Program Manager - Behavioral Residential Services

Program Manager – Behavioral Residential Services

Location: On-site at assigned residential site, Twin Cities metro (7-county area)
Salary: $75,000–$85,000 annually
Reports To: Program Administrator
Schedule: Full-time exempt | Monday–Friday daytime business hours, with on-call rotation

BrightPath is hiring a Program Manager to lead operational and clinical execution at one of our high-acuity Community Residential Services (CRS) or Community Residential Foster Services (CRFS) sites — including sites supporting individuals on approved DHS rate exceptions.

This is not a standard 245D Program Manager role. The people we serve at these sites have complex behavioral profiles, documented behavior support plans, and require structured interventions and consistent clinical oversight. We've designed this role — and the compensation that comes with it — to reflect that reality.

If you're an experienced 245D leader who's been looking for a site where you can do the work well — with real clinical infrastructure behind you and a leadership team that solves problems together rather than handing them down — this is that role.

What Makes This Role Different

We've intentionally built the support structure around this position so you can focus on what you do best: leading your team, implementing behavior support plans with fidelity, and supporting the people we serve. You will not be carrying this alone.

• Clinical Director authors behavior support plans and Functional Behavior Assessments, signs off on clinical content, and provides case consultation (and clinical supervision toward licensure where applicable)
• Program Administrator is your direct supervisor — weekly 1:1s, scorecard review, primary escalation pathway, and operational coaching
• Director of Training and Compliance supports audit preparation, corrective action coordination, and training resource development
• HR Director and centralized recruiting handle candidate sourcing, onboarding administration, and employee relations support
• Centralized scheduling support maintains the staffing system and coordinates after-hours coverage
• BrightPath leadership team — you'll participate in our weekly leadership meeting, where issues are surfaced, discussed, and solved as a group

You will function as the 245D Designated Coordinator for your site. Clinical decision-making — including behavior support plan authorship and FBA signoff — sits with the Clinical Director. Your role is implementation, operationalization, and site-level leadership.

What You'll Do

Site-Level Operational Leadership

• Lead day-to-day operations of your assigned site — staffing, scheduling, person-served supports, household operations
• Maintain the site-level staffing schedule; approve overtime in coordination with the Program Administrator and centralized scheduling support
• Conduct daily site walk-throughs; respond to person-served and staff issues in real time
• Maintain on-call availability for after-hours incidents and emergencies

Behavior Support Plan Implementation

• Implement behavior support plans authored by the Clinical Director with full fidelity
• Track interfering behaviors and intervention outcomes; provide data and recommendations to the Clinical Director for plan updates
• Train Direct Support Professionals and Behavior Technicians on plan implementation
• Identify training gaps and emerging assessed needs (for example, when supporting a person with a diagnosis or presentation the team is less proficient in supporting); raise these to the Clinical Director and Director of Training and Compliance for resource development
• Document staff competency assessments per 245D.09

245D Designated Coordinator Duties

• Serve as the 245D Designated Coordinator for the assigned site
• Oversee implementation of person-centered support plans and outcomes
• Ensure direct observation of service delivery sufficient to assess staff competency
• Evaluate the effectiveness of service delivery, methodologies, and progress on outcomes for each person served

Rate Exception Coordination

• Maintain documentation supporting rate exception applications and renewals (Clinical Director leads clinical content)
• Coordinate with the Clinical Director and Program Administrator on submissions
• Track rate exception outcomes and length of stay for each person served
• Maintain communication with county case managers and lead agencies regarding persons served on rate exceptions

Compliance & Documentation

• Ensure all site-level documentation meets DHS 245D and Positive Support Rule standards
• Lead site-level preparation for DHS and county licensing reviews and internal audits, supported by the Compliance function
• Review incident reports and related documentation (EUMR forms, BIRF, CPS/MAARC reports, Ombudsman) within 24 hours; escalate per BrightPath protocol
• Maintain records for each person served per 245D documentation requirements

Team Leadership & Development

• Recruit, onboard, and develop Direct Support Professionals and Behavior Technicians, supported by HR and centralized recruiting
• Conduct regular 1:1s and Quarterly Conversations with direct reports per BrightPath leadership rhythm
• Build site-level retention and development pathways

