Program Director of Prevention

What You'll Do

• Strategic Leadership
• Set and advance the strategic vision for Larkin Street's prevention continuum
• Serve as the agency's primary internal and external authority on youth homelessness prevention
• Represent Larkin Street in city-wide planning bodies, coalitions, and funder convenings related to prevention, outreach, direct cash transfer, and aftercare
• Partner with the Chief of Programs and the senior leadership team to identify opportunities to expand and deepen Larkin Street's prevention impact
• Contribute to agency-wide initiatives including strategic planning, budget development, and diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging work
• Program Oversight and Quality Assurance
• Provide senior oversight of the Outreach, DCT, and Aftercare programs
• Ensure high-quality, trauma-informed, and equity-centered service delivery
• Establish and monitor program standards, policies, and procedures
• Ensure consistent application of best practices including harm reduction, Housing First, Positive Youth Development, and Motivational Interviewing
• Audit program performance through regular review of data, outcomes, and client feedback
• Lead continuous quality improvement efforts in response to findings
• Ensure all prevention programs operate in compliance with contract, grant, and regulatory requirements
• Consult with Program Managers on complex cases and emerging programmatic challenges
• Outreach
• Ensure that street-based and community outreach operations are responsive, trauma-informed, and designed to rapidly identify and engage youth who are newly or recently unhoused
• Build and sustain partnerships with community-based organizations, city agencies, and systems-involved settings
• Work with Program Managers to develop and refine outreach protocols
• Direct Cash Transfer (DCT)
• Provide senior oversight of DCT program implementation
• Ensure that the cash transfer model is implemented with fidelity and that optional supportive programming is responsive to participants' housing, health, education, and employment needs
• Manage relationships with research and evaluation partners
• Lead or support the development of a replicable, scalable DCT model
• Aftercare
• Direct the strategic development and ongoing refinement of the agency's aftercare model
• Ensure that youth exiting Larkin Street's programs are connected to stable housing, benefits, and community supports
• Work across programs to establish consistent, agency-wide aftercare protocols
• Ensure aftercare practices reflect the latest evidence on exit stabilization and are informed by the lived experiences of youth who have cycled in and out of homelessness
• External Relations and Partnership Development
• Cultivate and sustain relationships with city agencies, philanthropy, research partners, and peer organizations
• Collaborate with the Government Relations and Development teams to inform policy advocacy, grant applications, and contract negotiations
• Serve as a thought partner and spokesperson for Larkin Street's prevention work in external forums
• Staff Leadership and Development
• Provide direct supervision, coaching, and performance management to Program Managers within the prevention portfolio
• Foster a team culture grounded in Larkin Street's values, with particular attention to staff wellbeing, reflective practice, and the centering of youth voice
• Assess team training needs and ensure staff have access to professional development
• Participate in hiring and onboarding of prevention team staff
• Other
• Hold On-Call manager responsibilities as assigned and scheduled in rotation
• Other duties as required.

Who You Are

• Passionate about the Larkin Street Youth Services mission to end youth homelessness
• Minimum of 5–7 years of progressive experience in program leadership, social services, or a related field, with demonstrated experience managing programs and supervising staff
• Bachelor's degree in social work, public health, public policy, or a related field required; Master's degree preferred
• Keen ability to translate data and evaluation findings into program improvements
• Experienced in managing government contracts and/or philanthropic grants
• Comfortable engaging diverse audiences including funders, city partners, and community stakeholders
• Strong foundation in prevention frameworks, harm reduction, trauma-informed care, Housing First, and Positive Youth Development
• Willingness to serve as an After Hours On-Call Supervisor for 7 days, every 6-8 weeks
• Willingness to work holidays occasionally

The Perks

• $95,000-$100,000 annual salary
• Clipper Bay Pass - Commute for FREE!
• Choice of Kaiser and Sutter medical plans, plus dental and vision
• Generous 3 weeks of vacation annually, plus 11 Paid Holidays and 3 Floating Holidays
• 403(b) retirement plan with employer matching
• Flexible spending accounts for Healthcare and Dependent Care expenses
• Life Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for counseling services
• Health Advocate Service
• Paid Sabbatical following 5 and 10 years of employment

Larkin Street Youth Services is an equal opportunity employer. Larkin Street Youth Service seeks qualified candidates with an interest in the non-profit sector. We are committed to embracing diversity and consider all applicants for all positions without regard to color, ethnic background, religion, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, HIV/AIDS status, veteran status, or any other legally protected class. We encourage applicants of diverse backgrounds to apply for any open position in which they feel qualified.

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider employment for qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

All City and County of San Francisco employees are required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of employment. For details on how it is applicable to your employment, please click here.