Responsibilities/Duties:
Duties and Responsibilities
Leadership
• Lead development and implementation of the housing program model, ensuring United Friend’s social justice positive youth development framework is integrated into program strategy and learning tools and utilized in one-on-one case management sessions and in group workshops.
• Work collaboratively with the CPPO, Education Director and Director of Clinical Services to continually strengthen United Friends’ relationship-based model and to ensure adherence to practices and strategies that are trauma-informed, evidence-based and culturally responsive to the needs of current and former foster youth.
• Develop or strengthen strategic partnerships with peer organizations that help meet youth needs and align with priorities in the strategic plan to enhance services and resources for mental health, workforce development and youth leadership training.
• Under the strategic leadership of the CPPO, cultivate strong working relationships with LAHSA, DCFS and other public agencies and peer organizations working in the homeless services and child welfare sectors.
• Support United Friends’ policy work by helping to develop housing policy priorities and proposing strategies for integrating youth voice and youth programming into policy efforts.
• In collaboration with senior leadership, help identify opportunities and implement strategies to promote United Friends’ service model and other best practices for serving current and former foster youth to key stakeholders in social services, academia, and philanthropy.
• Attending board and program committee meetings as requested, providing updates as needed.
Program Operational Management
● Partner with the CPPO and evaluation consultant in developing and implementing evaluation practices for the housing program and nurture a culture of excellence and impact on the housing team.
● Develop and implement a plan for quality assurance that incorporates reporting on program activities and outputs, a process for monitoring integrity of data in United Friends’ online case management system, and a plan for onboarding new hires into the department, along with ongoing staff training.
● Determines appropriate course(s) of action related to adopted policies and procedures.
● Provide oversight of intake and assessment practices, ensuring United Friends has strong relationships with matching organizations, and employs intake and assessment strategies that are trauma-informed and allow counselors to develop meaningful case plans for each participant.
● Provide oversight of all Pathways services including housing/independent living, advocacy counseling, life skills training, educational guidance, career development, peer counseling support, resource referral, and on-site mental health counseling.
● Partner with the CPPO to explore opportunities to pilot new innovative housing models or projects consistent with strategic plan objectives.
● Regularly assess need for an array of supportive services and resources for residents (financial support, basic needs, mental health, etc.) and work to secure resources through partnerships, volunteer engagement activities, or resource development in collaboration with fundraising team.
● Ensure the program’s compliance with all applicable contracts, grant agreements, and laws.
● Develop and manage program and project-specific budgets
External Relations and Grants Management
● Work closely with the Director of Institutional Giving in managing LASHA contracts and audits, developing public and private grant proposals, reports, and budgets, and representing United Friends as needed in funder meetings.
● Strategize with development team in creating donor stewardship and giving opportunities, as well as volunteer engagement as needed.
● Attend and participate in Department meetings and other special events, and serve on assigned committees, task forces, as appropriate to achieve goals.
● Represent United Friends’ interests and mission in the broader community and at sector-related meetings.
Team Management & Development
● Partner with HR to recruit, hire, and retain a diverse, engaged team.
● Regularly evaluate and address the professional development needs of Pathways Management Team.
● Work closely with Operations and the Property Management team in collaborating on the daily operations, general maintenance, site visits, and other property management related activities at the Pathways Housing sites.
● Ensure the Pathways staff provides high quality and professional services to residents.
● Promote accountability among team members by modeling oversight of individual and organization performance standards.
● Support team members in resolving critical resident concerns and crises and serve as final reviewer for resident housing status changes.
Other
● Other duties as assigned.
General UFC Responsibilities:
● Act as a role model within the organization to uphold and implement United Friends’ organizational values:
○ Embrace program evaluation that leads to excellence and impact
○ Build effective and empowering partnerships with the youth, community and each other
○ Create a fun and exciting environment that inspires learning and innovation
○ Communicate openly, honestly and with humility across all groups
○ Work together as one organization
Required Qualifications:
● Master’s degree in human services, nonprofit management, social work, or another related field
● 7+ years of experience, with at least 3 years of experience in housing management, community development, public administration, or a closely related field. Other related education and experience may be considered.
● 4+ years in a significant management capacity at a public housing authority or other similar experience.
● Prior experience with supervision of a team/staff (minimum of at least two years).
● Establishes and cultivates respectful relationships with individuals from diverse backgrounds; helping to build and maintain a positive culture/workplace environment.
● Demonstrated success developing and evaluating program models and selecting and successfully operationalizing innovative programs/systems.
● Strong project management skills managing complex, multifaceted projects resulting in measurable successes and program growth
● Experience having successfully led a high-performance, collaborative, constructive peer group
● Strength in hiring, recruiting, managing, developing, coaching, and retaining individuals and teams, empowering them to elevate their levels of responsibility and performance
● Excellent verbal and written communication skills with exceptional attention to detail
● Personal qualities of integrity, credibility, and a commitment to and passion for the United Friends mission
Preferred Qualifications:
● Training and understanding of trauma-informed practice to address the needs of certain clients.
● Experience working with the child welfare/TAY and juvenile justice population; knowledge of TAY/juvenile justice resource landscape in Los Angeles.
● Experience with Housing First Approach, Housing Quality Standard, and Family Self Sufficiency.
● Working knowledge of HUD regulations regarding public housing agencies and the Housing Choice Voucher.
● Cultural competency regarding the historic, social-emotional wellbeing, and values of youth-young adults, individuals and communities of color.
Direct Reports:
● Assistant Director of Housing (Direct Services)
● Intake and Outreach Manager
● Program Support Coordinator
