ILSP Center Manager

First Place For Youth-Join Our Team Video

Are you dedicated to empowering and supporting youth, regardless of their background? We're searching for passionate individuals to make a positive impact on the lives of foster youth. Become an integral part of their transformative journey and join the First Place for Youth team. 

About First Place for Youth, we’re a leading non-profit organization dedicated to supporting foster youth in their transition to adulthood, with a focus on education, employment, and housing. We believe that all young people deserve the opportunity to thrive and lead successful, independent lives. Our comprehensive programs empower foster youth to overcome the unique challenges they face and build the skills, confidence, and connections they need to succeed.

Why Work at First Place for Youth:

Meaningful Impact:  Help to transform the lives of foster youth on the cusp of adulthood. Your role will support them in their journey to conquer challenges, achieve independence, and fulfill their aspirations.Innovative Approach: We thrive on innovation, pushing the boundaries of foster care support. Your voice here matters, and you’ll contribute to programs that redefine the futures of these young lives.Collaborative and Supportive Environment: Embrace a dynamic and supportive workplace, where every team member is valued. Together, we're a force dedicated to uplifting youth. Expect professional growth, fueled by teamwork and collaboration.Comprehensive Benefits: We value the well-being of our employees and offer a comprehensive benefits package. From health and wellness benefits to retirement plans, we ensure that our team members are taken care of so they can focus on their important work supporting foster youth.Culture of Diversity and Inclusion: We celebrate diversity in every form. At First Place for Youth, inclusivity reigns, creating a workplace where all voices are heard, respected, and empowered.POSITION OVERVIEW: The Independent Living Skills Program (ILSP) Center Operations Manager is an energetic, collaborative and results-oriented leader who will manage overall operations of the center that serves 16-22-year-old transition-age foster and former foster youth. The ILSP Operations Manager will lead center activities, supervise center team members is responsible to ensure a safe, welcoming, trauma informed space, and ensure program supports run smoothly. Duties include site, contract, services, and human resource management including hiring, evaluation, coaching, and training. The ILSP Operations Manager is responsible to ensure program outcomes, timely and accurate budgeting, reporting, and operations in accordance with agency policy, contracts compliance, and managing external relationships. This role monitors outcomes toward achieving program and individual youth outcomes, participates on the middle management team and is responsible to coordinate with other agency departments, hire and evaluate staff teams, develop resources and implement training to ensure a well-trained high functioning team, and to provide direct oversight of all aspects of program to ensure quality and compliance.

This work is done at the SF ILSP center, at the local high schools throughout the Bay, in the community, and occasionally onsite at our Oakland Headquarter office in person. The ILSP Center is open 10-6:30pm Monday through Friday, with an occasional evening to provide a safe and healthy space for youth to spend time in. This is currently an in-office position requiring onsite work in San Francisco between business hours of 9:30am-6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, including 1-2 days per month onsite at our Oakland location, with the occasional evening. Onsite requirement subject to change with notice.

Duties + Responsibilities:

Oversee daily center operations (drop‑in hours, workshops, events, resource access).Ensure programming aligns with youth needs and developmental stages (16–22)Maintain consistent and predictable schedules and services.Monitor attendance, engagement, and service utilization.Ensure a physically and emotionally safe environment.Implement and enforce behavior expectations and boundaries.De‑escalate conflict and support youth in crisis.Build trusting relationships while maintaining professional ethics.Manage center budget, supplies, and facilities.Ensure compliance with Funder requirements, Mandatory reporting laws, Safety and licensing standards Track outcomes and prepare reportsSupport intake and referral processes to ensure full recruitment, enrollments, and engagement of youth in program. Participate in the implementation of First Place’s outreach and marketing strategy to promote referrals, education about services, and utilization of First Place programming and services as assigned.Champion Continuous Quality ImprovementActs as a systems specialist in assigned program areas (Evaluation & Learning, Safety, Chart Audits, Collaborative liaison) as assigned. 

Program Staff Supervision

Hire, train, develop and supervise/coach a multi-disciplinary team of center staff. Manage staff schedules, coverage, and performance. Facilitate regular weekly program staff meetings. Ensure fidelity to program model through weekly individual supervision with each staff person including routine field observations of staff. Monitor staff effectiveness and support professional growth through review of outcome and practice data.Provide training and consultation grounded in evidence-based practice and First Place for Youth guiding principles including but not limited to trauma-informed care, positive youth development, strength-based approach and motivational interviewing. With management team, implement, train, and coach staff in best practice strategies.Ensure quality of services, accuracy, and timeliness of all aspects of participant records including timely submission of all utilization, fidelity and outcome data. Ensure that all ILSP staff are aligned with mission, values, and goals of First Place, capable of acting as ambassadors for the agency at all times, focused on achieving outcomes, including integrated use of data and evaluative feedback.Provide direct intervention as needed including consultative support, crisis intervention, participation in or facilitation of meetings with youth, county workers, or others, and conflict mediation.

