Assistant Director RTC

Job Description

Job Description

About Rising Ground

Founded as an orphanage in 1831, Rising Ground has been at the forefront of evolving community needs. Driven by the belief that each of us can thrive when life has hope and opportunity, Rising Ground provides caring support and proven paths to positive change, helping children, adults, and families rise above adversity, and each year, Rising Ground is a positive force in the lives of more than 72,000 individuals annually. We do this through 101 programs across 138 sites, throughout New York City and Westchester. Our strong belief and commitment to diversity is shown not just through our work with supported persons but is integral to the building of a strong staff that reflects the communities we serve. Rising Ground is headquartered in New York City.

About the Role

The Assistant Director (AD) of the Residential Treatment Center is a leadership position responsible for advanced oversight of residential operations, staff performance, training compliance, and program quality. Reporting directly to the Residential Director, the Assistant Director provides direct supervision to Residence Managers and serves as a designee for the Residential Director as needed.

This role ensures consistent implementation of therapeutic practices, regulatory compliance, and operational standards across all assigned programs. The Assistant Director plays a critical role in staff development, crisis response, and maintaining a safe, structured, and therapeutic environment for youth and staff in a 24/7 residential setting.

What You’ll Do

Key Responsibilities:

• Program Oversight & Site Management
• Oversee daily operations of two scattered residential sites, ensuring consistent implementation of agency policies, procedures, and treatment models.
• Ensure safe, structured, and trauma-informed living environments at both locations.
• Monitor staffing patterns, shift coverage, and supervisory presence to maintain regulatory compliance and program integrity.
• Conduct regular site visits, quality assurance reviews, environmental checks, and monthly cottage inspections in collaboration with Compliance and internal review staff.
• Support the Residential Director in the overall oversight of residential operations.
• Provide operational coverage and leadership support as needed, including in the absence of the Residential Director or Residence Managers for any RTC site.

2. Staff Supervision & Administration:

• Provide direct supervision and performance oversight to Residence Managers.
• Support Residence Managers in supervising shift supervisors, direct care staff, behavior specialists, and overnight teams.
• Facilitate regular team meetings and individual supervision sessions.
• Lead crisis debriefings and corrective action processes when necessary.
• In conjunction with Human Resources, the Residential Director, and Residence Managers, recruit, interview, hire, and oversee disciplinary actions (including terminations) for residential staff, ensuring adherence to agency policy and investigative procedures.
• Provide program-specific orientation for new employees.
• Monitor staff performance evaluations, support improvement plans, and ensure training compliance.
• Oversee staff time and attendance and ensure appropriate scheduling within budgetary constraints.
• Ensure Residence Managers complete weekly site schedules and maintain required staffing ratios.
• Coordinate shift coverage across sites as needed to ensure all shift-specific responsibilities are completed.
• Facilitate TCI training (initial and refresher) annually as required by the agency.
• addressed in a timely manner.

3. Program Delivery & Student Care:

• Model and demonstrate TCI and all agency-approved safety interventions, coaching staff in best practices.
• Ensure implementation of individualized therapeutic, behavioral, and safety plans.
• Oversee appropriate crisis intervention, safety planning, and behavior management strategies.
• Ensure residents’ daily needs are met, including food, clothing, allowances, supervision of activities of daily living, and recreational engagement.
• In collaboration with Therapeutic Services, Recreation, Clinical, and other providers, ensure youth participate in therapeutic, psycho-educational, and recreational programming.
• Implement and reinforce Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS), coaching staff in strength-based approaches.
• Inspect cottages regularly for safety, health hazards, and cleanliness.
• Ensure appropriate access to resources, transportation, equipment, and funds necessary to implement programming.
• Maintain consistent communication with families and supervisory staff regarding site operations, youth progress, and goal planning.
• Oversee and support discharge planning and transitions in coordination with the Residential Managers, schools, families and Interdisciplinary Team.

4. Collaboration with Schools and Stakeholders:

• Partner closely with designated special education school teams to integrate residential and academic goals.
• Participate in multidisciplinary, administrative and school meetings.
• Visit affiliated schools quarterly and additionally as needed in response to crises or urgent matters.
• Address behavioral or emotional concerns impacting school performance.
• Participate in residential tours and intake interviews in collaboration with the Residential Director and Residence Managers.

