Program Director – Caminos Program

Reports to: Executive Director, Caminos Programs

About the role

The Program Director is a senior leader responsible for the overall management and success of Everstand’s Caminos shelter program in Pennsylvania. This role provides effective leadership to uphold a trauma-responsive, culturally attuned environment for youth, families, and staff, while ensuring the delivery of high-quality, compliant services. Serving as the primary liaison with the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), the Program Director oversees programmatic, administrative, financial, and operational systems and ensures timely, accurate reporting related to operations, services, and finances. Through adaptive leadership, coaching, and mentoring, the Program Director supports supervisory, clinical, and direct care staff, fostering integrity, accountability, and a respectful, supportive workplace culture. The role ensures strong systems of performance excellence, fidelity to program components, and clear methods of accountability to sustain service delivery expectations. The Program Director is accountable for program outcomes, regularly reviewing data to assess performance, identify gaps, and implement solutions when benchmarks are not met. Ultimately, this position ensures the shelter provides a safe, welcoming living environment for youth and delivers effective case management and clinical services that promote timely, safe unification with sponsors in the community.

Responsibilities

• Model and act in accordance with Everstand’s core values.
• Demonstrate and practice trauma-informed leadership.
• Demonstrate and practice Everstand’s leadership mindset: “Choose kindness. Solve problems and learn together. Make it happen.”
• Maintain primary responsibility for Caminos Shelter operations and outcomes.
• Responsible for recruiting, interviewing, and onboarding new employees for the department.
• Integral in the orientation process for staff, providing information on the federal regulations and governing principles of the program as well as teaching clear expectations of the positions.
• Provide regular guidance and training opportunities for all members of the care team.
• Responsible for the professional development and wellness of the department, recognizing the importance of addressing secondary trauma for staff.
• Complete timely annual evaluations for all direct reports, ensuring talent’s progress is assessed in a fair and comprehensive manner.
• Provide oversight to ensure that all talent’s progress is assessed through the annual evaluation process in a timely manner.
• Provide ongoing support to care team members in the milieu and during meetings with internal and external stakeholders.
• Ensure accurate and timely completion of documentation and programmatic reports as required by state and federal regulations, including ensuring that all services provided to youth are documented in the client record and required databases in accordance with state and federal regulations.
• Act as the primary liaison for outside stakeholders, including the Office of Refugee Resettlement and Immigration Customs Enforcement.
• Provide leadership for the program through presence in the units to role model and provide support and coaching for the care team, as well as provide opportunities to witness, demonstrate, and reinforce Trauma-Informed Practices.
• Model conscious leadership and emotional intelligence by practicing self-awareness, accountability, reflective decision-making, and values-aligned communication, while modeling healthy self-care practices for direct reports and program staff to foster trust, resilience, and shared responsibility.
• Develop systems of accountability and ensure that the policies and procedures of Everstand are consistently delivered throughout the program. Identify the need for corrective action when necessary.
• Provide effective communication across departments and programs to ensure consistency of expectations, as well as work effectively as a member of the interdisciplinary team.
• Ensure that treatment services are provided to all youth and families 24/7 in keeping with State licensing, CARF, and organizational standards.
• Ensure an effective and efficient system of coordination for staff utilization related to the complexity of youth and families, including transportation, crisis support, behavior management, and education.
• Oversee the supportive resources for the program (e.g., recreation, spiritual life) to ensure maximum benefits of integration.
• Support the members of the care team in the coordination and implementation of case management, clinical, educational, medical, and other programmatic services, ensuring that service delivery occurs in a safe and secure manner, maintains compliance with applicable federal requirements, and supports the treatment philosophy of the agency.
• Ensure a diverse offering of opportunities for youth exposure, acculturation, and participation, as well as clear expectations to staff about their role to facilitate.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the value of cultural differences, including the ability to develop systems and practices that are inclusive of staff members and responsive to the cultural needs of the client population served.
• Demonstrate knowledge of and familiarity with Office of Refugee Resettlement Policy and Procedures relating to the care and supervision of Unaccompanied Children, including knowledge of legal background and authority governing the practice as related to working with Unaccompanied Children.
• Ensure that the shelter operating model is aligned with the requirements of federal policy and the requirements as detailed in the Cooperative Agreement.
• Fulfill the responsibility of Caminos On-Call and Administrator On-Call on a rotating basis.
• Assist with internal quality improvement investigations, as needed.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in social work or an equivalent degree in education, psychology, sociology, or other relevant behavioral science.
• 2 years of experience in program management or 2 years as director of a licensed childcare program.
• Ability to effectively express ideas clearly and concisely, orally and in writing; computer literate.
• Able to develop effective behavioral interventions and strategies using sound, objective decision-making.
• Ability to organize staffing and therapeutic programming.
• Able to engage children in positive decision-making.
• Ability to supervise staff to ensure they engage children in a positive and effective manner.
• Able to work cooperatively with others.
• Obtain and maintain certification as a “user” in Everstand’s electronic health record software system, Cx360.
• Ability to learn and effectively utilize different technology platforms.
• Excellent computer use knowledge with Microsoft Windows 10 and 365 Office products, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
• Proven effective time management, planning, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to problem solve and work independently.
• Ability to keep an electronic calendar (Outlook).
• Ability to pass TCI certification both at employee orientation and per the schedule outlined by HR thereafter.
• Ability to pass CPR/First Aid certification both at employee orientation and per the schedule outlined by HR thereafter.
• Ability to demonstrate the possession of a valid driver’s license prior to employment and ability to maintain the license and operate a motor vehicle thereafter.
• Ability to pass CPS/UII background check both prior to employment and per the schedule outlined by HR thereafter.
• Ability to pass a Tuberculosis Screening both prior to employment and per the schedule outlined by HR thereafter.
• Ability to pass a work-readiness physical performed by a certified medical professional both prior to employment and per the schedule outlined by HR thereafter.
• Ability to pass a Federal and State Fingerprinting Background Check both prior to employment and per the schedule outlined by HR thereafter.
• Ability to pass a drug screen via urinalysis both prior to employment and randomly thereafter.

Preferred Qualifications

• Clinical Licensure to include LMSW, LCSW-C, LGPC, LCPCA.
• Ability to read, write, and speak Spanish.

Skills

• Client Focus
• Decision Making
• Facilitation
• Impact and Influence
• Initiative
• Managing People
• Managing Resources
• Networking
• Problem Solving
• Project Management
• Quality Focus
• Self-Awareness
• Team Leadership
• Teamwork
• Thinking Strategically
• Using Financials
• Ensure Accountability
• Exemplify Integrity
• Emergency/Crisis Management
• Fostering Learning and Development

Supervisory Responsibility

Will provide direct supervision to members of the program Care Team, including but not limited to: Lead Clinician, Lead Case Manager, Operations Manager, Educational Coordinator, Medical Coordinator, and Administrative Assistant. Acts in a supportive capacity to provide oversight to and partnership with the Caminos Program QI Coordinator, Lead Medical Coordinator, and Training Specialist.

Work Environment

This position operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets, and fax machines. In the nature of being at a residential group home, there may be times you experience conditions in which challenging behavior can be exhibited from youth, including but not limited to physical agitation, physical violence, and/or emotional outbursts.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; run; sit; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs; stoop; kneel; crouch; crawl; talk; hear. The employee must occasionally lift or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus. Must be able to perform therapeutic crisis interventions.

Schedule

This is a full-time position. Days and hours of work are Monday through Friday. Flexible work hours based on program needs to include evenings and weekends. Occasional out-of-state travel, which may include overnights. Eligible for flex schedule.

Travel

Travel is primarily local during the business day, although some out-of-area and overnight travel may be expected.