Team Leader II

Breaking Ground; Brooklyn (AL); On-site; USD 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Breaking Ground is seeking a Team Leader II to supervise street outreach teams focused on Housing First and harm-reduction approaches. You will guide outreach workers, ensure compliant documentation, and coordinate with police, EMS, and service providers to place clients in stable housing.

The role requires LMSW licensure, crisis intervention experience, and a strong commitment to working in challenging environments. Valid driver’s license and bilingual skills are a plus.

Qualifications

• LMSW license required in NYS.
• 9.58 credentialing must be obtained within first 3 months of hire.
• Understanding of Housing First, motivational interviewing, harm reduction models is required.
• Crisis intervention experience including risk assessments and incident management is essential.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to work with diverse populations.
• Strong collaboration with stakeholders and agencies is required.
• Detail oriented with ability to manage team tasks.
• Valid driver’s license with a good driving record is required.

Responsibilities

• Oversee street outreach teams including Housing Advocates and a part-time Social Worker.
• Provide regular supervision meetings and oversight for direct reports.
• Implement supervisory strategies and accountability systems for staff support.
• Promote outreach strategies aligned with Housing First, Harm Reduction, CPI, and trauma-informed care.
• Lead during Code Blue/Red Alerts and provide clinical leadership.
• Conduct 9.58 involuntary removals to hospital with proper documentation.
• Foster relationships with external partners and service providers.
• Attend onsite meetings with community partners and provide on-call coverage.

Skills

Crisis intervention

Housing First

Motivational Interviewing

Harm Reduction

Trauma-informed care

Bilingual Spanish/English

Communication skills

Team supervision

Microsoft Office

Education

NYS Licensed Masters Social Worker (LMSW)

9.58 credentialing within 3 months

Job description

ABOUT US:

- We believe that everyone deserves a home! Breaking Ground operates nearly 4,000 units of housing across New York City, along with housing in upstate New York and Connecticut. Supportive housing - affordable housing paired with services designed to help people maintain their homes for the long-term - is widely recognized as a proven and cost-effective solution to chronic homelessness. But we didn't stop at providing housing. Breaking Ground's programs and services help people experiencing street homelessness - especially those who have been on the streets the longest - to come indoors. Through our Street to Home outreach program and transitional housing resources, we help people get, and stay, on the path to a permanent home. Breaking Ground’s Street to Home program makes regular contact with more than 2,000 street homeless individuals and connects more than 500 individuals to housing, medical and mental health services, substance abuse counseling, and other essential supports each year. The caring, individually tailored attention clients receive at each stage of their journey from street to home ensures that more than 95% of people who Breaking Ground places remain stably housed. Reporting to the Outreach Coordinator the Team Leader II manages and supervises a small street outreach team and helps with urgent requests or developing situations. They ensure their team utilizes Harm Reduction and Housing First approaches when conducting street outreach and engages with individuals to determine homelessness history, services needed, and appropriate placement options from the field in the moment. The Team Leader II ensures that their team is compliant with data entry requirements into DHS’ system and contractual requirements. Programs staff are required to locate and assist street homeless individuals under the most extreme weather conditions. Managers are required to be in the field during Code Reds and Code Blues. Staff must be willing to engage with street homeless individuals and can handle multiple tasks in a fast paced, dynamic, team environment. This position has a 35-hour work week as well as on-call responsibilities.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITES:

• Successful oversight and performance management of street outreach teams including Housing Advocates and a part time Social Worker
• Provide regular, structured supervision meetings for direct reports
• Responsible for implementing supervisory strategies, and systems of accountability to ensure that staff have adequate support, guidance, and oversight at all times
• Promote effective strategies for outreach work, following Housing First, Harm Reduction, Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI), Motivational Interviewing and trauma-informed care models of practice
• Participate in Code Blue/Red Alerts, providing clinical leadership to the team when they encounter challenging situations
• Assess and complete 9.58 involuntary removals to a hospital and ensure all required documentation is accurate and completed on time
• Develop strong collaborative relationships with external partners and service providers, NYPD, EMS, etc
• Attend onsite meetings with community partners
• Provide on call coverage as needed for the program
• Perform other duties as assigned

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• NYS Licensed Masters Social Worker (LMSW) required
• Previous supervisory experience preferred
• Obtain 9.58 credentialing within first 3 months of hire required
• Understanding of Housing First, client centered motivational interviewing, Harm Reduction models, behavioral and medical health systems
• