Residential Program Director

Nexus Family Healing; East Bethel (MN); On-site; USD 90,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Five weeks PTO

Health insurance

Life insurance

Disability insurance

401k match

Talkspace Therapy

Hinge Health

Carrot Fertility

Tuition assistance

Advancement opportunities

Job summary

Nexus Family Healing in East Bethel, MN seeks a Residential Program Director to lead a youth and teen residential treatment program, ensuring a safe, trauma-informed, and compliant environment. This on-site role oversees daily operations, staff development, risk management, and program quality to improve outcomes.

The position demands 5+ years in youth residential settings with supervisory experience, a Bachelor's in a related field, and strong communication skills.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher in a related field; five years of youth/teen residential program experience can substitute.
• Minimum five years in a youth/teen residential setting with at least two years in a supervisory role.
• Must be 21+ years old and able to pass complex background checks and agency trainings.

Responsibilities

• Lead daily residential program operations to provide a safe, trauma-informed environment.
• Supervise and coach Program Supervisors and direct care staff.
• Ensure regulatory compliance and safety practices across the program.
• Develop and implement program improvements, policies and operational strategies.
• Monitor daily programming, behavior interventions, and therapeutic activities.
• Support staff development through training and mentoring opportunities.
• Ensure timely, accurate documentation and reporting processes.
• Collaborate with clinical leadership on admissions, treatment plans, and audits.
• Maintain staffing levels and resources to support operations and client safety.
• Foster accountability, teamwork and continuous improvement in residential care.

Skills

Leadership

Supervisory

Staff development

Regulatory compliance

Program management

Communication

Trauma-informed care

Education

Bachelor's degree in related field

Master's degree preferred

Job description

Residential Program Director

Nexus Family Healing is looking to hire a Residential Program Director to join our team at our East Bethel, MN youth & teen psychiatric residential treatment facility!

For more than 50 years, Nexus has empowered thousands of children, families, and adults to find hope and healing. What started in 1972 as a single program in Minnetonka, Minnesota has grown into a nationally recognized network across five states. As a progressive leader in youth and family mental health, we’re driven by a clear mission: to close gaps in care and create brighter futures for those we serve.

At Nexus Family Healing, we embrace diversity, promote equity, and foster inclusion. As a national mental health organization, we serve a diverse group of youth and families, and we strive for our workforce to support and represent that diversity.

Pay and Schedule:

• Full-time, salaried exempt position
• On-site position: 900 189th Ave NE, East Bethel,MN55011
• Starting salary range: $90k-100k annually

Nexus’ Comprehensive Benefits Include:

• Five weeks paid time off (PTO) in the first year of employment
• Multiple options for health insurance coverage
• No-cost life insurance
• Short/long-term disability insurance
• 401k match
• NEW - Talkspace Therapy Benefit for the whole family
• NEW - Hinge Health Benefit for the whole family
• NEW – Carrot Fertility Benefit
• Tuition assistance and training opportunities
• Advancement pathways and internal promotion
• And much more!

Position Summary:

The Residential Program Director provides leadership, oversight, and operational management for a residential treatment program serving youth & teens. This position is responsible for ensuring a safe, therapeutic, and trauma-informed environment while maintaining compliance with licensing, regulatory, and organizational standards. They oversee daily program operations, staff development, risk management, quality improvement initiatives, and program effectiveness to support positive outcomes for our clients. Working collaboratively with clinical, operational, and support teams, the Residential Program Director drives continuous improvement and ensures the delivery of high-quality services

Primary responsibilities:

• Lead daily residential program operations, ensuring a safe, structured, trauma-informed, and therapeutic environment for youth.
• Provide leadership, supervision, coaching, and performance management for Program Supervisors and direct care staff.
• Oversee program quality, risk management, safety practices, and regulatory compliance to support exceptional client care.
• Develop and implement program improvements, policies, and operational strategies that enhance treatment effectiveness and service delivery.
• Monitor daily programming, behavioral interventions, safety plans, and therapeutic activities to ensure alignment with client needs and treatment goals.
• Support staff development through training, mentoring, and professional growth opportunities.
• Ensure accurate, timely, and compliant documentation, reporting, and administrative processes.
• Collaborate with clinical leadership on admissions, treatment planning, quality improvement initiatives, and program audits.
• Maintain staffing levels, facility standards, and resources necessary to support program operations and client safety.
• Foster a culture of accountability, teamwork, continuous improvement, and excellence in residential car

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in related field, or
• In lieu of Bachelor's degree, a high school diploma or GED and a minimum of 5 years related experience
• Minimum of 5 years of related experience in a youth/teen residential program or similar
• Minimum of 2 years of supervisory experience
• Must be 21 years of age or above
• Valid driver’s license required. Must meet state regulating agency and Nexus Home Office driving requirements
• Must successfully pass a (DHS/DCFS/CJIS/DHHS/ODHS or other) federal and state criminal background check
• Must participate, complete, and successfully pass an agency-specific therapeutic intervention/restraint (TCI, HWC, NCI) training and exam
• Must have strong written and verbal communication skills
• Must have the ability to build strong relationships with diverse individuals or communities and understand their unique needs and challenges
• Must be open to meeting the cultural needs of individuals or communities, considering factors such as language, tradition, and values

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in a related field strongly preferred

At Nexus Family Healing, our voices and actions are focused on recognizing, affirming and respecting people of every race, ethnic background, socio-economic status, sexual orientation, gender expression and faith.

Our ICARE Values:

• Innovation: Leading the way and implementing creative, cutting-edge ideas and approaches
• Compassion: Listening, honoring differences, and showing respect, kindness, empathy care, and concern
• Agility: Exhibiting flexibility and adapting quickly
• Responsiveness: Being quick, positive, and accurate
• Excellence: Demonstrating quality results that surpass ordinary standards

When you work at Nexus, you have the opportunity to change lives — including your own!

Equal employment opportunity, including veterans and individuals with disabilities.