Program Director of Prevention

Larkin Street Youth Services; San Francisco (CA); Hybrid; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Choice of medical plans

Generous vacation policy

403(b) retirement plan

Job summary

Larkin Street Youth Services in San Francisco is seeking a Program Director of Prevention to lead efforts aimed at ending youth homelessness. This full-time role focuses on overseeing the prevention strategy through outreach, direct cash transfers, and aftercare.

The ideal candidate will have 5-7 years of experience in program leadership and a relevant degree. This position offers competitive benefits and the chance to make a meaningful impact in the lives of young people.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5–7 years of progressive experience in program leadership, social services, or a related field.
• Proven ability to translate data and evaluation findings into program improvements.
• Experience managing government contracts and philanthropic grants.

Responsibilities

• Lead prevention strategy across Outreach, DCT, and Aftercare programs.
• Set strategic vision for Larkin Street's prevention continuum.
• Ensure high-quality service delivery across all program areas.

Skills

Program leadership

Community outreach

Data analysis

Collaboration with city agencies

Youth engagement

Education

Bachelor's degree in social work, public health, or related field

Master's degree preferred

Tools

HMIS

ETO

Job description

Since 1984, Larkin Street Youth Services has helped more than 75,000 young adults in San Francisco with outreach, shelter, housing, education, employment, healthcare, and other services.

Today, Larkin Street Youth Services is the largest provider of housing and services to homeless youth in the Bay Area. We serve 1,500 youth annually, operating or partnering to provide more than 500 emergency shelter, transitional, supportive, and subsidy‐based housing beds at several unique sites across San Francisco.

Working at Larkin Street, no matter what department, means making a real difference in the lives of young people experiencing homelessness. Our team is skilled, diverse, and passionate. Our culture encourages achievement and professional development, as well as teamwork and self‑care. Our focus is always on the young people at the heart of our mission and to nurture potential, promote dignity and support bold steps by all.

Under the guidance of the Chief of Programs, the Program Director of Prevention leads Larkin Street Youth Services' prevention strategy across three interconnected program areas: Outreach, Direct Cash Transfer (DCT), and Aftercare. This role advances a comprehensive approach to ending youth homelessness through three core pillars: intervening early with youth at the highest risk of becoming homeless before they lose housing; rapidly identifying and engaging youth through street‑based and community outreach once they become unhoused; and ensuring that youth who exit Larkin Street's programs do not return to homelessness. The Director of Prevention is a senior leader responsible for setting programmatic vision, developing and sustaining key external partnerships, ensuring fidelity to evidence‑based practices, and driving cross‑departmental collaboration. This position plays a critical role in building Larkin Street's prevention infrastructure and positioning the agency as a leader in youth homelessness prevention locally and nationally.

This is a full‑time position, eligible for full benefits.

Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Set and advance the strategic vision for Larkin Street's prevention continuum, ensuring alignment with the agency's mission, strategic plan, and equity commitments.
• Serve as the agency's primary internal and external authority on youth homelessness prevention, translating emerging research, policy developments, and practice innovations into programmatic strategy.
• Represent Larkin Street in city‑wide planning bodies, coalitions, and funder convenings related to prevention, outreach, direct cash transfer, and aftercare.
• Partner with the Chief of Programs and the senior leadership team to identify opportunities to expand and deepen Larkin Street's prevention impact.
• Contribute to agency‑wide initiatives including strategic planning, budget development, and diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging work.

Program Oversight and Quality Assurance

• Provide senior oversight of the Outreach, DCT, and Aftercare programs, ensuring high‑quality, trauma‑informed, and equity‑centered service delivery across all three areas.
• Establish and monitor program standards, policies, and procedures; ensure consistent application of best practices including harm reduction, Housing First, Positive Youth Development, and Motivational Interviewing.
• Assess program performance through regular review of data, outcomes, and client feedback; lead continuous quality improvement efforts in response to findings.
• Ensure all prevention programs operate in compliance with contract, grant, and regulatory requirements.
• Consult with Program Managers on complex cases and emerging programmatic challenges, providing guidance and escalating issues to the Chief of Programs as appropriate.
• Ensure that street‑based and community outreach operations are responsive, trauma‑informed, and designed to rapidly identify and engage youth who are newly or recently unhoused.
• Build and sustain partnerships with community‑based organizations, city agencies, and systems‑involved settings (e.g., hospitals, juvenile justice, child welfare) to expand outreach reach and facilitate timely connections to services.
• Work with Program Managers to develop and refine outreach protocols that reflect the realities of youth most at risk, including QTBIPOC youth, youth with justice or child welfare involvement, and youth without stable documentation.

