Vice President of Programs

Kenneth Young Center is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit dedicated to providing comprehensive outpatient behavioral health services to individuals of all walks of life. Located in the Northwest suburbs of Chicago, we offer a wide range of services including outpatient therapeutic care, recovery-oriented support, community prevention, LGBTQ+ outreach, older adult services, and crisis intervention. Our team welcomes and celebrates unique perspectives and represents the diversity and vitality of our local communities. Join our team to grow in your career while building stronger, healthier communities. Kenneth Young Center offers a robust benefit package that is highly competitive to the market and offers all full-time employees the following: 403(b) plan with organizational matching Medical Insurance (Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois - BCBS) Dental (BCBS), and Vision Insurance (BCBS) with low employee premiums Long Term and Short Term Disability (BCBS), no cost to employee Flexible Spending Account (with annual rollover) Basic life insurance (50k) paid for by the organization and option for additional voluntary coverage for self, spouse, or dependents (BCBS) Incentive program with potential for quarterly bonuses Opportunity for annual bonus and salary increase (discretionary based on annual KYC financial audit) Eligibility to participate in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF) To further promote an active and healthy work/ life balance, KYC also offers a generous amount of paid time off and staff holidays. 4 weeks of Paid Time Off (With increases based on seniority) 8 Paid Organization-Wide Holidays 3 Personal Floating Holidays annually Job Scope The Vice President of Programs (VPP) serves as the chief program officer of Kenneth Young Center and is responsible for the strategic leadership, operational performance, clinical integration, quality outcomes, growth, and long-term sustainability of all programmatic services. As a key member of the Executive Leadership Team, the Vice President of Programs provides executive oversight for the organization’s comprehensive continuum of care, including behavioral health, substance use treatment and recovery, older adult services, prevention, crisis response, care coordination, community-based services, and future service expansions. The Vice President of Programs is responsible for transforming individual programs into a fully integrated, client-centered system of care that advances Kenneth Young Center’s vision of One KYC. This executive leader ensures programs operate with excellence, accountability, innovation, and measurable impact while supporting the organization’s mission, strategic priorities, Center of Excellence framework, and Five Pillars. The Vice President serves as both a strategist and operator - balancing mission impact, clinical quality, workforce development, community partnerships, and financial stewardship to ensure the organization thrives today while preparing for tomorrow. Executive Leadership Responsibilities Serve as the principal advisor to the CEO on all programmatic matters. Help shape organizational strategy and enterprise-wide priorities. Participate in executive decision-making related to operations, workforce, facilities, technology, quality, finance, and growth. Lead organization-wide transformation initiatives. Serve as a key representative to the Board of Directors and Board Committees. Act as the CEO’s designee on programmatic and clinical operational matters when appropriate. Model and reinforce the culture, values, and leadership expectations of Kenneth Young Center. Strategic Leadership Develop and execute a comprehensive program strategy aligned with KYC’s mission and strategic plan. Identify opportunities for growth, innovation, service expansion, and diversification. Lead the design and implementation of new services and emerging care models. Monitor community trends, demographic shifts, funding opportunities, and healthcare transformation efforts. Position KYC as a leading provider of integrated behavioral health and human services throughout the region. Ensure all programs contribute to a unified organizational vision. Continuum of Care Leadership The Vice President of Programs is the executive steward of KYC’s Continuum of Care Model by: Creating a seamless client experience across all service lines. Eliminating operational silos and fragmentation. Driving integrated care pathways and referral systems. Advancing centralized intake and access initiatives. Ensuring coordinated service delivery across prevention, intervention, treatment, recovery, and supportive services. Developing strategies that improve client engagement, retention, and outcomes. Ensuring every service line contributes to the One KYC experience. Operational Leadership Provide executive oversight of all program operations. Establish organizational performance standards and accountability measures. Monitor service delivery, productivity, utilization, and outcomes. Ensure operational consistency across locations and service lines. Lead performance improvement efforts when goals are not achieved. Develop executive dashboards to monitor organizational health and program effectiveness. Ensure programs are responsive to community needs and organizational priorities. Financial Stewardship The Vice President of Programs shares responsibility for the financial health of the organization by: Partnering with the CFO and CEO on annual budgeting and forecasting. Ensuring programmatic financial sustainability. Monitoring productivity, revenue generation, grant performance, and contract compliance. Driving operational efficiencies without compromising quality. Supporting business development, grant acquisition, and strategic growth initiatives. Leading efforts to maximize reimbursement opportunities and service utilization. Holding leaders accountable for both mission and margin. Clinical and Quality Leadership Working closely with the Clinical Director and Director of Compliance, Quality and Center of Excellence, the Vice President will: Ensure excellence in clinical and program service delivery. Promote evidence-based practices and innovation. Oversee quality improvement and performance management systems. Ensure compliance with Joint Commission, Rule 132, Rule 140, SUPR, Older Americans Act requirements, Medicaid standards, and all applicable regulations. Monitor outcome measures and client satisfaction indicators. Workforce and Leadership Development The Vice President of Programs is responsible for building a high-performing leadership culture. Recruiting and retaining exceptional leaders. Developing leadership pipelines and succession plans. Providing coaching, mentoring, and professional development. Creating accountability systems that support performance and growth. Building a culture of engagement, trust, and collaboration. Ensuring leaders embody the KYC Five Pillars. Promoting workforce wellness and resilience. Community Impact and External Relations The Vice President serves as a highly visible leader within the community. Building strategic partnerships with healthcare systems, municipalities, school districts, township governments, funders, and community organizations. Representing KYC at community, regional, and statewide forums. Supporting advocacy efforts that improve access to behavioral health and human services. Strengthening relationships with government agencies and funding partners. Enhancing KYC’s reputation as a trusted community partner. Center of Excellence Leadership The Vice President of Programs serves as the executive leader of KYC’s Program Center of Excellence and works collaboratively with executive peers to ensure alignment among: Clinical Excellence Operational Excellence Financial Sustainability Compliance Excellence Workforce Excellence Exceptional Client Outcomes The Vice President is expected to drive organizational performance through data, accountability, innovation, and collaboration. KYC Leadership Expectations Mission First, Always Make decisions that advance client outcomes, community impact, and organizational sustainability. Trust is Our Foundation Build credibility through transparency, accountability, consistency, and integrity. Teamwork is Everything Leads across boundaries and fosters collaboration throughout the organization. Everyone is a Leader Develops leadership capacity at every level of the organization. Change is Not the Enemy - It is the Engine Champions innovation, transformation, and continuous improvement. Qualifications Master's Degree required in: Social Work, Counseling, Psychology, Public Health, Healthcare Administration, Human Services Administration, or related field. Doctorate or advanced executive leadership training preferred. Education and Experience Requirements Minimum 12 years of progressively responsible leadership experience within behavioral health, healthcare, human services, or related sectors. Minimum 7 years of senior leadership experience overseeing multiple programs, departments, or service lines. Demonstrated experience leading large-scale organizational change initiatives. Experience managing complex service systems and multimillion-dollar budgets. Experience with Medicaid-funded services, state and federal grants, and accreditation standards. Demonstrated success building and leading high-performing teams. Kenneth Young Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer #J-18808-Ljbffr