Lead Licensed Vocational Nurse

SSG Project 180; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 73,000 - 91,000; Full time

Job summary

Project 180 is seeking a Lead Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) for the DTLA clinic. You will oversee nursing services across DMH programs, administer injections and TB tests, and support prescribers with coordination and documentation.

You will supervise 1–2 LVNs and 1–2 reception staff, ensure compliance with LVN scope, and maintain accurate medication records, safety protocols, and cross-site coverage. This role emphasizes equity and collaboration with partners.

Qualifications

• Active Vocational Nurse license in California is required.
• CPR certification must be current and valid.
• LPS designation is required or must be maintained.

Responsibilities

• Direct clinical care including injections and TB testing with documentation.
• Support prescribers with scheduling, pharmacy coordination, and treatment adherence.
• Supervise 1–2 LVNs and 1–2 reception staff with coaching and reviews.
• Ensure compliance with LVN scope, risk assessments, and cross-site coverage.

Skills

Empathetic engagement

Critical thinking

Organization

Communication

Collaboration

Adaptability

Clinical expertise

Education

Active Vocational Nurse license (CA)

Current CPR certification

LPS Designation

Job description

Title

Lead Licensed Vocational Nurse

Division

Project 180

Pay Scale

$72,778.23-$90,972.78 annually

Project 180 Overview

Mission

SSG-Project 180 provides practical and clinical behavioral health, re-entry, and diversion solutions that empower justice-involved Angelenos to achieve lasting personal transformation and reclaim their lives.

Org. Summary

Project 180 is a leader in the forensic treatment space, offering high-quality, specialized treatment programs that serve thousands of justice-involved individuals. Our programs span criminal justice intercepts and include pre-arrest interventions, court-based diversions, jail in-reach, and intensive post-release services. Project 180 operates in partnership with County agencies including the Department of Mental Health (DMH), the Department of Health Services (DHS), and the Justice, Care and Opportunities Department (JCOD). Annually, we serve over 1,500 justice-involved individuals.

Core Values

• Humanity: We lead with a people-centered focus, seeking to understand and value the lived experience of others and centering their human dignity.
• Integrity: We honor the trust placed in us by doing what is right while fulfilling our commitments - even when no one is watching.
• Adaptability: We embrace the pivot, evolving to meet the complex needs of our community.
• Empowerment: We cultivate the tools, confidence, resilience, optimism, and agency within every individual to lead their own transformation.
• Equity: We honor everyone’s unique journey, meet them where they are and commit to providing the targeted support and resources that allow each individual to contribute and thrive.
• Interdependence: We move as a unified team, trading silos for collective strength, recognizing that our greatest impact is achieved together.

The Program

Project 180’s DMH programs provide intensive behavioral health services to a forensic population. Clients served are transitioning to the community from an incarcerated setting or being diverted to treatment in lieu of serving prison or jail time. Services include, but are not limited to, psychotherapy, medication management, substance counseling, case management, employment, and housing support. Services are provided in partnership with various LA County departments and delivered through a recovery-oriented, harm-reduction framework. A successful Lead LVN collaborates closely with the multidisciplinary treatment team to improve client adherence to psychiatric medications and enhance access to healthcare.

The Position

The Lead Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) oversees the delivery of nursing services across Project 180’s DMH programs. The Lead LVN provides direct clinical care to clients—including administering long-acting injectable antipsychotics and TB tests—and assists prescribers with scheduling and pharmacy coordination. This position is responsible for delivering high-quality client care, ensuring service excellence, and coordinating care within a multidisciplinary treatment team.

Essential Functions

Direct Clinical Care & Client Support

• Administer prescribed injections and TB tests, perform urine drug screenings, assess for lice, scabies, and other health concerns, and provide initial response to medical emergencies, including appropriate documentation and follow-up with prescribers and treatment teams.
• Reinforce prescriber-provided education to clients regarding medication orders, purpose, dosages, and general health to encourage treatment adherence and consistent access to care.
• Complete laboratory testing requisition forms accurately as ordered, coordinating testing and follow-up care as appropriate.
• Maintain LA County LPS designation and current CPR certification to complete clinical risk assessments, safety planning, and facilitate psychiatric hospitalizations when indicated.

Medication Management & Pharmacy Coordination

• Coordinate with pharmacies and prescribers to confirm orders, secure medication refills, resolve fulfillment issues, and maintain seamless client access to prescribed medications.
• Manage scheduling for all injections administered at the DTLA clinic and provide backup scheduling support for injections administered at housing sites and psychiatric appointments.
• Maintain a clean, organized, and secure medication room, including medication and sample inventory, temperature monitoring, proper disposal, and participation in Medi-Cal medication room audits and CARF accreditation reviews.

Staff Supervision & Team Leadership

• Lead hiring, onboarding, initial and ongoing clinical training, competency evaluations, and regular supervision for assigned staff (1–2 LVNs and 1–2 reception staff).
• Drive staff performance through routine coaching, constructive feedback, weekly supervision, and annual performance reviews.
• Assist nursing staff in troubleshooting challenging client care situations via direct intervention, coaching, and supportive escalation.
• Monitor staff performance metrics and site outcomes to proactively resolve barriers, meet program goals, and cultivate a supportive team culture for staff retention.

Operational & Clinical Governance

• Ensure all clinical care, supervision, and service delivery adhere to legal, ethical, and LVN scope of practice standards.
• Apply a racial equity lens across all elements of direct clinical care and staff supervision.
• Build collaborative relationships with nursing leadership, program teams, and external partners (e.g., ODR, pharmacies) to resolve operational issues and streamline service delivery.
• Plan nursing coverage in coordination with the nursing supervisor and provide cross-coverage for other sites as needed.
• Complete daily medication and no-show appointment data entry (EXYM, medcall) and submit accurate billing records in a timely manner according to program standards.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Directly supervises 1–2 LVNs and 1–2 reception staff members.

Fulfill baseline Project 180 staff expectations

• Regular attendance is required. Overtime, holiday, or weekend work, and coverage at other locations may be required based on program needs.
• Uphold and champion the Agency’s mission statement, values, policies, procedures, and core principles.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the supervisor.
• Maintain active licensure and/or professional certifications as applicable.

Skills And Abilities

• Clinical Expertise: Demonstrates high-quality clinical care and service delivery.
• Empathetic Engagement: Builds strong, trusting relationships with clients.
• Collaboration: Works effectively within multidisciplinary teams to solve complex challenges.
• Adaptability: Flexibly adapts to changing client needs and dynamic environments.
• Critical Thinking: Demonstrates strong problem-solving skills and remains calm under pressure.
• Organization: Utilizes strong organizational systems with high attention to detail.
• Communication: Conveys information clearly, builds rapport, and engages effectively with clients and team members.

Minimum Qualifications

• Required:
  • Active Vocational Nurse license in the state of California
  • Experience working with culturally diverse populations.
  • Valid CA driver’s license, proof of insurance and own vehicle required. Ability to transport clients in personal vehicle as needed.
  • Must not be on any type of legal supervision (probation or parole).
  • Verification of Employment Eligibility and Background Check
  • Basic computer skills
  • Current CPR certification.
  • LPS Designation
• Preferred:
  • Mental health or forensic population experience
  • Spanish speaking

Environmental Conditions (Working Conditions)

The employee will be based in the main Projet 180 clinic and will need to perform job duties throughout the building as well as other locations as needed.

Physical Requirements

The employee is expected to move throughout the clinic during the day, which may involve walking, standing, and climbing stairs, or using a mobility device, or similar. The employee is expected to drive, carry a maximum of 20 lbs, listen, and speak in order to complete job requirements.

Mental Requirements

The employee must be able to do any/all of the following: perform complex and varied tasks such as synthesizing information and making decisions without immediate supervision; handle routine distractions, interruptions, noise, and uncontrollable changes in priorities/work schedules; interact professionally and diplomatically in high-stress situations; create and follow plans; meet deadlines.