Program Administrator - Escondido, CA

Merakey; Escondido (CA); On-site; USD 80,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision coverage

DailyPay access to earned wages

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

Merakey is seeking a Program Administrator to lead an Enhanced Behavioral Support Home in Escondido, CA. You will oversee daily operations, quality, staff development, and ensure person-centered supports for adults with IDD and behavioral health needs.

You will collaborate with BCBAs and health professionals, ensure ISP and behavioral plan compliance, and manage budgets and scheduling while participating in on-call rotations to handle emergencies.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree preferred in Human Services, Psychology, Social Work, or related field.
• Minimum 2 years experience supporting individuals with IDD, behavioral health, or mental health needs.
• At least 1 year supervisory or leadership experience in residential or human services setting.
• RBT or Licensed Psychiatric Technician preferred.
• Valid driver's license and acceptable driving record required.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and oversight for residential program operations and service delivery.
• Supervise, coach, and develop Direct Support Professionals and Lead DSPs.
• Partner with Behavioral Health professionals to support individualized treatment plans and behavioral programming.
• Ensure compliance with state regulations, licensing, ISPs, and behavioral support plans.
• Coordinate medical, behavioral, and community-based services to support outcomes.
• Monitor health, safety, medication administration, incident reporting, and rights.
• Manage staffing, scheduling, transportation, maintenance, and budgeting.
• Foster relationships with families and community partners.
• Participate in an on-call rotation for emergencies.

Skills

Leadership

Regulatory knowledge

Person-centered care

Multitasking

MS Office

Education

Bachelor's degree preferred

2+ years IDD/behavioral health support

Supervisory experience

Job description

Program Administrator - Enhanced Behavioral Support Home

Location: Escondido, CA

Schedule: Full-Time | On-Call Responsibilities Required

Compensation: $80,000 - $85,000 Based on experience

Make a Difference Every Day

Join Merakey as a Program Administrator and lead the daily operations of an Enhanced Behavioral Support Home serving adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and behavioral health needs. In this leadership role, you will oversee program quality, staff development, regulatory compliance, and person-centered supports that help individuals thrive at home and in their communities.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and oversight for residential program operations and service delivery.
• Supervise, coach, and develop Direct Support Professionals and Lead DSPs.
• Partner with Behavioral Health professionals, including BCBAs, to support individualized treatment plans and behavioral programming.
• Ensure compliance with state regulations, licensing requirements, Individual Support Plans (ISPs), and behavioral support plans.
• Coordinate medical, behavioral, and community-based services to support individual outcomes.
• Monitor health, safety, medication administration practices, incident reporting, and individual rights.
• Manage household operations, including staffing, scheduling, transportation, maintenance, and budgeting.
• Foster positive relationships with families, interdisciplinary teams, day programs, and community partners.
• Participate in an on-call rotation to support program needs and emergency situations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Human Services, Psychology, Social Work, Special Education, or a related field preferred.
• Minimum of 2 years of experience supporting individuals with IDD, behavioral health, or mental health needs.
• At least 1 year of supervisory or leadership experience in a residential or human services setting.
• Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) or Licensed Psychiatric Technician preferred.
• Valid driver's license and acceptable driving record required.

What You'll Bring

• Strong leadership, communication, and organizational skills.
• Experience working within person-centered service models.
• Knowledge of regulatory requirements, behavioral support plans, and residential services.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities while promoting a positive team culture.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and electronic documentation systems.

Why Join Merakey?

At Merakey, we put heart and soul into everything we do. You'll have the opportunity to lead a dedicated team, positively impact lives, and grow your career with one of the nation's leading providers of developmental and behavioral health services.

Benefits

Merakey offers generous benefits that promote well-being, financial security, and work-life balance, including:

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, plus access to healthcare advocacy support.
• Retirement plan -- both pre-tax and Roth (after-tax) options available for employee contributions.
• DailyPay -- access your pay when you need it!
• On the Goga well-being platform, featuring self-care tools and resources.
• Access Care.com for backup childcare, elder care, and household services.
• Confidential counseling, legal, and financial services through our Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
• Tuition reimbursement and educational partnerships.
• Employee discounts and savings programs on entertainment, travel, and lifestyle.
• Access to Pryor Online Learning for free online personal development classes.

Learn more about our full benefits package - https://www.merakey.org/careers/benefits

About Merakey

Merakey is a non-profit provider of developmental, behavioral health, and education services. More than 8,000 employees provide support to nearly 40,000 individuals and families throughout 12 states across the country each year. Click here to watch a video about Merakey. Merakey strictly follows a zero-tolerance policy for abuse.

Merakey is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer! We deeply value diversity and do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, ethnic background, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, genetic information, or disability status. Moreover, we are committed to creating teams that reflect the diversity of the communities we serve and encourage applicants from underrepresented backgrounds to apply. Merakey welcomes all Veterans to apply!

The ideal candidate will possess the following qualifications:

• Must be at least 21 years old.
• Must have a verifiable/High School Diploma/G.E.D.
• Bachelor's degree in human services or related field preferred.
• At least one (1) year supervisory experience in a group home or residential setting.
• Must have at least two (2) years of verifiable experience working with I/DD, MH, or BH individuals in a adolescent group home or residential setting.
• Dual Diagnose experience preferred.
• A valid driver's license is required.
• Required to complete a DSP 1 certification, within 1 year of hired date.
• Required to complete a DSP 2 certification within 1 year of hired date.
• Required to complete an RBT (Registered Behavior Technician) certification within 2 months of hired date.
• Must have Adult Residential Facility (ARF) certification (completed training and passed test)