Director of Residential Programs

About the role

The Director of Residential Programs is an executive leadership role responsible for the strategic, operational, and programmatic direction of three distinct residential programs serving youth and young adults. All programs are grounded in a trauma-informed approach.

Responsibilities

• Functions as a Senior Leader of Northern Children's Services — not only as head of the Residential Programs — and is expected to serve as an active, engaged member of Northern's Executive Leadership Team, contributing to organization-wide strategy and decision-making.
  • Collaborate meaningfully across all Northern programs and departments, including Behavioral Health, Child Welfare, Quality Assurance, Development/fundraising, Finance, Human Resources, and Youth Safety & Prevention.
  • Represent Northern externally with funders, regulatory bodies, community partners, city and state DHS, CUAs, the Philadelphia School District, the courts, and other key stakeholders.
  • Demonstrate strong stewardship of resources and sound, well-reasoned decision-making.
  • Fundamentally and authentically share Northern's core values and lead the Residential Programs accordingly.
  • Model the professional conduct, collaborative spirit, and accountability standards expected of all Northern staff.
• Operational Discipline & Program Oversight
  • Time invested in the programs must translate into verifiable results.
  • Ensures that all operational basics are consistently maintained across all shifts and all programs: room readiness, facility condition, physical plant monitoring, shift coverage, rounds, inventories, and logs.
  • Ensures full shift coverage at all times, with documented strategies for managing call-outs and turnover.
  • Conducts and documents regular rounds across all residential programs, verifying that required monitoring, safety checks, and compliance tasks are completed.
  • Maintains a visible, accountable presence across all programs; does not rely solely on self-reporting by direct reports as evidence of compliance or completion.
  • Understands the need to operate programs as business units undergirded by solid budgeting, spending, compliance, and measurable results.
• Resident Safety & Compliance — Non-Negotiables
  • Because the Residential Programs serve vulnerable youth, leadership accountability is directly tied to resident safety.
  • The following are non-negotiable expectations:
    • Medication administration and documentation must be accurate, complete, and timely.
    • Client signatures for medication refusals must be obtained and documented on every shift without exception.
    • Safe sleep protocols must be enforced consistently on every shift across all programs, with documented verification.
    • Shift coverage must be maintained at all times; unattended shifts and any falsification or omission of documentation must be addressed immediately through supervision and corrective action.
    • All required safety checks and monitoring activities must be documented and reviewable.
    • No personal email accounts may be used for confidential or HIPAA-related work communications.
• Regulatory Compliance & Incident Reporting
  • Ensures full compliance with all applicable city and state regulations, licensing requirements, and Specialized Settings certification standards at all times.
  • Ensures all internal Incident Reports are completed accurately and submitted within required timeframes.
  • Ensures all external and state-mandated reports — including HCSIS (Health Care Services Information System) — are submitted on time and in full, without exception.
  • Takes personal accountability for knowing reporting deadlines and ensuring they are met. If access or system barriers arise, immediately escalates in writing to IT and the CEO so that no deadline is missed.
  • Proactively monitors compliance calendars and does not wait for audit findings to identify gaps.
  • Provides effective oversight for all city and state program audits, including the timely and thorough implementation of any Plans of Correction (POC).
• Documentation, Systems & Data
  • Ensures full, reliable, and consistent use of Apricot and all other required program management and outcomes tools; maintains staff accountability for required entries and documentation deadlines.
  • Screenshots of relevant documentation systems are available upon request.
  • Reviews benchmark data regularly and submits benchmark reports on schedule.
  • Uses compliance, quality, and outcomes data to identify gaps, drive mid-course corrections, and demonstrate program effectiveness.
  • Actively asks: "Are we making a measurable difference for the residents we serve?" and uses data to answer that question.
  • Maintains clean documentation systems and ensures accurate, timely internal and external reporting.
  • Screenshots of relevant documentation systems are available upon request.
• Performance Accountability & Supervisory Discipline
  • Holds all staff to clearly defined, documented performance standards applied consistently without exceptions based on relationships, tenure, or convenience.
  • Provides weekly structured supervision to all direct reports, with documented follow-up and clear expectations.
  • Completes all required annual performance evaluations on time, for all supervised staff.
  • Addresses performance concerns directly and promptly, using coaching, retraining, documentation, and corrective action when appropriate.
  • Does not allow performance issues to remain unresolved.
  • Responds to identified issues without defensiveness or minimization — including feedback from QA, compliance, audit findings, or the CEO.
  • Makes difficult but necessary decisions in the best interest of resident safety, program stability, and organizational health.
  • Responsible for implementing and documenting disciplinary actions resulting from internal investigations and/or job performance, ensuring that terminations, corrective actions, or performance improvement plans (PIPs) are executed with full documentation and HR alignment.
• Financial Stewardship & Budget Management
  • Develops and monitors the program budget to assure a break-even operating margin.
  • Ensures all program spending is properly authorized, documented, and aligned with organizational financial controls.
  • Maintains complete, accurate expense documentation including receipts and approval records.
  • Partners with Finance to monitor margins, understand revenue performance, and respond proactively to resource concerns.
  • Effectively and responsibly allocates resources in support of program quality and staff performance.
• Professional Culture & Organizational Trust
  • The Director is responsible for shaping a culture of professionalism, psychological safety, transparent communication, and shared accountability within the Residential Programs — and for contributing to that culture organization-wide.
  • Models respectful, solution-oriented, and factual communication in all written and verbal interactions.
  • Raises disagreements and concerns directly and through appropriate channels — not through colleagues, staff, or informal networks.
  • Encourages staff to bring concerns through proper supervisory channels; discourages triangulation, divisiveness, or informal negativity.
  • Engages constructively and collaboratively with corrective feedback from senior leadership, QA, compliance, and audit processes.
  • Fosters a workplace environment free of harassment, discrimination, and retaliation.

Qualifications

• A minimum of 5 years of progressive leadership experience in a similar role, preferably in the field of child welfare or residential care.
• A Master's degree in Social Work, Psychology, Public Administration, or a related field.
• Experience working with diverse populations, including those from marginalized communities.
• Strong knowledge of regulatory requirements and Specialized Settings certification standards.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build and maintain positive relationships with staff, residents, and external partners.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and adapt to changing circumstances.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Excel and PowerPoint.
• Experience with data analysis and program evaluation.
• Ability to lead and mentor a team of professionals.

Skills

• Strategic planning and execution.
• Leadership and management.
• Regulatory compliance and policy development.
• Data analysis and interpretation.
• Collaborative problem-solving.
• Conflict resolution.
• Effective communication and stakeholder engagement.
• Financial management and budgeting.
• Quality assurance and continuous improvement.

Benefits

Competitive salary, comprehensive benefits package, professional development opportunities, and a supportive work environment.

Pay

$XX.XX - $XX.XX per hour, depending on experience and qualifications.

Schedule

Full-time position with flexible scheduling to accommodate the unique needs of the residential programs.