Cross-Functional Coordination

• Participate in residential leadership team meetings (weekly EOS Level 10 / IDS rhythm)
• Collaborate with the Crisis Program Manager on transitions of persons served moving from crisis stabilization to long-term residential, including child-to-adult service transitions
• Maintain communication with families, guardians, case managers, and external providers

What Success Looks Like

• Site-level documentation compliance ≥ 95%
• Behavior support plan implementation fidelity tracked and documented
• Site-level labor ratio at or below enterprise target
• Incident response and escalation within 24 hours
• Direct report retention at or below industry benchmark

Required Qualifications

You must meet one of the 245D Designated Coordinator qualification pathways under MN Stat. § 245D.081 Subd. 2:

• Bachelor's degree in a human services field + 1 year of direct care experience with persons with disabilities or persons age 65+, OR
• Associate's degree in a human services field + 2 years of direct care experience, OR
• Diploma in a human services field from an accredited postsecondary institution + 3 years of direct care experience, OR
• A minimum of 50 hours of education and training related to human services and disabilities, plus relevant direct care experience, OR
• 4 years of direct care experience working with persons with disabilities or persons age 65+ under the supervision of a staff person who meets the qualifications above

Strong candidates without a four-year degree are encouraged to apply if they meet one of the statutory pathways and can demonstrate documented experience implementing behavior support plans, supervising staff in a residential setting, and managing 245D documentation.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's in Social Work, Psychology, Behavioral Science, Special Education, or related field
• Progress toward BCBA, BCaBA, LSW, or LICSW credentialing
• 5+ years of progressive supervisory experience in 245D-licensed services
• Direct experience with rate exception applications, MCCP, county lead agencies, and DD/CADI case management coordination
• Experience supporting persons served with diverse diagnoses and behavioral profiles, including specialized presentations (for example, Angelman syndrome, autism spectrum, dual diagnosis)

Strongly Preferred Skills

• Working knowledge of MN DHS 245D regulations, the Positive Support Rule, and behavior support plan documentation standards
• Demonstrated ability to implement and adjust behavior support plans authored or signed off by a Clinical Director
• Strong written and oral communication; comfortable with county case managers, guardians, families, and external providers
• Demonstrated ability to coach Direct Support Professionals through high-acuity behavioral situations
• Financial literacy: reads site scorecards, understands utilization, and can manage labor ratio at the site level
• Passion for the BrightPath mission and the values we represent

Working Conditions

• Site-based assignment with occasional travel between BrightPath sites
• Frequent driving for appointments, team meetings, and visits to the BrightPath corporate office in New Hope
• Occasional evening or weekend availability for incidents
• Residential and community settings; ability to lift up to 50 pounds and physically support persons served during behavioral interventions where required
• Use of standard office equipment

Why You'll Love Working at BrightPath

• Compensation that reflects the work. This role is positioned at a premium to the standard 245D Program Manager market because the behavioral complexity at these sites warrants it.
• Real clinical infrastructure. A Clinical Director authors your behavior support plans. A Director of Training and Compliance supports your audits. You're not the last line of defense on everything.
• A leadership team that solves together. Our weekly EOS Level 10 / IDS rhythm means issues get surfaced, discussed, and resolved as a team — not pushed back down.
• Career pathway. Clinical supervision toward licensure is available where applicable, and we actively support BCBA, BCaBA, LSW, and LICSW progress.
• Mission that matters. You'll lead a team supporting people with some of the most complex needs in the state, and you'll see the impact of that work every day.

Benefits Package

• Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangement (ICHRA) for healthcare. Some ICHRA-compatible plans allow for HSA and/or FSA contributions
• Dental and vision insurance through Mutual of Omaha
• 401(k) with 3.5% company match
• Paid time off
• Employee Assistance Program
• Ongoing professional development opportunities
• Employee recognition programs
• Team-building events
• Paid holidays
• Flexible scheduling options (when possible)

About BrightPath

BrightPath was established to enable the freedom to pursue joy by providing quality residential services for individuals with disabilities. We emphasize the benefit of self-determination so that each person has maximum opportunities to exercise choices that guide them on the path to maximum independence — embracing, supporting, and honoring each person's individuality in a setting integrated in the community.

Apply Today

If you're ready to lead a high-acuity site with the clinical and operational support to do it right, we want to meet you. Help us light the path to a brighter future.

BrightPath is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workforce. We provide a positive and supportive work environment that encourages professional growth and development. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status. Join us and be part of a team that makes a meaningful difference in the lives of individuals with disabilities.