5. Safety, Compliance & Risk Management:

• Ensure full compliance with all applicable state and federal regulations governing Residential Treatment Centers (RTCs), including oversight and regulatory guidance provided by the New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS), as well as requirements set forth by referral sources and funding authorities.
• Monitor incident reporting, medication administration processes, and safety protocols.
• Respond to emergencies across sites, including behavioral and medical crises.
• Review incident reports and documentation for accuracy, timeliness, and compliance.
• Partner with Compliance staff to address identified concerns and corrective actions.
• Oversee and monitor Justice Center incidents/reports for tracking to ensure compliance with all reporting requirements, timely responses to inquiries and investigations, and implementation of any required corrective actions by the RTC.

6. Fiscal & Administrative Oversight

• Assist the Residential Director with data collection, audits, reporting, and regulatory reviews.
• Support budget oversight by monitoring site-level expenditures and resource allocation.
• Maintain and manage site budgets, ensuring expenditures align with program goals and available funds.
• Ensure responsible use of agency resources and maintain proper receipts and documentation.

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Your Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree is required, master's degree preferred
• A safe driving record as determined by NYS Department of Motor Vehicles
• Must enroll in TCI training upon hire and obtain certification within six (6) months of employment, unless otherwise determined by administration.
• Obtain and maintain current TCI (Therapeutic Crisis Intervention) certification and ensure ongoing compliance with all required training.
• Experience in a Residential Treatment Center working with adolescents.
• Minimum of 3 years of supervisory experience and 5+ years of experience in a residential treatment or special education setting.
• Experience working with children or adolescents with emotional, behavioral, or developmental disabilities in a residential, educational, or therapeutic setting.
• Good communication, interpersonal, and leadership skills, with the ability to work effectively with students, families, school personnel, and external agencies.
• Ability to manage complex cases, implement treatment plans, and provide crisis intervention when necessary.
• Commitment to fostering a positive, inclusive, and therapeutic environment for all students.
• Flexibility with changing priorities and ability to successfully manage multiple projects
• Verbal and written communication skills are essential

Supervisory Responsibility

Yes

Work Environment:

Clinic/Field/Corporate Office This position is based out of our Yonkers Residential Treatment Center location for adolescents ages 12-21.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work:

This position is in a 24/7 program. The AD shifts are 8am-4pm/9-5pm. The AD is responsible for maintaining a flexible and structured schedule that includes regular oversight of daily operations, staff coordination, family communication, and participation in meetings, ensuring that all responsibilities are met efficiently and effectively.

Additional Requirements:

• Authorized to work in the U.S.
• Ability to travel to NYC to attend Leadership and RG related meetings, activities, etc.
• Ability to travel to other Rising Ground sites

Professional Practice:

• Arrive at work on time, respecting other shift workers and programmatic needs.
• At all times, model the appropriate dress, speech and behavior for residents. This includes dressing professionally or in designated work uniforms/dress code if prescribed.
• Professionally representing the agency when speaking with parents, community members or other stakeholders.
• Maintain appropriate professional boundaries with adolescents and staff; Respond to all requests in a professional and courteous manner.
• Respect the privacy of all individuals and maintain client confidentiality as prescribed by law and in Agency policies.
• Assume the expected role on the treatment team and maintain collaborative relations with members.
• Maintain and promote a cooperative, harmonious, teamwork environment within the workplace. Maintain and promote an atmosphere of dignity and respect in line with the philosophy and policies of Rising Ground.
• Become knowledgeable of all RTC policies and procedures; modeling, training and actively supervising the use of each.
• Attend all mandatory or recommended staff development workshops/trainings.
• Show organizational commitment which includes understanding and actively supporting the mission, policies and procedures protecting the integrity of the Agency.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

It is the policy of Rising Ground that the Agency wholly complies with equal treatment of all

employees and applicants for employment without unlawful discrimination as to an individual’s

perceived or actual race, creed, color, national origin, alienate, citizenship status, gender

identity, age, disability, marital status, partnership status, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religion, or

veteran status in all employment decisions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring,

compensation, training and apprenticeship, promotion, upgrading, demotion, downgrading, transfer, layoff and termination and all other terms and conditions of employment.