Program Director - Adult Day Program

IEP Corp; Orange (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

IEP Corp is seeking an experienced Program Director to lead an established community-based adult day program serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Orange County, CA.

The role emphasizes building a high-performing team, ensuring regulatory compliance, and driving program quality and growth in a daytime nonresidential setting, with attention to participant dignity and staff development.

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years of experience working with individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities preferred.
• Minimum 2 years of supervisory or management experience in a human services setting.
• Demonstrated ability to recruit, train, supervise, and retain employees.
• Working knowledge of California Regional Center services, person-centered planning, and applicable regulatory requirements.
• Strong organizational, communication, problem-solving, and leadership skills.
• Ability to manage staffing, scheduling, documentation, and daily program operations.
• Ability to satisfy applicable background clearance, training, and program-specific qualification requirements.
• Previous experience as a Program Director, Assistant Program Director, Program Manager, or Day Program Administrator.
• Experience operating a Regional Center-vendored adult day program.
• Familiarity with Regional Center of Orange County (RCOC) requirements and processes.
• Experience with staff development, behavior management programs, community integration, and quality improvement.
• Proven success strengthening an established program and improving team performance.

Responsibilities

• Direct and oversee all daily operations of the adult day program.
• Ensure a safe, structured, engaging, and person-centered environment.
• Develop operating procedures, staff schedules, and daily activity plans.
• Monitor participant attendance, staffing coverage, and program performance.
• Identify operational improvements and implement sustainable solutions.
• Lead recruitment, interviewing, onboarding, and retention of qualified program staff.
• Supervise program managers, direct support professionals, instructors, and other personnel.
• Establish clear performance expectations and accountability.
• Provide ongoing training, coaching, performance evaluations, and corrective guidance.
• Build a positive workplace culture focused on teamwork, professionalism, and participant dignity.
• Oversee individualized service plans, participant goals, and progress documentation.
• Collaborate with participants, families, caregivers, and Regional Center service coordinators.
• Support appropriate behavioral intervention strategies and positive behavior supports.
• Evaluate program effectiveness and implement continuous quality improvements.

Job description

About the Opportunity

We are seeking an experienced, motivated, and compassionate Program Director to lead an established community-based adult day program serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Our program has been operating for over a year and currently serves approximately 40 participants. We are looking for a strong operational leader who can build a high-performing team, enhance program quality, maintain regulatory compliance, and help position the organization for continued growth.

This is a hands-on leadership position for someone who enjoys developing employees, solving operational challenges, and making a meaningful difference in the lives of adults with developmental disabilities.

This is strictly a daytime, nonresidential program.

No overnight or residential operations.

Key Responsibilities

Program Operations & Leadership

• Direct and oversee all daily operations of the adult day program.
• Ensure a safe, structured, engaging, and person-centered environment.
• Develop effective operating procedures, staff schedules, and daily activity plans.
• Monitor participant attendance, staffing coverage, and program performance.
• Identify operational improvements and implement sustainable solutions.

Staff Recruitment, Development & Supervision

• Lead recruitment, interviewing, onboarding, and retention of qualified program staff.
• Supervise program managers, direct support professionals, instructors, and other personnel.
• Establish clear performance expectations and accountability.
• Provide ongoing training, coaching, performance evaluations, and corrective guidance.
• Build a positive workplace culture focused on teamwork, professionalism, and participant dignity.

Participant Services & Program Quality

• Oversee individualized service plans, participant goals, and progress documentation.
• Ensure meaningful activities that promote independence, life skills, social development, vocational readiness, and community integration.
• Collaborate with participants, families, caregivers, and Regional Center service coordinators.
• Support appropriate behavioral intervention strategies and positive behavior supports.
• Evaluate program effectiveness and implement continuous quality improvements.

Regulatory Compliance & Safety

• Maintain compliance with applicable California Title 17 and Title 22 requirements, Regional Center standards, and the approved program design.
• Ensure required staffing ratios, training, certifications, and documentation are maintained.
• Oversee incident reporting, emergency preparedness, and corrective action processes.
• Maintain organized participant and employee records.
• Prepare for regulatory reviews, monitoring visits, and audits.

Business Operations & Growth

• Monitor program enrollment, attendance, staffing costs, and operating expenses.
• Collaborate with ownership on budgeting, resource allocation, and operational planning.
• Develop productive relationships with Regional Center representatives and community partners.
• Support appropriate participant referrals and enrollment growth.
• Establish measurable performance indicators and provide regular operational reports.

Required Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years of experience working with individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities preferred.
• Minimum 2 years of supervisory or management experience in a human services setting.
• Demonstrated ability to recruit, train, supervise, and retain employees.
• Working knowledge of California Regional Center services, person-centered planning, and applicable regulatory requirements.
• Strong organizational, communication, problem-solving, and leadership skills.
• Ability to manage staffing, scheduling, documentation, and daily program operations.
• Ability to satisfy applicable background clearance, training, and program-specific qualification requirements.

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous experience as a Program Director, Assistant Program Director, Program Manager, or Day Program Administrator.
• Experience operating a Regional Center-vendored adult day program.
• Familiarity with Regional Center of Orange County (RCOC) requirements and processes.
• Experience with staff development, behavior management programs, community integration, and quality improvement.
• Proven success strengthening an established program and improving team performance.