Director of Secure Treatment Services

Director Overview

The State of New Hampshire, Division for Children, Youth & Families, Sununu Youth Services Center has a full-time vacancy for Director of Secure Treatment Services.

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 with clear accountability structures for committed and detained youth.
• Accountable 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. Implements new systems and processes that are compliant with all statutory mandates and yield increased cost efficiencies and/or enhanced service delivery.
• Analyzes, interprets, and integrates programmatic, regulatory, financial, and outcome data 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 while ensuring excellence in programmatic service delivery.
• Provides continuous staff development and training.
• Directs and oversees the facility’s operational budget development, ensuring that all expenditures are appropriate and within departmental financial guidelines set by the Controller and the Commissioner. Prioritize resource allocation to ensure adequate staffing, clinical support, education services, training systems, and therapeutic environment improvements essential for trauma-informed operations. Make budget presentations to the legislature in support of the facility’s budgetary needs.
• Serves on the DCYF Executive and Management Teams and YDC Advisory Group on SYSC operations, programs, and initiatives and provide input into issues with Department-wide impacts. Advises the Office of the Commissioner, and DHHS Executive Team members of SYSC priorities and operational challenges; gains support for resource needs; and works toward effective solutions. Provides technical expertise and guidance in areas of programs, policies, and regulatory matters.
• 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, policymakers, and the Office of the Child Advocate.
• Acts as the primary representative of SYSC, providing testimony, written and verbal communications, and coordination with the Governor’s Office, Legislature, Oversight Commission on Children’s Services, Office of the Child Advocate, elected officials, partner agencies, contract providers, the media, and other stakeholders. Communicates SYSC statutory mandates, programs, and goals; and responds to inquiries on statutes, rules, and policies. Promotes collaboration, innovative programming, and coordinated service delivery. Builds and maintains positive relationships across DCYF and with families, regulatory bodies, community partners, and organizations serving youth connected to SYSC.

Qualifications

Requires a Master’s degree in Social Work, Psychology, Public Administration, or a related field, along with a minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in juvenile justice, child welfare, or related fields, including at least 5 years of supervisory experience. Must have a valid driver’s license and be able to pass a background check and drug screening.