Director of Programs

Job Description

Job Description

Position : Director of Programs

Location: Plainfield, Union County, New Jersey (On-site)
Organization: Family Promise Union County
Reports to: Executive Director
Type: Full-time, Monday through Friday, 40 hours a week, Exempt
Salary Range: $70,000 - $80,000 + benefits
Start Date: June 2026

Are you a self-starter who has a passion for improving the lives of families in your community? Do you thrive in a team-oriented environment and have experience building programs? If so, Family Promise Union County may be the right place for you! We are seeking a passionate, committed Program Director. You will work with families, staff, and community partners to end homelessness, one family at a time. This role will oversee all aspects of service delivery and ensure families experiencing homelessness have trauma-informed programming to have a place to call “home” as quickly as possible.

About Us

Family Promise Union County is a nonprofit dedicated to helping families experiencing homelessness achieve stability and long-term housing. Through compassionate, family-centered services, we partner with community organizations, funders, and local systems to reduce barriers and support families on their path to independence.

Position Summary

The Director of Programs provides strategic and day-to-day leadership for all direct service programming for families experiencing homelessness. This role oversees program design, service delivery, staff supervision, outcomes reporting, and community partnerships to ensure high-quality, trauma-informed, culturally responsive services. The Director will play a key role in launching and scaling programs, strengthening referral pathways, and ensuring compliance with applicable contracts and standards.

Key Responsibilities

Program Leadership & Strategy

• Provide program oversight for Eviction Prevention, Shelter Diversion, Shelter, Housing, Stabilization, and Medicaid-Housing Supports.
• Lead the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of social service programs supporting homeless families (e.g., shelter-based services, prevention/diversion, rapid rehousing support, case management, stabilization supports) in consultation with the Executive Director.
• Develop program models, workflows, and policies aligned with best practices and client-centered outcomes.
• Oversee complex situations; support staff in crisis intervention.
• Ensure services are trauma-informed, strengths-based, and culturally responsive.

Operations & Service Delivery

• Oversee daily program operations to ensure timely, consistent, and high-quality service delivery.
• Monitor caseload flow, referrals, intakes, and service plans; remove barriers to service access and coordination.
• Collaborate across departments (development, finance, operations) to support program success.

Staff Management & Development

• Hire, train, supervise, and support program staff, ensuring they embody Family Promise culture and values.
• Facilitate regular team meetings, family consultations, and reflective supervision.
• Promote growth, professional development, and staff well-being through coaching and support.
• Foster a positive, accountable, and mission-driven team culture.

Partnerships & Systems Collaboration

• Build and maintain relationships with shelters, schools, landlords, healthcare providers, county welfare agencies, HMIS leads, and other community partners.
• Represent the organization in community coalitions and coordinated entry/system meetings as needed.
• Strengthen referral pipelines and formalize partnerships (MOUs, shared protocols, etc.).

Data, Outcomes & Compliance

• Establish clear performance metrics and track outcomes (e.g., housing placements, income gains, housing stability, etc.).
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, local, or private program contracts and grant requirements, licensing/standards, confidentiality requirements, and internal quality assurance.
• Oversee documentation practices and contribute to reporting narratives for funders and stakeholders.
• Contribute to reports, grant writing, and program evaluations as needed.

Budget & Resource Management

• Supports preparation and management of program budgets; ensure alignment with grants and funder requirements.
• Identify program needs and collaborate on funding strategies, including contributing to grant applications and program narratives.

Qualifications

Required

• Degree in Social Work or a related field.
• 3+ years of experience in homeless services, family services, or closely related social service programming.
• 2+ years of supervisory/team management experience, including staff development and performance management.
• Knowledge of landlord-tenant dynamics, eviction processes, and community resource networks.
• Demonstrated experience with program design, evaluation, outcomes measurement, and continuous quality improvement.
• Strong partnership-building skills and comfort navigating cross-system collaboration.
• Excellent communication, organization, and problem-solving abilities.

Preferred

• MSW, or similar advanced degree.
• LSW, LPC, LCSW a plus
• Experience with NJ homeless systems, coordinated entry, prevention/diversion, and housing-focused models.
• Familiarity with HMIS and data-driven program management.
• Knowledge of trauma-informed care, domestic violence-informed approaches, and equitable service delivery.
• Seminar in Field Instruction (SIFI) Certified.
• Bilingual (Spanish and English) a plus.

Work Environment & Requirements

• Ability to travel locally within New Jersey to program sites and partner meetings.
• Must pass background checks as required by organizational policy and contracts.

Compensation & Benefits

• $70,000-$80,000
• Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, 403b with match, Paid Time Off

How to Apply

Please submit:

1. Resume
2. Cover letter (including why you’re interested in homeless family services)
3. Three professional references (may be provided later in the process)

Family Promise Union County provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.