Assistant Director/LCSW

Job Description

Job Description

Position Title:  Social Worker Assistant Program Director.

Agency/Program: Secret Garden.

Status: Exempt.

Hours Per Week: 35.

Salary: [$65,000]

Supervisor:  Reports to Program Director.

Start Date: Immediate.

Benefits Package: 100% Employer paid Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Matched Retirement Plan, Paid vacation, Sick days, Personal days, Paid National Holidays, and more.  

Schedule: Monday through Friday, 9AM to 5PM, after hours on call as needed.

Equipment Operated: Computer/Laptop, Printer, Scanner, Phone, Adaptive Devices, etc.
Work Environment: This position will spend time at the program site and have an independent (private) office.
Travel: A minimum three days on-site per week and as needed. Remote work is arranged on the rest of the working days including meetings. (Subject to change.) 

About Barrier Free Living (BFL):

Barrier Free Living (BFL) is dedicated to helping New Yorkers with disabilities live independently in the community.  Through its various programs, BFL provides a broad range of residential and nonresidential services to disabled survivors of domestic violence, transitional shelter to the disabled homeless, and outreach to physically disabled individuals with mental health and/or chemical addiction issues.  Services include case management; housing placements; independent living skills training; occupational therapy; short and long-term individual counseling; advocacy within the medical, mental health, child welfare, law enforcement, and criminal justice systems; and referrals to outside services. 

About Secret Garden:

One of Barrier Free Living’s longest-standing programs is the community-based domestic violence program, otherwise known as  Secret Garden, which provides case management, safety planning, occupational therapy, short and long-term individual trauma-informed counseling, advocacy within the medical, mental health, child welfare, law enforcement, and criminal justice systems, and referrals to outside services. These services are provided at  Secret Garden’s main office, as well as Family Justice Centers located in the five boroughs.

Role Summary:

Manages and mentors program staff, including hiring, training, and performance evaluations, to ensure a positive and productive work environment. A detail-oriented leader who supports a program director by overseeing daily operations, managing staff, and implementing strategic initiatives. Responsible for program coordination, budget management, and ensuring operational efficiency and compliance with organizational goals. 

Responsibilities:

• Provide supervision to program staff, including support with monthly statistical reports, grant-related reporting, and overall performance management.
• Supervise graduate-level social work interns, including completing required SIFI responsibilities.
• Maintain a small caseload of survivors of domestic violence living with disabilities, offering individual counseling and facilitating support groups.
• Prepare, review, and submit monthly and quarterly program reports and statistical summaries to the Program Director.
• Oversee day-to-day program operations, including managing staff schedules, timesheets, and internal communication.
• Provide oversight of the program’s financial empowerment services, including service delivery and required reporting.
• Coordinate program activities, workshops, and special events for participants and the broader community.
• Develop and maintain collaborative relationships with community partners and organizations involved in special projects.
• Assist with program development efforts, including contributing to grant proposals and requests for proposals (RFPs)
• Develop and deliver trainings, and represent the program at outreach, education, and community engagement events.
• Provide information, support, and resource navigation to survivors of domestic violence with physical, psychiatric, cognitive, sensory, and/or developmental disabilities who contact the hotline.
• Conduct telephone screenings and respond to inquiries received through the domestic violence hotline and online chat
• Participate actively in staff meetings, case conferences, partner meetings, and professional trainings
• Support general office operations including managing petty cash, processing transportation reimbursements, and maintaining administrative systems
• Provide front desk coverage and hotline coverage as needed, including forwarding and unforwarding hotline calls
• Participate in program committees, internal trainings, and offer support to colleagues as needed to ensure smooth program functioning

Qualifications:

• LMSW required minimum.
• A minimum of three years’ experience.
• Social services experience with survivors of domestic violence and persons living with disabilities preferred.
• SIFI (Seminar in Field Instruction) certification or eligibility to participate in SIFI required.
• Strong knowledge in navigating organizations, systems and community based resources in New York City.
• Ability to work in team, collaborative, multidisciplinary and crisis management environments.
• Awareness of anti-bias and trauma-informed care preferred.
• Computer skills required.
• Strong abilities to advocate on behalf of survivors.
• Effective written communication and interpersonal skills

Equal Opportunity Employer:

BFL provides equal employment opportunity to all applicants, with employment based upon personal capabilities and qualifications without discrimination because of race, color, national origin, religion, age, disability, pregnancy, or citizenship status, marital status, creed, genetic disposition or carrier status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other protected characteristic as established by law.   Applicants who need a reasonable accommodation to perform the essential job duties are encouraged to submit requests to HR for consideration.