Group Living Program Manager

Lutheran Child & Family Service of Michigan, Inc.; Livonia (MI); On-site; USD 68,000 - 83,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, and vision insurance

Paid time off and paid holidays

403(b) retirement plan with employer‑匹

Employee Assistance Program (SupportL‑

Professional development opportunities

Mission‑driven work that changes lives

Job summary

Wellspring Lutheran Services – New Directions in Livonia, MI is seeking a Group Living Program Manager to lead our trauma‑informed residential program for youth with developmental disabilities and co‑occurring emotional and behavioral challenges. You will guide a team to deliver consistent, high‑quality care and support youth in healing, growth, and preparing for the future.

The ideal candidate has supervisory leadership, strong communication, and a commitment to child welfare.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience in a child caring field.
• Experience supervising teams in residential care settings.
• Knowledge of child welfare services and behavioral interventions.
• Ability to respond calmly in crisis situations.

Responsibilities

• Lead the residential treatment program to ensure safe, high‑quality care.
• Mentor supervisors and direct care leaders; strengthen teams.
• Guide program improvement efforts and staff through crises.
• Help youth build confidence, resilience and life skills.
• Shape culture and environment to support healing.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Team building

Crisis response

Supervisory experience

Education

Bachelor's degree in related field

Two years of college + 3 years experience

High school diploma + 4 years experience

Job description

Job Description: Group Living Program Manager | Building the Environment Where Youth Can Heal, Grow, and Thrive

Wellspring Lutheran Services – New Directions, Livonia | Full-Time | Salary $75,000 Accepting applications through October 28, 2026

The most important moments in a young person's life are often shaped by the people behind the scenes who create safety, consistency, and opportunity.

You chose this field because you believe every young person deserves the chance to overcome challenges, discover their strengths, and build a future filled with possibility.

At Wellspring Lutheran Services, we're looking for a Group Living Program Manager to join our New Directions team—a trauma‑informed residential program serving youth with developmental disabilities and co‑occurring emotional and behavioral challenges.

At New Directions, you will lead a residential program that helps youth with developmental disabilities and co‑occurring emotional and behavioral challenges heal, grow, and prepare for the future. Most importantly, you'll help young people discover that their future is bigger than their circumstances.

What Your Impact Will Look Like

You will provide leadership for the residential treatment program, ensuring youth receive consistent, high‑quality care in a safe and therapeutic environment. You will mentor supervisors and direct care leaders, strengthen teams, guide program improvement efforts, support staff through crises, and help create experiences that allow youth to build confidence, resilience, and life skills. Every decision you make helps shape the culture and environment where healing can happen.

The Professional We're Looking For

You believe strong leadership can change the trajectory of a young person's life. You are passionate about child welfare and residential treatment. You enjoy developing employees and strengthening teams. You remain calm and solution‑focused during difficult situations. You believe every young person deserves safety, dignity, and opportunity.

What You'll Bring

A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university and 2 years of work experience in a child caring institution – OR – Two years of college from an accredited college or university and 3 years of work experience in a child caring institution – OR – A high school diploma and 4 years of work experience in a child caring institution. Four years of supervisory experience in a child caring institution or child placing agency. Knowledge of child welfare services, residential treatment, adolescent development, and behavioral interventions. Strong leadership, communication, and team‑building skills. Ability to respond effectively in crisis situations.

Why Wellspring Lutheran Services?

At Wellspring, we're motivated by Christ's love to engage people as they experience and embrace their God‑given potential. That mission is especially meaningful at New Directions, where every day brings opportunities to help young people discover strengths they may not yet see in themselves. This is more than a management position. It's an opportunity to develop leaders, strengthen clinical services, support families, and help young people build brighter futures.

Benefits

• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• Paid time off and paid holidays
• 403(b) retirement plan with employer matching
• Employee Assistance Program (SupportLinc)
• Professional development opportunities
• Mission‑driven work that changes lives

Schedule

Full‑time leadership position with a schedule driven by the needs of the program and the youth we serve. Primarily weekday business hours with a flexible schedule including days, evenings, weekends, and holidays as needed. Participation in leadership meetings, supervision, training, quality improvement initiatives, and program planning. Availability to respond to emergencies and crisis situations after normal business hours. Active presence throughout the residential campus.

About us

For more than 130 years, Wellspring Lutheran Services has been a trusted partner for families across Michigan, providing compassionate support and critical services to help people thrive during times of challenge and change. With deep roots in communities statewide, our team is united by a shared vision of changed lives, strong families and transformed communities. Our mission: Motivated by Christ's love, we engage people as they experience and embrace their God‑given potential.

Full job description available during the interview. We have a bold vision at Wellspring. We truly believe that through the way we serve and love others, we can change lives, strengthen families and transform communities. We also believe each person who walks through our doors has purpose. One of the most rewarding gifts we receive daily is the opportunity to embrace that purpose, by using our God‑given gifts to transform the lives of others. This may be the people we serve – or it may be through our interaction with each other as coworkers. And we'd love to have you join our team.