Residential Program Director

Seneca-Family-of-Agencies; Salinas (CA); Hybrid; USD 121,000 - 135,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid Time Off

Paid Holidays

Benefits package

Job summary

Seneca Family of Agencies seeks a Residential Program Director in California to lead Short-Term Residential Therapeutic Programs, ensuring trauma‑informed, culturally responsive services for youth. You will supervise clinical leaders across sites and drive regulatory compliance with CDSS, DHCS, and state codes.

The role emphasizes effective leadership, training, and budget collaboration to support quality care and positive outcomes for youth and families.

Qualifications

• Eligible for STRTP Administrator certification per STRTP Interim Licensing Standards by meeting one of the following education/experience qualifications.
• Minimum of 3 years of progressive leadership experience in residential or behavioral health services, with at least 2 years overseeing licensed or Medi‑Cal‑certified programs.
• Ability to interpret and apply licensing and clinical regulations; strong leadership, coaching, and change management skills.
• Excellent written and oral communication, analytical, and organizational abilities.
• Commitment to trauma‑informed care, cultural humility, and equity‑driven leadership.
• TB test clearance, fingerprinting clearance, and any other state/federal licensing or certification requirements.
• Valid driver’s license, clean driving record, and insurability through Seneca insurance policy.

Responsibilities

• Ensure STRTPs maintain continuous compliance with CDSS Interim Licensing Standards, DHCS regulations, and Welfare and Institutions Code requirements.
• Deliver trauma‑informed, culturally responsive, evidence‑based services; supervise and support directors and clinical leaders across multiple sites.
• Oversee staff recruitment, training, and retention in alignment with CDSS standards.
• Foster accountability, professional growth, and collaboration.
• Ensure safety, emergency preparedness, and incident reporting; review and approve investigations and corrective actions.
• Collaborate with executive and finance teams to develop and manage program budgets to meet regulatory staffing and service requirements.
• Oversee Medi‑Cal billing compliance and documentation standards.
• Ensure timely completion of required reports for CDSS, DHCS, and county Behavioral Health Departments.
• Cultivate partnerships with county/state offices, school districts, law enforcement, and other providers; train partners as requested.
• Manage program facilities to ensure safety and a welcoming environment; model crisis communication and de-escalation techniques.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Trauma-informed care

Cultural humility

Education

Master’s degree in behavioral science

Bachelor’s degree with administrative experience

Job description

• Pay or shift range: $120,707 USD to $134,707 USD
  The estimated range is the budgeted amount for this position. Final offers are based on various factors, including skill set, experience, location, qualifications and other job-related reasons.

Description

The Residential Program Director provides regulatory leadership for youth residential services, overseeing Short-Term Residential Therapeutic Program (STRTP). The Residential Program Director ensures that services are trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and aligned with evidence-based practices that promote stabilization, recovery, and permanency for youth.

ABOUT MONTEREY COMPASS

Seneca's Monterey County's COMPASS Programprovides short-term residential treatment for children and youth experiencing crises, ensuring timely support when it's most needed. Upon enrollment in the program, the Seneca teams work with the youth and support networks to assess the needs and strengths of the youth in order to develop the foundation goals that will drive treatment. Comprehensive services include timely mental health assessment, crisis counseling, and linkage to long-term, sustainable support based on each client's unique strengths and needs. The ultimate goal is to provide mental health / crisis services, suicide prevention, decrease in placement changes and reduction of unnecessary psychiatric hospitalization.

ABOUT SENECA

Seneca Family of Agencies has been nominated among the Bay Area’s Top Workplaces for several consecutive years. We’re committed to providing traditionally marginalized communities with a network of excellent mental health, community-based, and educational services. We are committed to building a diverse staff. Our programs deeply engage in conversations and training on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion to bring equity and justice to the youth and families we serve.

Responsibilities:

• Ensure Short Term Residential Treatment Programs (STRTP) maintain continuous compliance with California Department of Social Services (CDSS) Interim Licensing Standards (ILS), Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) regulations, and Welfare and Institutions Code requirements.


• Ensure the delivery of trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and evidence-based services Supervise and support Assistant Directors, STRTP Administrators, and clinical leaders across multiple sites.


• Oversee staff recruitment, training, and retention in alignment with CDSS personnel and training standards.


• Foster a culture of accountability, professional growth, and collaboration.


• Ensure adherence to safety, emergency preparedness, and incident reporting standards. Review and approve reportable incidents, internal investigations, and corrective action plans.


• Collaborate with executive and finance teams to develop and manage program budgets that meet regulatory staffing and service requirements.


• Oversee Medi-Cal billing compliance, ensuring documentation and authorization standards are met.


• Ensure timely and accurate completion of required reports for CDSS, DHCS, and county Behavioral Health Departments.


• Cultivate effective partnerships with applicable county and state offices, school districts, law enforcement agencies, emergency services, and other community providers, and facilitate effective training for partners as requested.


• Manage applicable program facilities to ensure safety, regulatory compliance, and a warm and welcoming environment of care.


• Utilize and model crisis communication and de-escalation techniques as per Seneca's Equilibrium model training.

Qualifications

REQUIRED

• Eligible for STRTP Administrator certification per STRTP Interim Licensing Standards by meeting one of the following education/experience qualifications:
  
  
  
  • Master's degree in a behavioral science from an accredited college or university + at least 2 years of employment as a social worker, as defined in California Code of Regulations, Title 22, Section 80001 (s)(4), in an agency serving children or in a residential congregate care program for children, OR
  
  
  • Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university + at least 3 years administrative experience or supervisory experience over social work, direct care, and/or support staff providing direct services to children in an agency or in a community care facility with a licensed capacity of six or more.
  
  
  
  


• Minimum of 3 years of progressive leadership experience in residential or behavioral health services, with at least 2 years overseeing licensed or Medi-Cal-certified programs.


• Proven ability to interpret and apply licensing and clinical regulations effectively. Strong leadership, coaching, and change management skills.


• Excellent written and oral communication, analytical, and organizational abilities.


• Commitment to trauma-informed care, cultural humility, and equity-driven leadership. At least 21 years of age.


• TB test clearance, fingerprinting clearance, and any other state/federal licensing or certification requirements.


• Valid driver's license, clean driving record, and insurability through Seneca insurance policy.

Schedule

• Full-time, Hybrid
  
  
  
  • Monday - Friday, 9:00 AM - 5:30 PM
  
  
  
  


• Back-up administrator for 24 hour on call services


• Starting at $120,707 - $134,707 per year
  
  
  
  • Actual salary is dependent on creditable experience above the minimum qualifications for the role.
  
  
  • Additional compensation provided upon passing bilingual language proficiency exam.
  
  
  
  


• 5 weeks of Paid Time off and 11 Paid Holidays.


• Comprehensive employee benefits package, including:
  
  
  
  • Medical, dental, vision and chiropractic coverage and partially paid premiums for dependents.
  
  
  • Long-term disability, family leave, and life insurance.
  
  
  • 50% paid premiums for dependents.
  
  
  • 403b Retirement Plan.
  
  
  • Employer-paid Employee Assistance Plan.
  
  
  • Seneca is a Public Service Loan Forgiveness certified employer.
  
  
  
  


• Training stipend and professional development opportunities.


• Abundant promotional opportunities across the agency in California.

#SENECAHP

Qualifications

Skills

Behaviors

Motivations

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Education

Experience

Licenses & Certifications

Equal Opportunity Employer
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