Program Manager

Job Description

Job Description

San Diego Youth Services seeks a Program Manager in the Resource Family Agency program to be based in San Diego. This is a full-time & exempt position reporting to the Director of Services.

San Diego Youth Services: Who we are

San Diego Youth Services has helped improve the lives of more than 834,000 homeless, runaway and vulnerable youth since its beginning in 1970. We provide safe places to live and long-term solutions through shelter, foster homes, community centers and housing to more than 16,000 youth every year at 100+ community and school locations. Through prevention, early intervention and treatment, we also help youth before they need higher levels of care or become homeless.

We aim to:

1. Meet the basic needs of youth. Hunger, poverty and youth homelessness are on the rise for many youth and their families today. We help meet these basic needs for youth. What could be more vital than food and shelter? We provide safe places to live and long-term solutions through shelter, foster homes, community centers and housing.
2. Create positive connection. We help youth focus on positive life changes and healthy relationships as part of providing needed resources and services. San Diego Youth Services has long provided foster homes and adoption support services for families considering adopting a youth in the foster care system.
3. Help youth develop life skills. In addition to a range of safe and stable housing options, we offer support to help youth develop the independent living skills necessary to become self-sufficient and keep off the streets.
4. Promote overall health and well-being. Early intervention and care for the whole child are critical. We provide a broad continuum of services to help youth overcome trauma and challenges that put them at risk, including case management, counseling, mental health treatment and educational support and resources.

SDYS has a staff of approximately 250 employees and 80 volunteers working across San Diego County and an annual budget of approximately $24 million. 

You can learn more about us at

CONTEXT OF THE POSITION:

Accountable to the Director of Services and responsible for managing the Resource Family Agency (RFA), including oversight of the RFA license, daily operations, contracted services, and quality of trauma-informed services. Responsible for monitoring resource-parent certifications and foster-youth placements; supervising staff; managing program outcomes, budget, data, billing, and contract compliance; and maintaining strong relationships with Child Welfare Services, Community Care Licensing, referral sources, and community partners. Ensures programming complies with Child and Family Well-being/IEU, Community Care Licensing, contractual, fiscal, and agency requirements. 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Maintain accurate placement and resource-parent rosters, program records, and required documentation; complete other related duties as assigned or required.
• Support continuous quality improvement through program and case-file reviews, corrective actions, and readiness for licensing, contract, and quality audits.
• Participate in applicable State of California, CalMHSA, County, and community-partner meetings, as well as program, agency, planning, and training meetings.
• Assist with donor and resource development activities, including grant applications, proposal development, funder reports, donation solicitation, and related data collection.
• Conduct outreach and deliver Foster Care and SDYS program training to internal partners and community stakeholders; represent the RFA and maintain strong relationships with referral sources and community partners.
• Respond to Child Welfare Services workers regarding placement availability and respond to service partners, resource parents, and staff during crises or urgent matters in accordance with established on-call procedures.
• Maintain compliance with Child and Family Well-being/IEU and Community Care Licensing requirements; oversee audits and inspections, submit Special Incident Reports, and maintain ongoing communication with IEU, CCL, and County partners.
• Maintain required data collection, contract documentation, reporting, and follow-up; submit accurate monthly and quarterly reports to funders, Quality Management, the County, and SDYS Fiscal.
• Develop, monitor, and manage the RFA budget; review expenses and general ledger activity; reconcile program and fiscal records; oversee billing and payment requests; and address discrepancies in a timely manner.
• Monitor resource-parent certifications, foster-youth placements, and required records, including intakes, assessments, progress notes, treatment plans, discharge summaries, and licensing documentation.
• Work with the Recruitment and Training Coordinator to recruit, train, certify, support, and retain resource parents, including supporting required certifications, clearances, information sessions, and home studies as needed.
• Provide case management support to the RFA team as needed.
• Meet program goals and outcomes identified in scopes of service, grants, and contracts, and provide direct services as needed, including foster-youth placement coordination, crisis intervention, and case management.
• Manage daily RFA operations and schedules; coordinate the treatment team; respond to staff, resource-parent, and service-partner questions and concerns; and provide office coverage when needed.
• Provide personnel management through a trauma-informed lens, including recruiting, hiring, onboarding, training, supervision, professional development, and performance evaluations for staff, interns, volunteers, and JVC members.

