Program Director of New Leaf Shelter

About the role

The Interfaith Works New Leaf Shelter (IWNL) is a low barrier, all gender emergency shelter for adult individuals experiencing homelessness. The 35-bed program provides shelter, meals, and case management services. The program adds six beds for a total of 41 in the winter overflow season (November 1st-March 31st) but may also increase capacity in extreme temperatures of winter or summer when there is community need and/or requested by Services to End and Prevent Homelessness (SEPH).

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for shelter operations, ensuring a safe, welcoming, trauma-informed, and housing-focused environment for guests, staff, volunteers, and community partners.
• Develop annual program goals, quality improvement initiatives, and operational priorities aligned with the Homeless Services strategic plan.
• Foster a culture of accountability, equity, collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Promote a trauma-informed, housing-focused, person-centered service model.
• Identify operational challenges and implement solutions that improve client outcomes and staff effectiveness.
• Lead organizational change initiatives and implement new County or organizational requirements.
• Direct all daily shelter operations to ensure a safe, welcoming, and low-barrier environment.
• Ensure shelter operations consistently support rapid exits to permanent housing.
• Oversee admissions, eligibility determinations, assessments, housing plans, referrals, discharge planning, and crisis intervention.
• Review client grievances and oversee resolution in accordance with Interagency Commission on Homelessness standards.
• Ensure policies and procedures remain current and are consistently implemented.
• Oversee emergency preparedness planning and operational continuity.
• Recruit, hire, onboard, develop, coach, and retain high-performing staff.
• Directly supervise the Program Support Manager, Case Managers, Behavioral Health Technician, and Volunteer Coordinator.
• Conduct weekly supervision meetings focused on performance, professional development, accountability, and case consultation.
• Complete annual evaluations and corrective action plans when necessary.
• Build leadership capacity among supervisors and emerging leaders.
• Ensure adequate staffing coverage while managing overtime and workforce efficiency.
• Support employee engagement initiatives that strengthen morale, retention, and organizational culture.
• Provide clinical supervision hours when qualified for staff pursuing Maryland licensure.
• Ensure delivery of evidence-based, trauma-informed, and housing-focused services.
• Provide consultation on complex behavioral health, housing, and crisis situations.
• Maintain compliance with all County contracts, Interfaith Works policies, licensing standards, grant requirements, and applicable federal, state, and local regulations.
• Maintain fiscal accountability for shelter operations, monitoring expenditures, forecasting budget needs, identifying cost-saving opportunities, and ensuring responsible stewardship of organizational and public funds.
• Develop and manage the annual operating budget.
• Review monthly financial reports and identify budget variances.
• Approve purchases, invoices, payroll, and other financial transactions.
• Ensure County reimbursement requests and invoices are submitted accurately and on time.
• Establish clear performance expectations and accountability measures for all shelter staff while fostering a culture of teamwork, professionalism, respect, and continuous improvement.
• Maintain accurate utilization of the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS).
• Monitor program performance through dashboards and outcome reporting.
• Prepare monthly, quarterly, annual, and ad hoc reports for County and organizational leadership.
• Utilize program data and outcome measures to identify trends, improve service delivery, and drive performance toward housing placement and shelter stabilization goals.
• Build and maintain positive working relationships with Montgomery County officials, SEPH, community partners, law enforcement, healthcare providers, behavioral health agencies, and other stakeholders supporting individuals experiencing homelessness.
• Represent Interfaith Works at community meetings, workgroups, and public forums.
• Participate as an active member of the Interfaith Works Leadership Team.
• Attend leadership meetings, strategic planning sessions, and organizational initiatives.
• Support agency-wide initiatives and cross-departmental collaboration.
• Participate in the leadership on-call rotation and respond to after-hours emergencies.

Qualifications

• A Master's in Social Work, Counseling, or similar behavioral health field.
• A valid Licensed Certified Social Work - Clinical (LCSW-C) or Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) preferred. - Maryland license preferred and a minimum of three years post-graduate experience. LGSW or LGPC is also acceptable.
• Experience working with individuals with acute and chronic behavioral health issues and knowledge of crisis intervention techniques.
• Knowledge and ability to effectively apply best practices in engaging those experiencing homelessness, including Trauma-Informed Care, Housing First, Harm Reduction, and Motivational Interviewing.
• Flexibility and openness to working in a fast-paced program serving clients from diverse racial, cultural, and socio-economic backgrounds.
• Available to work at least one evening per week.
• Available to answer calls after hours.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Ability to work as a team member with compassion, respect, and professionalism.
• Knowledge of issues related to homelessness and community resources.