Program Director - Youth Resource Center

Description

Benefits

• Low-cost medical, dental, and vision coverage. Health savings account. 403b retirement plan with employer match (50% match up to 3%).
• Employee Assistance Program for all employees
• 33 paid days off: 11 observed paid holidays, 12 sick days, and 10 vacation days to start. Vacation increases to 12 days after 1 year, 15 days after 2 years, and more at 5 and 9 years of service
  • Sick and vacation time accrue hourly per pay period
• $50,000 in employer-paid life insurance; additional coverage available
• Employer contribution to your Health Savings Account (paid quarterly)
• Employee Referral Program including cash bonuses and paid time off

About

Volunteers of America, Utah is an affiliate of a national, nonprofit, faith-based organization that has served communities across the United States for more than 125 years. Volunteers of America, Utah’s mission is to provide community-supported pathways for those who are vulnerable to improve their lives and increase their self-reliance. Our programs serve people experiencing challenges related to mental health, substance use, and homelessness. We encourage all who are passionate about making a difference, including individuals with lived experience, to apply.

Position Summary  

The YRC Program Director provides leadership, supervision, and administrative oversight for the Youth Resource Center’s 24/7 emergency shelter and drop-in services for youth and young adults experiencing homelessness. The Director is responsible for ensuring safe, consistent, high-quality, and youth-centered program operations in alignment with Volunteers of America, Utah’s mission, policies, contractual obligations, licensing requirements, and applicable federal, state, and local requirements. 

The Director oversees program operations, staffing and supervision, program quality, safety and incident response, budget and grant utilization, data and reporting, policy implementation, and community partnerships. Working in collaboration with the Division Director and other agency leadership, the Director identifies service gaps, strengthens program systems, and supports the continued development of effective services for youth experiencing homelessness. 

Essential Duties  

• Provide leadership and administrative oversight for all Youth Resource Center shelter and drop-in operations, ensuring safe, consistent, high-quality, and youth-centered service delivery across 24/7 operations. 
• Ensure shelter and drop-in services operate in compliance with applicable federal, state, local, contractual, licensing, accreditation, and organizational requirements. 
• Oversee implementation of Trauma-Informed Care, Positive Youth Development, Harm Reduction, and other evidence-based or best-practice approaches throughout shelter operations. 
• Hire, train, supervise, coach, and evaluate program managers and other assigned staff, and ensure effective supervision, training, performance management, and accountability systems are maintained across shelter teams. 
• Ensure appropriate staffing, scheduling, supervisory coverage, and operational continuity necessary to support safe and effective 24/7 shelter operations. 
• Provide oversight of shelter safety practices, emergency response, incident reporting, client-related concerns, and other significant operational events, ensuring appropriate documentation, follow-up, and corrective action. 
• Develop, implement, evaluate, and maintain shelter policies, procedures, workflows, and operational practices in collaboration with the Division Director and other agency leadership. 
• Monitor program quality, service delivery, performance data, and client outcomes to identify trends, address service gaps, and support continuous quality improvement. 
• Ensure timely, accurate, and complete program documentation, data collection, reporting, and other records required by contracts, funders, licensing entities, and the agency. 
• with budget development and monitor program expenditures and appropriate utilization of grant and contract funds in collaboration with the Division Director, Finance, and program leadership. 
• Ensure appropriate oversight of program purchasing, payroll processes, financial coding, receipts, and other required fiscal documentation. 
• Prepare for and participate in internal and external monitoring, licensing reviews, audits, and program evaluations, and ensure identified corrective actions are implemented. 
• Lead the development and implementation of shelter programming and services that respond to the needs of youth experiencing homelessness and promote connection to housing, behavioral health, education, employment, benefits, and other community resources. 
• Build and maintain effective working relationships with community organizations, service providers, government partners, funders, law enforcement, emergency responders, and other partners whose work impacts YRC clients and operations. 
• Create and maintain a collaborative, professional, and accountable workplace culture and model behavior consistent with the mission, values, policies, and leadership expectations of Volunteers of America, Utah. 
• Respond to and resolve significant staff or client concerns, complaints, and grievances in a timely, professional, and trauma-informed manner. 
• Support agency development and community engagement efforts by providing program expertise, participating in grant development as requested, facilitating site visits and tours, and representing the YRC in community and stakeholder meetings. 
• Participate in agency leadership activities, management meetings, and the Management On-Call rotation as assigned. 
• Attend work as scheduled and maintain the availability and flexibility necessary to provide leadership to a 24/7 residential program. 
• Perform other duties as needed to support program effectiveness and organizational goals. 

Requirements

Qualifications 

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below represent the knowledge, skills, and abilities required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

A bachelor's degree in a social services field or equivalent and 2 years of social services, homelessness services, residential services, or related experience, or any combination of education, experience, and training that provides the following knowledge, skills, and abilities: 

• Demonstrated supervisory and administrative experience, including oversight of staff and program operations. 
• Experience working in homelessness services, residential services, crisis services, or another community-based social service setting; experience working with youth or young adults is preferred. 
• Experience managing or supporting 24/7, residential, shelter, or other high-acuity program operations is preferred. 
• Experience with budget development, fiscal monitoring, purchasing oversight, and grant- or contract-funded programs. 
• Experience in program development, implementation, evaluation, or continuous quality improvement in a community-based setting. 
• Ability to interpret and implement program policies, contractual requirements, licensing standards, and organizational procedures. 
• Knowledge and understanding of Trauma-Informed Care, Positive Youth Development, Harm Reduction, and Motivational Interviewing. 
• Knowledge of crisis response, de-escalation, professional boundaries, and practices that promote safety for clients and staff. 
• Ability to analyze program data, incidents, service trends, and reporting requirements to support compliance, quality improvement, and effective decision-making. 
• Strong leadership, communication, coaching, conflict-resolution, and problem-solving skills. 
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, respond effectively to changing operational needs, and exercise sound judgment in complex or high-pressure situations. 
• Ability to engage clients with empathy, professionalism, and respect while maintaining appropriate professional boundaries. 
• Ability to uphold confidentiality requirements, agency policies, ethical standards, and applicable client privacy requirements. 
• Ability to interact professionally and collaboratively with a diverse workforce, clients, community partners, funders, government entities, and the public. 
• Ability and willingness to provide leadership support outside of regular business hours when needed due to the 24/7 nature of shelter operations. 
• Must be at least 21 years of age. 
• Driving is required: must possess a valid driver's license, have a satisfactory driving record, and be insurable under agency policy. 
• Must pass Utah DHS Office of Licensing background screening and pre-employment drug screening. 

Physical Demands 

• Ability to lift and carry up to 25 lbs. 
• Ability to move throughout the Youth Resource Center and interact with clients and staff for extended periods. 
• Work is performed in both office and residential shelter environments and may involve prolonged computer use. 
• Ability to respond to operational needs throughout the facility, including situations requiring timely movement between program areas.