Leadership and Cross-Functional Collaboration

Completes routine management reports and data on program activities and outcomes. Work closely with the Director of Programs and the Management Team to provide leadership to the organization’s programs. Support on-going development and evaluation of highly effective programs and organizational systems. Actively participate in regularly scheduled Manager’s meetings, agency staff meetings, and individual supervision with the Regional Director of Programs.Provide strategic direction to First Place’s programs, utilizing data from assessments, reports, and evaluations to recommend programmatic improvements and interventions employed with youth participants. Incorporate performance management best practices in the delivery of services to improve retention and increase outcomes.Provide local leadership including ensuring safe office environment. Liaise with Finance, Housing, Compliance, Talent, Development, and other departments to achieve effective and efficient programming.

Community Development: 

Develop and maintain effective working relationships with community partners including County Social Work, Child Welfare, and Probation staff ensuring quality of care with youth and families served. Work with referral agencies, community resource organizations, and First Place staff to develop creative ways for participants to practice and strengthen their independent living skills.Professionally and effectively represent the agency as needed at regularly scheduled meetings with collaborative partners and at other meetings as deemed important.Acts as a liaison with the County Child Welfare Services, Probation, and other community service providers in assuring that program remains responsive to the needs of families and the community without compromising program intent. Facilitates meetings as needed with other agencies and community partners. Other duties as assigned. 

Qualifications:

• A Bachelor's degree and of 3 years of full-time social work or casework experience is strongly preferred. Candidates without a degree must demonstrate a combination of relevant education and a minimum of 7 years of full-time social work or casework experience in family or child welfare services.
• 2–4 years of supervisory or managerial experience required.
• A strong dedication to cultural competency that creates conditions that remove barriers and increase a sense of belonging.
• Prior program budget management experience is preferred.
• Crisis management and de‑escalation experience is preferred.
• A strong dedication to cultural competency that creates conditions that remove barriers.
• Fluency in the prevailing language(s) of the community preferred. 
• Field Knowledge – Excellent understanding of education, employment, wraparound resources for youth as well as awareness of other services for young adults and young parents. 
• People, Project and Program Management Skills – 
• Exemplary people management skills, strategic leadership abilities, and the ability to link the development of people with the achievement of organizational outcomes. 
• Ability to both take direction or work independently as the situation requires. 
• Strong supervisory skills and proven success supporting staff development and empowerment. 
• Demonstrated success organizing, managing, and evaluating programs, events, campaigns or productions. 
• Strong Communication Skills – Exceptional oral and written communication skills including the demonstrated ability to effectively present information to top management and program staff. Professional demeanor and the ability to represent the interests of the agency with community stakeholders. 
• Availability for occasional evening and weekend work and some travel as needed. 

Benefits:

15 days of vacation time in the first year12 days of sick time2 floating holidays15 paid holidaysEmployee’s choice of Kaiser or UCH HMO/PPO with up to 90% of the premium covered by First Place on certain plansPrincipal dental and vision coverage with up to 90% of the premium covered by First PlaceHealthcare and Dependent care FSA plansPrincipal basic life and voluntary life insurance coverageEmployee Assistance Program401(k) retirement savings plan Paid sabbatical

*We do not offer relocation assistance Local candidates preferred

*Pay will be determined based on Education and Experience. 

If you are passionate about making a difference in the lives of transition age foster youth and want to join a dynamic and impactful organization, we invite you to apply. Together, let's empower transition age foster youth to achieve their dreams and build a brighter future. To learn more about First Place For Youth and view our current job openings, please visit our website at

We are unable to sponsor work visas now or in the future. 

First Place will consider qualified applicants with a criminal history pursuant to the California Fair Chance Act, the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, and applicable law. You do not need to disclose your criminal history or participate in a background check until a conditional job offer is made to you. Find out more about the Fair Chance Act by visiting the California Civil Rights Department Fair Chance Act webpage or reviewing this guidance provide by the City of San Francisco. For additional information regarding your rights, please also review the Summary of Your Rights Under the FCRA.

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