IDD Program Services Lead

Job Description

Job Description

Benefits:

• 401(k) matching
• Opportunity for advancement
• Training & development

The Program Services Lead provides day-to-day leadership and coordination for Bridge Community Development Center MS -Cleveland location program services. This position helps ensure that participants receive meaningful, person-centered, structured services and that team members are actively engaged in carrying out their assigned responsibilities throughout the service day.

The Program Services Lead serves as the primary point of contact for direct-service team members during daily program operations. The position monitors the flow of services, staff assignments, participant engagement, scheduled activities, community-based activities, and Supported Employment activities to ensure services are occurring as planned.

This is a hands-on leadership position. The Program Services Lead is expected to be visible, engaged, responsive, and proactive throughout the program day.

Essential Responsibilities
Daily Program Leadership

• Provide daily direction and support to Program Facilitators, Job Coaches, and other assigned direct-service team members.
• Ensure team members understand their daily assignments, participant responsibilities, schedules, and planned activities.
• Monitor program areas throughout the day to ensure staff remain actively engaged with participants and assigned responsibilities.
• Redirect team members when activities, instruction, or participant support are not occurring as expected.
• Help maintain appropriate staff coverage when schedules change, employees are absent, or participant needs require adjustments.
• Serve as the primary operational contact for team members during the service day.
• Communicate significant staffing, participant, safety, or service-delivery concerns to the CEO or appropriate administrative team member.

Person-Centered Service Delivery

• Ensure participants are actively engaged in meaningful activities aligned with their individual goals, interests, preferences, abilities, and support needs.
• Promote participant choice, independence, community inclusion, skill development, and active participation.
• Monitor the program environment to minimize unnecessary downtime and passive activities.
• Encourage team members to use appropriate teaching, prompting, modeling, and active-support strategies.
• Ensure participants are treated with dignity, respect, compassion, and professionalism.
• Ensure the daily program schedule is implemented consistently.
• Monitor instructional groups, individual activities, physical activity, community participation, and other scheduled programming.
• Ensure Program Facilitators are prepared for assigned lessons and activities.
• Observe participant engagement and assist staff with adjusting activities when additional support or modification is needed.

Quality Assurance

• Conduct routine observations of program activities and participant engagement.
• Identify gaps in service delivery and address correctable concerns in real time.
• Report patterns requiring additional training, staffing changes, resources, or administrative intervention.
• Participate in internal quality-improvement activities.
• Help prepare program operations for announced and unannounced regulatory reviews.
• Model The Bridge's expectations for professionalism, accountability, teamwork, and person-centered support.

Safety

• Monitor program environments for health and safety concerns.
• Ensure staff maintain appropriate participant supervision.
• Respond appropriately to incidents, emergencies, behavioral concerns, and unexpected operational issues.
• Immediately communicate serious incidents or safety concerns according to agency procedures.
• Reinforce emergency, transportation, community-safety, and participant-protection procedures.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in human services, education, rehabilitation, social services, business, or a related field Master's degree preferred.
• Experience working with individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities preferred.
• Experience providing leadership, team coordination, training, or staff support preferred.
• Strong organizational and interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to provide clear direction and appropriately address performance concerns.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced human-services environment.
• Ability to work collaboratively with participants, families, direct-service staff, administrative personnel, and community partners.
• Must meet all applicable agency, Mississippi Department of Mental Health, Medicaid, background-check, training, and credentialing requirements for the position.