BUREAU CHIEF OF SECURE TREATMENT SERVICES AT THE SUNUNU YOUTH SERVICES CENTER

Responsibilities

• Provides leadership and direction in executing transformational initiatives, including developing and implementing a strategic plan and a core set of initiatives that advance clinical and therapeutic models of care, reducing recidivism, and strengthening post-discharge transition planning within the broader behavioral health system of care.
• Ensures all operational practices reflect trauma-informed, youth-centered approaches, embedding evidence-based and de-escalation focused models of care across all program areas while sustaining a safe, secure, and therapeutic environment for committed and detained youth.
• Exercises overall accountability for all aspects of SYSC administrative, business, and program operations, including long-range planning, safety and security; authorizing system-wide policy and procedures; analyzing staffing requirements; approving staffing and personnel management actions; and performing contract oversight.
• Implements transparent data-driven performance metrics for youth outcomes, staff safety, program utilization, and compliance with statutory requirements (including RSA 126-U and Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA)). Ensures timely review and communication of incident trends, root-cause analyses, and corrective actions.
• Ensures the implementation of new systems and processes is aligned with industry best practices, compliant with all statutory mandates, and yields increased cost efficiencies and/or enhanced service delivery. Analyzes, interprets, and integrates programmatic, regulatory, financial, and outcome data and metrics to inform planning efforts and decision-making.
• Ensures a safe and secure environment that promotes the attainment of educational, vocational, and treatment goals for youth in a secure residential facility setting. Ensures youth in residence are monitored appropriately within the established standards, protocols, and policies of DCYF, SYSC, DHHS, and other outside regulatory entities including the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) while ensuring excellence in programmatic service delivery.
• Provides continuous staff development and training to ensure the shift from a corrections model to a treatment model is successful. Provides direct oversight of facility for daily operations and collaborates with DHHS Facilities regularly on physical plant issues, needs, and challenges to maintain safety and security while implementing a trauma informed treatment model.
• Oversees the performance of a range of contracts and contracted staff to complement a safe, trauma-informed, therapeutic model. Includes contracted clinical staff, psychologist, psychiatrist, and education professionals. Ensures educational services meet state and federal requirements, are coordinated with Local Educational Agencies (LEAs).
• Includes collaborative opportunities to engage contracted staff in transformative design and implementation initiatives including daily programming, design, and location of a new physical facility that will complement a trauma-informed, therapeutic approach.
• Fosters a workplace culture grounded in physical and psychological safety, transparency, professionalism, and mutual respect. Ensures consistent supervisory coaching and trauma-informed leadership practices that reinforce safe daily operations and support staff in effectively managing high-risk situations.
• Develops, motivates, and leads a collaborative, high-performing SYSC Administrative Team with overall accountability for hiring and supervising employees. Leads, models, and supports a culture of accountability, continuous learning, and quality improvement that is built on respect, teamwork, innovative problem-solving, and an unwavering commitment to the safety and wellbeing of both staff and youth.
• Maintains clear expectations, professional support, guidance, and development opportunities for each staff member. Monitors and balances staff priorities, workload, and safety considerations to optimize efficiency, reinforce safe practices, and promote a healthy, stable work environment.
• Serves on the DCYF Executive and Management Teams and YDC Advisory Group to provide information and updates on SYSC operations, programs, and initiatives and provide input into issues with Department-wide impacts. Advises the DHHS Commissioner, Deputy Commissioner, Associate Commissioners, and DHHS Executive Team members of SYSC priorities and operational challenges; gains support for resource needs; and works toward effective solutions.
• Develops and delivers reports, data, and recommendations to inform strategy, planning, and decision-making. Provides written updates on the status of recommendations from external oversight bodies and leads joint problem-solving efforts with courts, external stakeholders, and the Office of Child Advocate.
• Develops and implements integrated child welfare and juvenile justice programs in collaboration with the DCYF. Serves as a subject matter expert and liaison on issues affecting juvenile justice services within the Department, including matters relating to youth development theory, public policy advocacy, and public relations.
• Acts as the official representative of the DCYF and SYSC in providing testimony, communications, and/or coordination with the Office of the Governor; State Legislature; elected officials; federal, state, municipal, and community partner agencies; contract agencies; the media; and other internal and external stakeholders to educate and advance the understanding of SYSC mandates, programs, goals, and objectives; affect public policy decisions; and provide information as requested.
• Responds to inquiries regarding statute, rule, and policy and procedure interpretations. Increases collaboration and innovative programming; facilitates coordinated service delivery; and enhances responsiveness to stakeholder needs.
• Actively develops a positive ongoing relationship with families, regulatory agencies, the community, and community-based programs interacting with the juvenile population supported at SYSC.
• Directs and oversees the Bureau’s operational budget development, ensuring that all expenditures are appropriate and within departmental financial guidelines set by the Controller and the Commissioner. Prioritizes resource allocation to ensure adequate staffing, clinical supports, education services, training systems, and therapeutic environment improvements essential for trauma-informed operations.

Qualifications

• Education: Master’s degree from a recognized college or university with major study in business administration, criminal justice, sociology, social work, psychology, or related field. Training in adolescent development and behavioral health is highly recommended.
• Experience: Eight years of progressive executive-level leadership experience in an organization focused on residential youth rehabilitation/treatment programs, human service delivery programs implementing trauma-informed care for adolescents, or other public-sector programs serving youth with complex behavioral health needs or court involvement. Experience must include leading improvements in youth outcomes, developing a positive facility-wide culture, and building a strong leadership team, while also establishing and maintaining excellent rapport with staff at all levels, including union representatives. At least four of these years must have been in a management-level position with administrative responsibilities related to program administration, supervision, planning, evaluation, or comparable management functions. Experience working with external stakeholders, including policymakers, advocates, and/or regulatory agencies, is preferred.
• OR Education: Bachelor’s degree from a recognized college or university with major study in business administration, criminal justice, sociology, social work, psychology or related field. Training in adolescent development and behavioral health is highly recommended.
• Experience: Ten years of progressive executive-level leadership experience in an organization focused on residential youth rehabilitation/treatment programs, human service delivery programs implementing trauma-informed care for adolescents, or other public-sector programs serving youth with complex behavioral health needs or court involvement. Experience must include leading improvements in youth outcomes, developing a positive facility-wide culture, and building a strong leadership team, while also establishing and maintaining excellent rapport with staff at all levels, including union representatives. At least four of these years must have been in a management-level position with administrative responsibilities related to program administration, supervision, planning, evaluation, or comparable management functions. Experience working with external stakeholders, including policymakers, advocates, and/or regulatory agencies, is preferred.
• Licenses/Certifications: Valid driver’s license and/or access to transportation for use in statewide travel.