Residential Program Director

St Augustine Youth Services; Saint Augustine (FL); On-site; USD 55,800 - 68,200; Full time

Job summary

St. Augustine Youth Services in Saint Augustine, FL is seeking an experienced Program Director to lead our residential behavioral health program serving children and adolescents.

This leadership role oversees daily operations, ensures high-quality care, and maintains compliance with Medicaid, Florida regulations, and CARF accreditation. You will supervise a multidisciplinary team, manage admissions and discharge planning, and collaborate with families and community partners to support youth in a

Qualifications

• Master's Degree in Social Work, Counseling, Psychology, MFT, or related behavioral health field.
• Minimum of two (2) years of experience working with children or adolescents.
• Experience supervising clinical or residential staff.
• Valid Florida driver's license with an acceptable driving record.
• Ability to pass Level II Background Screening and meet Affidavit of Good Moral Character requirements.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership, oversight, and clinical support for our residential treatment program.
• Supervise Residential Supervisors, Behavioral Health Technicians, House Parents, and Awake Staff.
• Ensure Medicaid, CARF, and state regulatory compliance.
• Manage program quality assurance activities and review incident reports.
• Serve in the on-call rotation and respond to program needs as necessary.
• Provide clinical services, including individual, group, and family therapy when needed.
• Complete residential admissions, assessments, and coordinate referrals.
• Assist with discharge planning and transition services.
• Participate in multidisciplinary treatment team meetings, staffing, and Independent Living planning.
• Maintain accurate documentation, treatment records, and required reports.
• Develop and oversee residential behavior management systems and point programs.
• Maintain program calendars for activities, appointments, and treatment events.
• Provide crisis intervention in residential, school, or community settings.
• Coach, mentor, and develop direct care staff.
• Participate in community outreach, partnership development, and fundraising initiatives.
• Ensure all incidents are properly reported internally and through required reporting systems.

Skills

Leadership

Supervision

Clinical services

Communication

Documentation

Problem-solving

Team collaboration

Education

Master's Degree in Social Work, Counseling, Psychology, Marriage & Family Therapy, or related behavioral health field

Job description

Job Details

Job Location: 201 SIMONE WAY - SAINT AUGUSTINE, FL 32086

Position Type: Full Time

Education Level: Masters

Salary Range: $62,000.00 Salary/year

Job Shift: Day

Job Category: Management

Program Director – Residential Behavioral Health

Lead. Inspire. Change Lives.

St. Augustine Youth Services (SAYS) is seeking an experienced Program Director to lead our residential behavioral health program serving children and adolescents. This leadership position is responsible for the daily operation of our residential treatment program, ensuring exceptional care for youth while maintaining compliance with Medicaid, Florida regulations, and CARF accreditation standards.

What You’ll Do

As the Program Director, you will provide leadership, oversight, and clinical support for our residential treatment program by:

• Supervising Residential Supervisors, Behavioral Health Technicians, House Parents, and Awake Staff
• Ensuring quality services that meet Medicaid, CARF, and state regulatory requirements
• Managing program quality assurance activities and reviewing incident reports
• Serving in the on-call rotation and responding to program needs as necessary
• Providing clinical services, including individual, group, and family therapy when needed
• Completing residential admissions, assessments, and coordinating referrals
• Assisting with discharge planning and transition services
• Participating in multidisciplinary treatment team meetings, staffing, and Independent Living planning
• Maintaining accurate documentation, treatment records, and required reports
• Developing and overseeing residential behavior management systems and point programs
• Maintaining program calendars for activities, appointments, and treatment events
• Providing crisis intervention in residential, school, or community settings
• Coaching, mentoring, and developing direct care staff
• Participating in community outreach, partnership development, and fundraising initiatives
• Ensuring all incidents are properly reported internally and through required reporting systems

Qualifications

Required

• Master's Degree in Social Work, Counseling, Psychology, Marriage & Family Therapy, or a related behavioral health field
• Minimum of two (2) years of experience working with children or adolescents
• Experience supervising clinical or residential staff
• Valid Florida driver's license with an acceptable driving record
• Ability to successfully pass Level II Background Screening and meet Affidavit of Good Moral Character requirements

Preferred

• Residential treatment experience
• Medicaid documentation experience
• CARF accreditation experience
• Florida child welfare or behavioral health experience
• Crisis intervention and trauma-informed care experience

What Makes You Successful

• Leads with integrity, professionalism, and compassion
• Builds positive relationships with youth, families, staff, and community partners
• Thrives in a fast-paced residential treatment environment
• Communicates effectively both verbally and in writing
• Coaches and develops employees through mentorship and accountability
• Creates a structured, therapeutic, home-like environment for youth
• Demonstrates excellent organizational, documentation, and problem-solving skills
• Works collaboratively with multidisciplinary treatment teams

Schedule

• Full-time (40+ hours/week)
• Evening availability required
• Weekend work as needed
• Participation in an on-call rotation

Why Join SAYS?

At St. Augustine Youth Services, you'll join a mission-driven organization dedicated to providing hope, healing, and stability for children facing significant life challenges. Our leadership team values collaboration, professional development, and creating an environment where both employees and youth can thrive. If you’re looking for an opportunity to make a lasting impact while leading a dedicated team of professionals, we’d love to hear from you.

Please see the link to the new Care Provider Background Screening Clearinghouse Education and Awareness website.

https://info.flclearinghouse.com

This site was implemented under the directive of House Bill 531 (2025).