Direct Cash Transfer (DCT)

• Provide senior oversight of DCT program implementation, with a focus on youth at the highest risk of homelessness—particularly youth without a high school diploma or GED and youth with histories in the child welfare and/or juvenile or criminal justice systems.
• Ensure that the cash transfer model is implemented with fidelity and that optional supportive programming is responsive to participants' housing, health, education, and employment needs.
• Manage relationships with research and evaluation partners; ensure that evaluation findings are integrated into program design on an ongoing basis.
• Lead or support the development of a replicable, scalable DCT model that can inform Larkin Street's advocacy and the broader field.
• Direct the strategic development and ongoing refinement of the agency's aftercare model, ensuring that youth exiting Larkin Street's programs are connected to stable housing, benefits, and community supports.
• Work across programs to establish consistent, agency‑wide aftercare protocols—including individualized transition planning, structured follow‑up, and clear re‑engagement pathways.
• Ensure aftercare practices reflect the latest evidence on exit stabilization and are informed by the lived experiences of youth who have cycled in and out of homelessness.

External Relations and Partnership Development

• Cultivate and sustain relationships with city agencies (including HSH, DCYF, and DPH), philanthropy, research partners, and peer organizations to advance prevention goals and secure resources.
• Collaborate with the Government Relations and Development teams to inform policy advocacy, grant applications, and contract negotiations related to prevention.
• Serve as a thought partner and spokesperson for Larkin Street's prevention work in external forums, contributing to the agency's reputation as a leader in the field.

Staff Leadership and Development

• Provide direct supervision, coaching, and performance management to Program Managers within the prevention portfolio.
• Foster a team culture grounded in Larkin Street's values, with particular attention to staff wellbeing, reflective practice, and the centering of youth voice.
• Assess team training needs and ensure staff have access to professional development that deepens their practice and advances their careers.
• Participate in hiring and onboarding of prevention team staff.

Other

• Hold On‑Call manager responsibilities as assigned and scheduled in rotation.
• Other duties as required.

WHO YOU ARE

• You are passionate about the Larkin Street Youth Services mission to end youth homelessness.
• You have a minimum of 5–7 years of progressive experience in program leadership, social services, or a related field, with demonstrated experience managing programs and supervising staff.
• You hold a Bachelor's degree in social work, public health, public policy, or a related field required; Master's degree preferred.
• You have a keen ability to translate data and evaluation findings into program improvements.
• You are experienced in managing government contracts and/or philanthropic grants.
• You are comfortable engaging diverse audiences including funders, city partners, and community stakeholders.
• Your experience with HMIS, ETO, or similar data systems is a plus.
• Your lived experience with homelessness or systems involvement is valued.
• You have a deep knowledge of youth homelessness, including the populations Larkin Street serves: QTBIPOC youth, youth involved in child welfare and/or juvenile justice systems, and youth without stable housing histories.
• You have a strong foundation in prevention frameworks, harm reduction, trauma‑informed care, Housing First, and Positive Youth Development.
• You work best in a hybrid working environment, working onsite 4 days per week, and working from home for 1 day per week.
• You are willing to serve as an After Hours On‑Call Supervisor for 7 days, every 6–8 weeks.
• You are willing to work holidays occasionally.

Benefits

• Choice of Kaiser and Sutter medical plans, plus dental and vision.
• Generous 3 weeks of vacation annually, plus 11 paid holidays and 3 floating holidays.
• 403(b) retirement plan with employer matching.
• Flexible spending accounts for healthcare and dependent care expenses.
• Life insurance.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for counseling services.
• Health advocate service.
• Paid sabbatical following 5 and 10 years of employment.

Larkin Street Youth Services is an equal opportunity employer. Larkin Street Youth Services seeks qualified candidates with an interest in the non‑profit sector. We are committed to embracing diversity and consider all applicants for all positions without regard to color, ethnic background, religion, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, HIV/AIDS status, veteran status, or any other legally protected class. We encourage applicants of diverse backgrounds to apply for any open position in which they feel qualified.

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider employment for qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

All City and County of San Francisco employees are required to be vaccinated against COVID‑19 as a condition of employment. For details on how it is applicable to your employment, please click here.