providers, and community stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to be self-motivated, responsive, and supportive of team success.
• Demonstrated commitment to serving vulnerable and low-income populations.
• Ability to travel between agency locations and community sites as needed.
• Availability to respond to significant operational issues that may arise in 24-hour programs.

Licenses/Certifications

• Valid Connecticut driver’s license and access to privately maintained vehicle
• Mandated Reporter Certification

Benefits Include

• Health Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Life Insurance
• 401(k) with matching contributions
• Vacation Time
• Personal Time
• Sick Time
• Holiday Pay

New Opportunities' mission is to improve the quality of life for economically disadvantaged individuals by providing the necessary resources to increase their standard of living, foster self-improvement, and maximize self-empowerment.

New Opportunities Inc. is the community action agency that serves Waterbury, Meriden, Torrington and 22 surrounding Connecticut towns . We offer a variety of social service programs designed to eliminate poverty and assist people in need.

Headquartered in Waterbury and the cities fourth largest employer, New Opportunities has additional offices in Meriden, Torrington, Danbury and Thomaston for the convenience of those they serve. Annually, more than 61,000 individuals benefit from programs offered at this agency, guided by the New Opportunities staff who helped them find the way to meet their needs.

In accordance with the mission of New Opportunities, the Agency aims to increase the self-sufficiency of its customers and support their move out of poverty toward a more middle-class lifestyle.

In 1964, the Agency incorporated as a private non-profit corporation in the State of Connecticut and is a tax-exempt 501 (c) (3) organization. With an annual budget for 2014 in excess of $41 million dollars, New Opportunities administers more than 50 social service programs targeted to the low-income, elderly and disabled communities.

While the range of programs is broad, they fall into one or more of the following categories:

• Energy Assistance
• Fatherhood Initiative
• Child Welfare and Family Development Services
• Early Childhood Education Programs
• Elderly Services
• Homeless Shelter and Transitional Housing
• Ex-Offender Programs and Re-entry Services

EOE/AA/Veteran/Disability