Full-Time Program Director - YPLP/Melrose

Position Summary

Lead the daily operations, staff, and strategic direction of a licensed group home serving young parents and their children in care. The Program Director ensures a safe, structured, and trauma-informed environment that supports youth development, permanency goals, and full regulatory compliance. This role partners closely with DCF, families, clinical teams, and community providers to deliver high-quality care and outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide leadership, supervision, and coaching to direct care staff, supervisors, and case management teams.
• Build a positive, accountable, and mission-driven culture centered on youth success.
• Ensure compliance with DCF licensing standards, agency policies, and contractual requirements.
• Oversee admissions, discharges, case documentation, incident reporting, and resident records.
• Support individualized programming that promotes educational, emotional, and social growth.
• Manage behavioral crises and ensure effective implementation of support plans.
• Oversee staffing schedules, hiring, onboarding, training, and performance management.
• Ensure 24/7 program coverage and respond to emergencies or critical staffing needs.
• Manage program budget, approve timesheets/expenses, and monitor resources.
• Maintain facility safety standards, drills, medication oversight, and operational readiness.
• Prepare reports, participate in audits, inspections, and quality improvement efforts.
• Serve as primary liaison with DCF, schools, healthcare providers, families, and community partners.
• Participate in on-call rotation and respond to after-hours incidents as needed.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications & Competencies

• Bachelor’s degree preferred in Social Work, Psychology, Human Services, or related field.
• 2–5 years of experience in social services or residential care, including at least 2 years in a supervisory or leadership role.
• Strong knowledge of Massachusetts DCF/EEC regulations, trauma-informed care, and adolescent development.
• Proven experience in staff supervision, program operations, and crisis intervention.
• Excellent communication, leadership, organization, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to lead diverse teams and effectively support youth impacted by trauma.
• Valid Massachusetts driver’s license and reliable transportation.
• Ability to pass CORI, SORI, fingerprinting, and DCF background checks.

Required Training

Must complete and maintain required certifications/trainings provided by Centerboard, including:

• CPR/First Aid
• Crisis Prevention/Physical Restraint Training
• Medication Administration
• HIPAA
• OSHA
• Ethics & Professional Boundaries
• Trauma-Informed Care / Collaborative Problem Solving
• New Hire Orientation and other agency-required trainings