Program Director - Laurel Hall

Job Description

Job Description

Classification: Full-time Exempt
Reports to: Vice President
Location: Ozone Park, NY
Status & Hours: Full-time, Mon-Fri 9 am to 5 pm. Hours may vary and include on-call responsibilities. Lantern staff may be asked to change work schedule and hours depending on the operational needs of the site and the agency.

Who We Are: Lantern Community Services helps New Yorkers impacted by homelessness move from surviving to thriving by pairing safe, supportive housing with wraparound services that build lasting stability and independence. If you believe a steady home can be the start of everything else, you’ll fit right in with our mission-first team. Lantern was also recognized as a Top 2025 Workplace by City & State New York - a great place to do meaningful work with people who care!

Where You Will Work: Laurel Hall is a 113-bed Single Adult Mental Health Male shelter in Queens 

About The Role: The Shelter Director provides leadership and oversight to ensure high-quality, compliant shelter operations that support residents’ safety, stability, and well-being. This role supervises intake and social services functions and ensures adherence to DHS and OTDA standards.

The Shelter Director drives program performance through effective implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of measurable outcomes while fostering a supportive and accountable team environment.

Essential Functions:

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Hire, supervise, and develop a high-performing shelter team with accountability for client outcomes and compliance with Lantern and funder requirements.
• Provide leadership, direction, and ongoing support to staff to ensure timely completion of operational goals, deliverables, and performance benchmarks.
• Conduct regular one-on-one supervision, performance evaluations, and progressive discipline as needed to strengthen staff effectiveness.
• Identify training and professional development needs and coordinate onsite/offsite learning opportunities for staff growth.
• Oversee all aspects of shelter operations, including service delivery, case management, compliance, housing and employment targets, charting and medical coordination, programming, recreation, food service, security, and supply management.
• Develop and implement program activities that support residents’ stability, independent living skills, and housing readiness.
• Ensure adherence to all Lantern, DHS, OTDA, and regulatory policies, procedures, and contractual standards.
• Attend all mandatory DHS trainings and meetings to maintain program compliance and best practices.
• Facilitate case conferences to address safety concerns, gross misconduct, and non-compliance that affect the transition into permanent housing.
• Plan and coordinate social, recreational, and peer-support activities that align with program goals and performance targets.
• Facilitate regular staff meetings and ensure accurate reporting, statistical documentation, and timely submission of required data.
• Conduct internal file reviews and implement quality assurance measures to maintain high standards of client care and service delivery.
• Build and maintain relationships with community partners and leaders, including development of a Community Advisory Board.
• Implement crisis prevention and intervention strategies, respond to critical incidents, and ensure ongoing safety through an active Good Neighbor Policy.
• Ensure appropriate staffing coverage at all times, including during emergencies, severe weather, and disaster situations.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Social Work (MSW), Mental Health Counseling (MHC), Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT), Public Health (MPH), or Public Administration (MPA) or a related field from an accredited institution. LMSW/LMHC/LMFT preferred.
• Minimum of 5 years of DHS shelter supervisory experience.
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to engage, motivate, and manage staff in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment.
• Demonstrated ability to manage competing priorities, respond effectively to crises, and take initiative as a creative problem-solver.
• Experience with electronic case management systems and the ability to utilize data to inform best practices and improve outcomes.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel required) and comfort working in databases such as CARES.
• Knowledge of mental health, substance use, and chronic health conditions affecting shelter populations.
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred.

Preferred Qualifications

• Strong understanding of behavioral health, substance use, and chronic medical needs.

Work Environment: This job operates in a shelter site and works with the male population who experience mental illness, addiction, disability, HIV, and other chronic illnesses.

Physical Demands: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, sit, stoop, climb stairs, and kneel. They must also use their hands to type, handle, or feel. The employee is frequently required to talk or hear and occasionally lift and move up to 5 pounds.

Note: Lantern Community Services provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment. Lantern Community Services (Lantern) values the diversity of all our clients, staff, Board of Directors, and partners. By bringing diverse individuals and viewpoints together, we create more vibrant, healthy, and just communities.