SDYS EXPECTATIONS:

• Adhere to and uphold the rigorous standards of SDYS as mandated by its mission, purpose, guiding principles, and standards of quality.
• Maintain confidentiality and privacy standards of service partner-protected health information and other applicable information and material in accordance with agency and center policies, and applicable regulations and laws including HIPAA.
• Welcome and support SDYS volunteers and assist them in accomplishing their services whenever applicable.
• Effectively communicate with people from diverse backgrounds and experiences.
• Receive and give supportive feedback to foster equity and inclusion in working relationships.
• Recognize, nurture, and learn from strengths in co-workers.
• Maintain warm, welcoming, and safe work environments.
• Possess flexibility to accomplish job responsibilities in several work environments, whether it be from home, on the road, or in an office.

REQUIREMENTS AND QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master’s degree or higher in social work, marriage and family therapy, or related field required.
• License (LCSW, LMFT, LPCC, PhD, PsyD) and program management experience preferred.
• Minimum of two years’ experience working with children, youth, and families as a primary duty in the child welfare social services public or private setting.
• Must have familiarity with Child Welfare Services and Community Care Licensing standards.
• Must be a team player with the ability to work independently.
• Must be able to work with and represent a culturally and ethnically diverse community.
• Must possess or be willing to develop a working knowledge of trauma-informed care and dual diagnosis treatment; experience working in trauma-informed and dual diagnosis preferred.
• Must have a reliable vehicle, relevant auto insurance, a clean driving record, a valid CA driver’s license, and be willing to drive a vehicle for job-related tasks.
• Maintain certification in CPR & First Aid.
• Employment is subject to required clearances which include tuberculosis test, fingerprinting,background checks including FBI, DOJ, and CACI, and drug testing.
• Must show a willingness to work flexible hours, including some evenings and weekends, and be available for on-call emergencies.
• Must have a reliable vehicle, relevant auto insurance, a clean driving record, a valid CA driver’s license, and be willing to drive a vehicle for job-related tasks.
• Employment is subject to clearances, which include fingerprinting, background checks, driving records, and drug testing.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Ability to sit and work at a computer for extended periods, including frequent use of a keyboard, mouse, telephone, and other office equipment.
• Ability to stand, walk, bend, stoop, reach, and move throughout office, program, community, and other service environments as needed.
• Ability to travel between SDYS sites, community locations, meetings, resource-parent homes, and other locations as required by the position.
• Ability to safely enter and navigate residential homes and other community-based settings, including environments that may involve stairs, uneven surfaces, or limited accessibility.
• Ability to lift, carry, push, or pull materials and supplies weighing up to 25 pounds on an occasional basis.
• Ability to maintain visual and auditory attention sufficient to monitor the safety and needs of youth, resource parents, staff, and service partners.
• Ability to communicate effectively in person, by telephone, and through electronic communication.
• Ability to respond appropriately and safely during urgent or crisis situations, including remaining mobile and physically responsive as necessary to ensure the safety of youth and others.
• Ability to work flexible hours, including evenings, weekends, and on-call periods, as required by program operations.
• Ability to safely operate a motor vehicle and travel independently for work-related activities.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: This position does have supervisory responsibilities. 

Salary Range: $72,000 - $74,000

FULL-TIME STAFF BENEFITS: 

• PTO: 18 days PTO + 2 floating holidays + 12.5 paid holidays (32.5 paid days off)
• 403b with 2% employer match 
• Medical, dental, vision, pet insurance
• Mileage reimbursement 
• $2,000 annual bonus for staff who are fully bilingual in Spanish
• $1,500 annual bonus for staff with proficiency in Spanish

To apply, please send resume and cover letter through job posting on SDYS website.

SDYS offers a comprehensive benefits package to full time employees that includes generous PTO, personal holidays, health, vision, dental, life insurance, parental leave and a 403(b)-retirement plan with matching contribution. SDYS is a Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) employer.

All are welcome at San Diego Youth Services.

As an organization working to meet the basic needs of youth, create positive connections, help youth develop life skills, and promote overall health and well-being, SDYS believes its practices and actions must reflect the highest level of commitment to access, equity, and social justice.

The collective sum of the individual differences, life experiences, knowledge, innovation, self-expression, and talent that our members invest in their work represents not only part of the SDYS’ culture, but the SDYS’ reputation and achievements as well. SDYS remains open to feedback from all communities it touches and knows that input from those with direct experience of issues will make the SDYS more effective in achieving its goals.

SDYS is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. In compliance with the Immigration and Nationality Act as amended, all new employees must verify their eligibility to work in the United States. 

SDYS is proud to be a kindness certified company.