Program Director - Day Support Services

Phoenix Alternatives, Inc.; White Bear Lake (MN); On-site; USD 63,000 - 68,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Daytime schedule

Health and dental plan options

Employer-paid long-term disability

Employer-paid life insurance

PTO plus 11 paid holidays per year

Medical pool for extended illness

403(b) retirement plan

Salary 62,500–67,500 annually, exempt

Job summary

Phoenix Alternatives, Inc. is seeking a Program Director for Day Support Services in White Bear Lake, MN. You will lead two programs, supervise Program Supervisors, and coordinate with HR on staffing and retention to ensure high-quality, person-centered services for adults with disabilities.

The role requires licensing oversight, documentation discipline, and a focus on continuous program improvement, with a Monday–Friday daytime schedule and compliance with 245D regulations.

Qualifications

• Must have supervisory experience in human services.
• Experience with 245D licensing, incident reporting, and corrective action strongly desired.
• Ability to pass DHS Background Study and OIG check; valid driver’s license.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and ability to learn AI-enabled systems.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop Program Supervisors; oversee HR hiring, onboarding, retention, and staff performance.
• Serve as Designated Manager under Minnesota 245D licensing; ensure licensing compliance and incident review.
• Ensure person-centered services; coordinate with guardians, residential providers, and case managers.
• Build relationships with residential providers, families and guardians; be the point of contact.
• Support growth with Admissions Manager for tours and intake processes.
• Lead program quality and continuous improvement; implement processes for better participant outcomes.

Skills

Supervisory experience

Clear communication

Good judgment

Confidentiality

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in human services/education/health

Associate degree in related field

Diploma in related field

50 hours of human services training

Tools

Microsoft Office

AI systems literacy

Job description

Program Director - Day Support Services

PAI | White Bear Lake, MN | Full-Time, Exempt | $62,500–$67,500 | Monday–Friday, daytime schedule

About the role

PAI supports adults with disabilities as they build skills, work, make meaningful choices, and participate in their communities. We serve individuals across four locations and are seeking a Program Director to lead two of our Day Support Services and Prevocational Services programs in White Bear Lake.

The Program Director leads a team of Program Supervisors across both sites, who in turn supervise the Direct Support Professionals working directly with participants. It is a role for someone who enjoys developing supervisors, who takes licensing and documentation seriously, and who wants the people we serve to have days that are engaging and worth showing up for.

This is a great opportunity to add and hone skills with the opportunity to oversee support functions as well.

If you are currently doing Director/Designated Manager work somewhere else or are ready to move up to your next stage, we would love to hear from you.

What you'll do

Lead and develop your supervisors. You supervise, teach, and coach the Program Supervisors so they can do the same for their staff. You will partner with HR on hiring, onboarding, and retention, and you handle employee matters carefully and fairly, including performance management, evaluations, investigations, workers' compensation, and FMLA. Required training is coordinated centrally; confirming that your staff are competent and that the documentation shows it is your responsibility.

Serve as the Designated Manager under Minnesota's 245D licensing rules. You are accountable for program oversight, including licensing compliance, incident review and corrective action, participant rights, and ongoing program improvement. The statutory requirements are listed at the end of this posting.

Make sure services are meaningful. You ensure your supervisors deliver person-centered services and that assessments, skill development, and outcome measurement are done well and in real coordination with guardians, residential providers, and case managers.

Be the person people outside PAI can rely on. You maintain productive professional relationships with residential providers, case managers, families, and guardians, whether in supporting other staff or working directly with these and other stakeholders. You are the point of contact people trust, and the person who follows through.

Support growth. You help bring new participants into the program by partnering with our Admissions Manager to provide tours, determine whether PAI can meet prospective participants' service needs, and ensure Program Supervisors complete the intake process accurately and efficiently.

Lead program quality and innovation. You are a strategic leader when it comes to program quality, continuous improvement, and innovation. You implement and improve processes that support quality across the experience of participants, and you partner internally and externally to create new and better experiences and outcomes for the people we serve.

What we offer

• A Monday–Friday, daytime schedule
• Three health and dental plan options with significant employer contribution
• Employer-paid long-term disability
• Employer-paid life insurance
• PTO plus 11 paid holidays per year
• A medical pool of paid time for extended illness
• 403(b) retirement plan
• Compensation of $62,500–$67,500 annually, exempt

What we're looking for

We want someone with real supervisory experience in human services who communicates clearly, exercises good judgment, handles confidential information appropriately, and brings problems and new ideas forward with an eye toward making the experience better for participants and employees. Experience leading programs that serve people with developmental disabilities required; direct experience with 245D licensing, incident reporting, and corrective action strongly desired.

Also required:

• 21 years of age or older
• Ability to pass a DHS Background Study and OIG check, and maintain clearance to provide direct contact services without continuous supervision
• Reliable transportation for work purposes, a valid driver's license, a driving record acceptable to our insurance carrier, and proof of valid auto insurance
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and the ability to learn other workplace systems, including appropriate use of AI.

Minimum qualifications under Minnesota Statutes 245D.081

This position is a Designated Manager, and state law sets the minimum qualifications. We have listed them in full so you can see whether you qualify.

Education and experience - one of the following:

• A bachelor's degree in a field related to human services, education, or health, plus one year of full-time work experience providing direct care services to persons with disabilities or persons age 65 and older
• An associate degree in a field related to human services, education, or health, plus two years of that same full-time experience
• A diploma in a field related to human services, education, or health from an accredited postsecondary institution, plus three years of that same full-time experience
• A minimum of 50 hours of education and training related to human services and disabilities, plus four years of full-time work experience providing direct care services to persons with disabilities or persons age 65 and older, under the supervision of a staff person who meets one of the qualifications above

In addition:

• A minimum of three years of supervisory-level experience in a program that provides care or education to vulnerable adults or children

Statutory duties of the Designated Manager include:

• Maintaining a current working knowledge of 245D requirements
• Ensuring the duties of the designated coordinator are fulfilled
• Reviewing incident and emergency reports and identifying corrective action
• Evaluating participant and case manager satisfaction with services
• Protecting participant rights under 245D.04
• Ensuring staff orientation and competency requirements are met
• Using the above to support documented, ongoing program improvement

PAI is fully committed to equal employment opportunity. All employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, pregnancy, marital status, familial status, disability, national origin, sexual orientation, veteran status, status with regard to public assistance, or activity in a local human rights commission.