Assistant Director, Programs, Transitional Housing

Breaking Ground; New York (NY); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking an Assistant Director for Programs in Transitional Housing to lead operations at a vital facility. This role involves managing social service delivery, overseeing staff, and ensuring effective collaboration with various stakeholders to support individuals experiencing homelessness. The ideal candidate will possess a Master’s degree and a strong background in social work, along with the ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment. Join a mission-driven team dedicated to making a real difference in the lives of those in need, providing guidance and support to help individuals transition to permanent housing.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree required; LMSW or LCSW preferred.
• Minimum 2 years of supervisory experience in social services.

Responsibilities

• Manage social service delivery and oversee staff training.
• Liaise with external stakeholders for effective service planning.
• Provide clinical direction and leadership to the program.

Skills

Supervisory Experience

Crisis Intervention

Client-Centered Motivational Interviewing

Harm Reduction Models

Communication Skills

Education

Master’s Degree

NYS Licensed Masters Social Worker (LMSW)

Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Access-based Databases

Job description

Assistant Director, Programs, Transitional Housing

320 Pearl St, New York, NY 10038, USA

Job Description

Posted Thursday, May 8, 2025 at 4:00 AM

ABOUT US: We believe that everyone deserves a home!

Breaking Ground operates nearly 4,000 units of housing across New York City, along with housing in upstate New York and Connecticut. Supportive housing—affordable housing paired with services designed to help people maintain their homes for the long-term—is widely recognized as a proven and cost-effective solution to chronic homelessness.

But we didn't stop at providing housing. Breaking Ground's programs and services help people experiencing street homelessness—especially those who have been on the streets the longest—to come indoors. Through our Street to Home outreach program and transitional housing resources, we help people get, and stay, on the path to a permanent home.

Reporting to the Program Director, the Assistant Director, Programs, Transitional Housing, is responsible for supporting the 24/7 operations for South Strand Safe Haven, including overseeing clinical and case management services. The Assistant Director supervises clinical and case management staff and, with guidance from the Director, provides support to subcontractors providing security, medical, psychiatric, and food services. The role ensures South Strand is a safe, attractive housing alternative for street-homeless individuals and expedites client placement into appropriate permanent housing and supportive services.

This position primarily works during business hours Monday-Friday, with off-hours availability in case of emergency or for special projects/initiatives. It is an onsite position.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Manage social service delivery, including program oversight, staff supervision, and training.
2. Liaise with external stakeholders, including service partners, government representatives, community stakeholders, hospital personnel, and other agencies, to ensure responsive and effective service planning and program operations.
3. Attend relevant meetings required by the Department of Homeless Services.
4. Provide clinical and operational direction and leadership to the program; troubleshoot, problem-solve, and strategize solutions around client engagement and challenging behaviors.
5. Promote a staff and resident culture that emphasizes housing placement as a measure of success; ensure clients are ready for housing placement.
6. Oversee development and implementation of individual service plans; ensure documentation of client contact and progress is comprehensive and timely.
7. Assess and evaluate client functioning.
8. Supervise and conduct case conferences.
9. Coordinate delivery of care with multiple service providers, particularly outreach teams.
10. Work collaboratively with outreach teams to ensure individuals succeed in transitional housing and avoid returning to homelessness.
11. Provide support and guidance to frontline staff in managing difficult situations and de-escalating conflicts.
12. Perform other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master’s degree required; NYS Licensed Masters Social Worker (LMSW) or Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) strongly preferred.
• Minimum 2 years of supervisory experience.
• Experience working in 24/7 programs and with homeless or formerly homeless populations strongly preferred.
• Thorough clinical understanding of relevant service delivery concepts, including Housing First, client-centered motivational interviewing, Harm Reduction models, behavioral and medical health systems, and the ability to access and negotiate the full range of services for recipients.
• Experience with crisis intervention, including risk assessments and incident management.
• Ability to work successfully with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders.
• Proven success in working in a fast-paced environment with multiple priorities.
• Ability to delegate and motivate staff to achieve deliverables.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with diverse populations and stakeholders.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams); familiarity with Access-based databases and the ability to learn new programs.