Unit Manager

Job Description

Job Description

Summary Job Description 

The Unit Manager is the senior operational and programmatic leader of the assigned residential unit and is responsible for the overall management of unit operations, staff performance, resident safety, treatment environment, and program implementation. Reporting directly to the Assistant Director and Program Director, the Unit Manager provides supervision and leadership to Shift Supervisors and Youth Development Counselors and ensures the consistent delivery of services in accordance with the program's treatment model, agency standards, and regulatory requirements.

The Unit Manager is responsible for fostering a culture of safety, accountability, engagement, and professional excellence while ensuring a structured, therapeutic, and trauma-informed environment. The position partners closely with interdisciplinary team members to support treatment planning, behavioral intervention, resident care, operational effectiveness, staff development, and continuous quality improvement.

The Unit Manager maintains accountability for unit performance, regulatory compliance, staff supervision, resident outcomes, and the effective day-to-day operation of the residential program.

About St. John’s

Founded in 1826 as a home for orphaned children, St. John’s has evolved into a nonprofit social services agency providing residential care to New York City youth involved in the child welfare and juvenile justice systems. We offer holistic, trauma-informed support to young people up to age 21. 

 

Our main campus in Rockaway Park, Queens, houses a Residential Treatment Center, Close to Home Non-Secure Placement programs, administrative offices, clinical services, and an on-site NYC Department of Education school. We also operate a Non-Secure Detention residence in Richmond Hill and Limited Secure Placement programs in Brooklyn and Staten Island. 

 

St. John’s is dedicated to helping youth heal, grow, and build the skills they need to achieve their goals and return to family or a stable, supportive environment as engaged members of their communities. 

Principal Responsibilities

Leadership and Supervision

• Demonstrate commitment to the agency's mission, values, treatment philosophy, and organizational standards.
• Provide direct supervision, leadership, and support to Shift Supervisors and Youth Development Counselors.
• Conduct regular individual supervision and team meetings to support staff development, performance, accountability, and professional growth.
• Maintain documentation of supervisory sessions, coaching discussions, and performance-related communicationsin accordance withagency requirements.
• Promote a positive, collaborative, and trauma-informed culture that supports resident growth, staff engagement, and program effectiveness.

Program Operations

• Ensure the safe, effective, and efficient day-to-day operation of the assigned residential unit.
• Ensure adequate staffing and appropriate staff-to-resident ratios at all times.
• Monitor implementation of unit schedules, programming, routines, recreational activities, andspecial events.
• Minimize unstructured or idle time by ensuring meaningful and engaging activities are consistently available to residents.
• Communicate significant resident, staff, operational, or safety concerns to the Assistant Director and Directorin a timely manner.

Safety, Compliance, and Quality Assurance

• Maintain accountability for the physical and emotional safety of residents, staff, and visitors within the assigned unit.
• Ensure compliance with agency policies, program requirements, accreditation standards, and applicable regulatory requirements.

• Monitor unit operations to ensure fidelity to the program's approved treatment model, behavioral framework, and service approach.
• Review operational, safety, incident, and program documentation regularly to ensure completeness, accuracy, and compliance.
• Identifyoperational concerns, deficiencies, and areas for improvement and implement corrective actions asappropriate.
• Ensure the physical environmentremainssafe, clean, organized, and conducive to treatment and positive youth development.

Staff Development and Training

• Support onboarding, orientation, and ongoing development of residential staff.
• Ensure staffmaintainrequired certifications, competencies, and mandatory training requirementsincluding SCM/TCI for related programs.
• Monitor staff performance and provide coaching, feedback, and corrective action in collaboration with program leadership when necessary.

Resident Services and Interdisciplinary Collaboration

• Collaborate with clinical, medical, educational, case planning, recreation, and other interdisciplinary team members to support resident care and treatment goals.
• Participate in treatment planning meetings, case reviews, educational meetings, and other required internal and external meetings.
• Advocate for resident needs and support coordination of services that promote safety, well-being, permanency, rehabilitation, and successful outcomes.

Administrative Responsibilities

• Monitor unit performance indicators, reports, and operational data as assigned.
• Assistwith audits, inspections, accreditation activities, regulatory reviews, andquality- improvementinitiatives.
• Prepare andsubmitreports, documentation, and other administrative requirementsin accordance withagency standards.
• Assistwith implementation of agency-wide initiatives, operational improvements, and special projects.

Other Duties

• Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned by the Assistant Director, Director, or other authorized leadership personnel.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Human Services, Social Work, Psychology, Criminal Justice, Education, or a related field preferred; or High School Diploma/GED with a minimum of three (3) years of progressively responsible experience in a residential treatment center, congregate care, juvenile justice, child welfare, or comparable youth-serving environment.
• Minimum one (1) year of leadership, supervisory, or team lead experience preferred.
• Experience working with vulnerable, at-risk, emotionally disturbed, behaviorally challenged, or justice-involved youth.
• Valid driver's license with an acceptable driving record.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of residential operations, youth development, behavior management, crisis intervention, trauma-informed care, and therapeutic programming.
• Ability to lead, supervise, develop, and evaluate staff performance.
• Strong organizational, communication, conflict-resolution, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to effectively manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced residential environment.
• Ability to promote a safe, structured, therapeutic, and resident-centered culture.
• Ability to work collaboratively with residents, families, staff, community providers, and interdisciplinary teams.
• Proficiencyin documentation, report writing, and Microsoft Office applications.
• Demonstrated professionalism, sound judgment, reliability, and ethical decision-making.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working within an evidence-based residential treatment model.
• Training or certification in Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI), Sanctuary Model, CARE, PBIS/PBS, SCM, CPI, or other approved crisis intervention and behavior management approaches.
• Knowledge of OCFS, ACS, Justice C