Director of Social Services - Hudson Bay

LANTERN COMMUNITY SERVICES, INC; New York (NY); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Lantern Community Services seeks an experienced Director of Social Services for Hudson Bay shelter in the Bronx. You will oversee Clinical and Social Services, supervising Social Workers, Case Managers, Housing Specialists, and Peer Specialists to ensure high‑quality resident care and housing stability.

The role requires developing and tracking outcomes, coordinating with the Shelter Director, and ensuring DHS accreditation standards are met in a dynamic shelter environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in social work, social services, or a related field required.
• Minimum of eight (8) years of experience in social services, case management, counseling, advocacy, or related setting.
• At least five (5) years of progressive managerial experience in social services, shelter operations, or related programs.

Responsibilities

• Hire, train, and supervise Social Workers, Case Managers, Housing Coordinators, and Peer Specialists to meet program goals.
• Provide leadership through supervision, evaluations, and staff meetings.
• Attend mandatory DHS trainings and maintain compliance.
• Ensure adherence to DHS, OTDA, and Lantern standards for intake, assessments, and documentation.
• Develop Individual Living Plans and Housing Plans to promote long-term stability.
• Coordinate access to medical, mental health, and substance use services.
• Develop counseling approaches and programming to support harm reduction and housing readiness.
• Implement crisis prevention and intervention strategies to maintain safety.
• Maintain community partnerships and link residents to daytime resources.

Skills

Leadership

Supervision

Crisis management

Program development

Communication skills

Data-driven decision making

Microsoft Office

CARES database

Mental health knowledge

Substance use knowledge

Education

Bachelor's degree in social work or related field

Master's degree in Social Work / MHC / MFT

Tools

CARES database

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Classification

Full-time, Exempt

Reports to

Shelter Director

Location

Bronx, NY

Status & Hours

Full-time, Mon-Fri 9 am to 5 pm. Hours may vary and include on-call responsibilities. Lantern staff may be asked to change work schedule and hours depending on the operational needs of the site and the agency.

Who We Are

Lantern Community Services helps New Yorkers impacted by homelessness move from surviving to thriving by pairing safe, supportive housing with wraparound services that build lasting stability and independence. If you believe a steady home can be the start of everything else, you'll fit right in with our mission-first team. Lantern was also recognized as a Top 2025 Workplace by City & State New York - a great place to do meaningful work with people who care!

Where You Will Work

Hudson Bay is a brand-new, all-female shelter in the Bronx housing 200 women aged 55 and older.

About The Role

We are seeking an experienced and progressive Director of Social Services for our new women's shelter. This position oversees the Clinical and Social Services functions to optimize the quality of care to residents in accordance with DHS regulatory and accreditation requirements. The ideal candidate will develop and supervise the Social Services team, consisting of Social Workers, Case Managers, Housing Specialists, and Peer Engagement Specialists. The DSS will be responsible for implementing best practices to meet the physical, emotional, and social needs of residents, ensuring their ability to gain and maintain housing stability, and will work closely with the Shelter Director to develop, implement, track, report, and evaluate measurable outcomes.

Essential Functions

• Hire, train, and supervise Social Workers, Case Managers, Housing Coordinators, and Peer Specialists to ensure timely completion of program goals, deliverables, and benchmarks.
• Provide leadership through regular supervision, performance evaluations, disciplinary support as needed, and facilitation of staff and clinical meetings.
• Attend all mandatory DHS trainings and meetings to maintain program compliance and best practices.
• Ensure adherence to DHS, OTDA, and Lantern standards for client intake, assessments, service delivery, and documentation within required timeframes.
• Support staff in developing individualized Independent Living Plans and Housing Plans that promote long-term stability and successful transitions to permanent housing.
• Coordinate access to necessary medical, mental health, and substance use services, including referrals for psychiatric assessment, treatment, and community-based care.
• Develop counseling approaches, programming, and referral resources that support residents in achieving harm reduction, wellness, and housing readiness goals.
• Implement crisis prevention and intervention strategies to maintain a safe and secure shelter environment.
• Provide follow-up on critical incidents, assist with safety planning, and ensure residents are connected to appropriate supports during times of crisis.
• Maintain strong relationships with community partners and ensure the shelter upholds a Good Neighbor policy by connecting residents with daytime resources, supportive services, and constructive community-based activities.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Required Education And Experience

Bachelor's Degree

• Bachelor's degree in social work, social services, or a related field required
• Minimum of eight (8) years of experience in social services, case management, counseling, direct advocacy, or a related human services setting
• At least five (5) years of documented progressive managerial experience in social services, shelter operations, case management, or related human services programs

Master's Degree

• Master's degree in Social Work (MSW), Mental Health Counseling (MHC), or Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) from an accredited institution
• Minimum of five (5) years of experience in social services, case management, counseling, direct advocacy, or a related human services setting
• At least three (3) years of documented progressive managerial experience in social services, shelter operations, case management, or related human services programs

Experience using electronic case management systems and applying data to inform best practices and improve service delivery. Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel required) and comfort working in databases such as CARES. Strong knowledge of mental health, substance use, HIV/AIDS, and issues impacting individuals experiencing chronic homelessness preferred. Ability to work effectively under pressure, respond to crisis situations, and maintain flexibility with scheduling as needed. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with strong organizational and problem-solving abilities.

Work Environment

This job operates in a shelter site and works with the female population who experience mental illness, addiction, disability, HIV, and other chronic illnesses.

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, sit, stoop, climb stairs, and/or kneel. Occasionally, the employee will have to lift and/or move up to 10 pounds.

Note

Lantern Community Services provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment. Lantern Community Services (Lantern) values the diversity of all our clients, staff, Board of Directors, and partners. By bringing diverse individuals and viewpoints together, we create more vibrant, healthy, and just communities.

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