State Director Youth Services

Thompson Child & Family Focus, Inc.; Tennessee; Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Three weeks PTO

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

401(k) with employer match

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

Thompson Child & Family Focus, Inc. is seeking a State Director to lead child and family services across Tennessee. This role involves setting strategic direction and ensuring operational performance while developing community partnerships.

The ideal candidate has extensive experience in human services and leadership, with a strong focus on financial management and program compliance. Benefits include PTO, medical coverage, and more.

Qualifications

• 10+ years in human services, behavioral health, healthcare, child welfare, or nonprofit work.
• 7+ years of progressive leadership experience.
• Experience leading multiple programs or geographic regions preferred.

Responsibilities

• Set statewide strategy and growth direction.
• Build sustainable and scalable operations.
• Grow Foster Care and launch new service lines.
• Develop leadership and create succession plans.
• Ensure compliance and program quality standards.
• Build community and government partnerships.

Skills

Leadership experience

Financial management

Partnership building

Program management

Compliance knowledge

Education

Bachelor's degree in Human Services or related field

Master's degree preferred

Job description

All Jobs > State Director Youth Services

Lead the Future of Child & Family Services in Tennessee

Some roles fill a seat. This one shapes a state.

For nearly 140 years, Thompson Child & Family Focus has helped children and families find stability, healing, and hope. Now we're growing across Tennessee — and we're looking for the leader who will build it.

As State Director, you'll own Thompson's Tennessee operations end to end: the strategy, the growth, the leaders you develop, and the outcomes for every child and family we serve. This is a builder's role for someone who sees a map of Tennessee and thinks what could we make possible here?

Why Thompson

Founded in 1886 as an orphanage, Thompson is now one of the Southeast's leading providers of child and family services, working across North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Tennessee, and Kentucky.

Our continuum of care spans Prevention Services, Mental Health Services, and Foster Care — every program trauma-informed, evidence-based or evidence-informed, and delivered both in person and virtually to children ages 0–18 and their families.

What You'll Own

• Statewide strategy and growth — set the direction and deliver on it


• Financial and operational performance — build a sustainable, scalable operation


• Foster Care expansion and new service lines — grow what's working, launch what's next


• Leadership development and succession — build the bench behind you


• Compliance and program quality — protect the standard that earns us trust


• Community and government partnerships — become Thompson's face across Tennessee

You’ll partner directly with executive leadership and have real authority to build a culture defined by accountability, innovation, and exceptional service.

Requirements

What You Bring

• Bachelor's degree in Human Services, Mental Health, Business Administration, Healthcare Administration, or a related field (Master's preferred)


• 10+ years in human services, behavioral health, healthcare, child welfare, or nonprofit work


• 7+ years of progressive leadership experience


• Experience leading multiple programs or geographic regions (preferred)


• Proven strength in financial and operational management


• A track record of building partnerships with government agencies and community stakeholders


• Valid driver's license and willingness to travel throughout Tennessee

What You'll Get

• Three weeks PTO in your first year, plus ten paid holidays


• Medical, dental, and vision coverage


• Life and disability insurance


• 401(k) with employer match


• Tuition reimbursement


• Public Service Loan Forgiveness eligibility


• Tennessee State Loan Repayment eligibility


• Company-issued technology

Ready to Build Something That Lasts?

The leader who takes this role will influence child and family services across Tennessee for a generation — developing leaders, strengthening communities, and changing outcomes for children who need it most.

Questions? Text us at 704-946-6455

Thompson is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Thompson participates in E-Verify.

#TCFFTN

Salary Description

$90k-$100k annually

Notice of AI Use in Job Application Review

As part of our commitment in creating a fair, efficient, and consistent hiring process we may use artificial intelligence (AI) to help our recruiting teams organize, summarize, and analyze information provided by candidates, including resumes, application responses, and other materials submitted during the application process.AI may be used to identify patterns, highlight relevant skills, and experience, and assist in comparing a candidate’s qualifications with the requirement of a specific role. These tools are to improve efficiency and consistency while supporting more informed hiring decisions, which will ultimately be made by the hiring team.