Director of Social Services

Position Title: Director of Social Services
Agency/Program: Secret Garden
Status: Exempt
Hours Per Week : 35
Salary: $70,000 
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 : Hybrid | 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, LMHC, LCSW (license required but not specific to LCSW)
● 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.