Executive Director

My Friends House Family and Children's Services; Franklin (TN); On-site; USD 85,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

Paid holidays

Health insurance stipend

Job summary

My Friend’s House Family & Children's Services in Tennessee seeks an Executive Director to lead a 24/7 residential program for boys aged 12–18 in state custody. You will guide strategy, ensure program quality, and manage finances while representing the organization in the community.

The role demands hands-on leadership, strong fundraising, and the ability to work with the Board, state agencies, and partners.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related field; advanced degree preferred.
• Five years of progressively responsible administrative or leadership experience, including at least three in supervision.
• Experience in nonprofit/human services, child welfare, residential or similarly regulated environments.
• Residential experience with youth is strongly preferred.
• Strong organizational, problem-solving, and crisis-management skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication and public speaking abilities.
• Ability to build relationships with a Board, staff, government agencies, and donors.
• Knowledge of DCS systems, licensing, or Tennessee residential services is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Provide overall leadership and direction aligned with Board policies and strategic goals.
• Lead staff development, onboarding, training, performance management, and employee relations.
• Oversee residential programming quality, outcomes, and regulatory compliance.
• Ensure licensing, contracts, documentation, audits, and state/federal regulations are met.
• Maintain relationships with DCS, licensing, quality-improvement personnel, partners, and stakeholders.
• Oversee PQI, program outcomes, documentation, and quality-control processes.
• Oversee staff training requirements and ongoing professional development.
• Collaborate with Board on operations, policies, finances, risks, and strategic direction.
• Partner with philanthropy/development for fundraising and financial sustainability.
• Provide budget oversight and responsible management of resources.
• Maintain facilities, vehicles, and assets to meet licensing and safety standards.
• Represent the organization in the community and at fundraising events.
• Provide leadership during crisis management and after-hours needs.

Skills

Leadership

Supervisory experience

Nonprofit management

Youth residential care

Public speaking

Stakeholder relations

Budget management

Crisis management

Board collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in social work / related field

Advanced degree preferred

Job description

My Friend’s House Family & Children's Services is a nonprofit residential program serving boys ages 12-18 who are in state custody. For decades, My Friend’s House has provided a safe, structured, supportive environment where young men can experience stability, develop life skills, build healthy relationships, and prepare for successful futures.

We are seeking an experienced, compassionate, and highly capable Executive Director to lead our organization into its next chapter.

The Executive Director serves as the chief executive leader of My Friend’s House and is responsible for the overall leadership, administration, program quality, regulatory compliance, financial stewardship, staff development, and day-to-day operations of the organization. The Executive Director works closely with and reports to the Board of Directors and serves as a key representative of My Friend’s House within the community and with state and community partners.

This is a hands‑on leadership position for someone who can move comfortably between big‑picture strategy and the realities of operating a 24/7 residential program.

Key Responsibilities

The Executive Director will:

• Provide overall leadership and direction for the organization, ensuring that its programs and operations remain aligned with the mission, policies, goals, and strategic direction established by the Board of Directors.
• Lead, supervise, develop, and support staff, including hiring, onboarding, training, performance management, and employee relations.
• Oversee the quality and effectiveness of residential programming and services provided to the young men in our care.
• Ensure compliance with Tennessee Department of Children’s Services (DCS) requirements, licensing standards, contracts, policies, documentation, audits, and applicable state and federal regulations.
• Maintain strong working relationships with DCS, licensing and quality‑improvement personnel, contracted providers, community partners, and other key stakeholders.
• Oversee Performance Quality Improvement (PQI), program outcomes, required documentation, and quality‑control processes.
• Provide oversight of agency training requirements and ensure staff receive appropriate ongoing training and professional development.
• Work collaboratively with the Board of Directors, providing timely information, recommendations, and guidance related to operations, programs, policies, finances, risks, and strategic direction.
• Partner with the organization’s philanthropy/development function to support fundraising, donor relations, community engagement, and the long‑term financial sustainability of the organization.
• Provide sound financial and operational stewardship, including budget oversight and responsible management of organizational resources.
• Ensure the organization’s residence, grounds, vehicles, and other assets are properly maintained and meet applicable licensing, safety, health, fire, and building requirements.
• Represent My Friend’s House professionally within the community and participate in organizational events, meetings, and the agency’s primary annual fundraising event.
• Step into program operations, crisis management, resident support, and other areas when necessary to ensure the safety and effective operation of the organization.

Qualifications

The ideal candidate will have:

• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in social work, counseling, criminology, human services, nonprofit management, or a related field. An advanced degree is a plus.
• At least five years of progressively responsible administrative or leadership experience, including a minimum of three years in a supervisory capacity.
• Experience working in a nonprofit, human services, behavioral health, child welfare, residential, or similarly regulated environment.
• Residential experience working with youth is strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated experience leading and developing employees and building a healthy, accountable workplace culture.
• Experience managing organizational finances and operating within an established budget.
• Strong organizational, problem‑solving, decision‑making, and crisis‑management skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including comfort with public speaking and community representation.
• The ability to build productive relationships with a Board of Directors, employees, government agencies, community partners, donors, and other stakeholders.
• Knowledge of DCS systems, licensing, child welfare, performance‑based contracting, or Tennessee residential services is highly desirable.

What We’re Looking For

Our next Executive Director should be a leader who can balance compassion with accountability, mission with sound business practices, and long‑term vision with hands‑on leadership.

We are looking for someone who understands that the heart of this work is the young men we serve. The right leader will care deeply about their safety, stability, growth, and future while also creating an environment where employees feel supported, expectations are clear, and the organization operates with integrity and excellence.

Because My Friend’s House is a 24/7 residential program, this is not strictly an 8:00–5:00 position. The Executive Director must be willing to respond to occasional after‑hours needs, attend evening or weekend activities and events when necessary, and provide leadership during urgent situations.

• Salary: $85,000–$95,000 annually, depending on experience
• Paid time off
• Paid holidays
• Health insurance stipend

My Friend’s House Family & Children's Services is committed to providing a safe, supportive environment for the young people entrusted to our care and to building a team of professionals who share that commitment.