Program Manager – Behavioral Residential Services

Location: Apple Valley, MN (on-site, single site)
Salary: $75,000-$85,000
Schedule: Full-time exempt | PM/evening shift, with on-call rotation
Reports to: Residential Operations Manager

About the Role

BrightPath is hiring a Program Manager for a two-person high-acuity residential home in Apple Valley supporting an adolescent and an adult with complex behavioral and mental health needs. This is a single-site role where you lead one house, one team, and the support for two people. The individuals at this site have documented behavior support plans, trauma histories, and emotional regulation needs that require structured intervention and real clinical oversight.

About The Site

The home is a split-entry house with an attached garage in a quiet, well-kept Apple Valley neighborhood. Features include:

• A park directly next to the property, close to local stores and community resources
• Large backyard and deck used for recreation and structured yard activities
• Licensed for two female individuals (ages 14+ and 18+)
• One bed currently open on the upper level
• Two living rooms for activities, quiet time, and de-escalation
• Full bath on the main floor, ¾ bath in the basement
• Staff/direct care office on the main floor for accessibility and oversight

The atmosphere is lively, with frequent music, dancing, and movement-based activities. Structured routines support predictability and emotional stability.

Who You'll Support

The individuals supported present with mental health needs, behavioral challenges, emotional regulation difficulties, and trauma-related responses, including:

• Verbal escalation (yelling, cursing, slurs directed at staff)
• Physical agitation
• Significant difficulty with transitions
• Self-injurious behavior (e.g., head banging)
• Physical aggression (pushing, hair pulling, biting)

Staffing is 1:1 or 2:1 depending on supervision requirements and behavior support plans. The team is trained in mental health support, trauma-informed care, behavioral intervention, de-escalation, and crisis prevention. Outside of escalation, residents cook for themselves, play games, watch YouTube, spend time with family, and engage in community activities.

What Makes This Role Different

The support structure is intentionally designed to allow you to focus on leading your team and implementing behavior support plans with fidelity. Key support includes:

• Weekly 1:1s with the Residential Operations Manager (your direct supervisor)
• Director of Training and Compliance for audit preparation and corrective actions
• Centralized scheduling support for staffing and after-hours coverage
• Participation in weekly leadership meetings to surface and solve issues

You will serve as the 245D Designated Coordinator for the site, while clinical decision-making (e.g., behavior support plan authorship) sits with the Clinical Director.

Responsibilities

Site-Level Operational Leadership

• Lead day-to-day operations: staffing, scheduling, person-served supports, household operations
• Maintain the site staffing schedule; approve overtime in coordination with leadership
• Conduct daily walk-throughs; respond to person-served and staff issues in real time
• Hold the evening block (peak time for transitions, escalations, and community outings)
• Maintain on-call availability for after-hours incidents and emergencies

Behavior Support Plan Implementation

• Implement behavior support plans and track interfering behaviors/intervention outcomes
• Provide data and recommendations to the Clinical Director for plan updates
• Train Behavior Technicians on plan implementation (e.g., elopement, transition protocols)
• Identify training gaps and emerging needs; document staff competency assessments per 245D.09

245D Designated Coordinator Duties

• Oversee implementation of person-centered support plans and outcomes
• Ensure direct observation of service delivery to assess staff competency
• Evaluate effectiveness of service delivery and progress on outcomes

Supporting Both an Adolescent and an Adult

• Coordinate supports for distinct needs (schooling, guardianship, programming, community access)
• Partner with school teams, guardians, and county case managers for the adolescent
• Support planning for child-to-adult service transitions
• Maintain documentation for funding and rate exception applications
• Track length of stay and service outcomes; communicate with county case managers

Compliance & Documentation

• Ensure site-level documentation meets DHS 245D and Positive Support Rule standards
• Lead site-level preparation for DHS/county licensing reviews and internal audits
• Review incident reports (EUMR forms, BIRF, CPS/MAARC reports) within 24 hours
• Maintain records per 245D documentation requirements

Team Leadership & Development

• Recruit, onboard, and develop Behavior Technicians (supported by HR)
• Conduct regular 1:1s and Quarterly Conversations with direct reports
• Build site-level retention and development pathways

Cross-Functional Coordination

• Participate in weekly residential leadership team meetings
• Collaborate with the Crisis Program Manager on transitions from crisis stabilization
• Maintain communication with families, guardians, case managers, and external providers

What Success Looks Like

• Site-level documentation compliance ≥ 95%
• Behavior support plan implementation fidelity tracked and documented
• Site-level labor ratio at or below enterprise target
• Incident response and escalation within 24 hours
• Direct report retention at or below industry benchmark
• The open bed filled and the placement stabilized

Requirements

You must meet one of the 245D Designated Coordinator qualification pathways under MN Stat. 245D.081 Subd. 2:

• Bachelor's degree in a human services field + 1 year of direct care experience with persons with disabilities or persons age 65+, OR
• Associate's degree in a human services field + 2 years of direct care experience, OR
• Diploma in a human services field from an accredited postsecondary institution + 3 years of direct care experience, OR
• A minimum of 50 hours of education/training related to human services and disabilities, plus relevant direct care experience, OR
• 4 years of direct care experience under the supervision of a qualified staff person

Strong candidates without a four-year degree are encouraged to apply if they meet one of the statutory pathways and can demonstrate experience implementing behavior support plans, supervising staff in a residential setting, and managing 245D documentation.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's in Social Work, Psychology, Behavioral Science, Special Education, or related field
• Progress toward BCBA, BCaBA, LSW, or LICSW credentialing
• 5+ years of progressive supervisory experience in 245D-licensed services
• Experience supporting adolescents/young adults in residential settings (including work with school districts and guardians)
• Experience with co-occurring mental health diagnoses, trauma histories, and emotional dysregulation
• Experience with county lead agencies and DD/CADI case management coordination

Skills

• Working knowledge of MN DHS 245D regulations and Positive Support Rule
• Ability to implement and adjust behavior support plans authored by a Clinical Director
• Trauma-informed practice and de-escalation skills you can teach
• Strong written/oral communication (comfortable with case managers, guardians, families)
• Ability to coach Behavior Technicians through high-acuity behavioral situations
• Financial literacy: reads site scorecards, understands utilization, manages labor ratio
• Passion for BrightPath’s mission and values

Working Conditions

• On-site in Apple Valley, with occasional travel between BrightPath sites
• Driving for appointments, team meetings, community outings, and visits to the corporate office
• Evening schedule with occasional weekend availability for incidents
• Residential/community settings; ability to lift up to 50 pounds and physically support persons served during interventions
• Use of standard office equipment

Why You'll Love This Role

• Focus on one site: build deep relationships with two people and one team
• Real clinical infrastructure: behavior support plans authored by Operations Manager, audit support from Compliance
• Collaborative leadership: weekly meetings to surface and solve issues as a team
• Career pathway: clinical supervision toward licensure (BCBA, BCaBA, LSW, LICSW)
• Mission-driven: see the impact of your work every shift

Benefits

• Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangement (ICHRA) for healthcare
• Dental and vision insurance through Mutual of Omaha
• 401(k) with 3.5% company match
• Paid time off
• Employee Assistance Program
• Ongoing professional development opportunities
• Employee recognition programs and team-building events
• Paid holidays
• Flexible scheduling options (when possible)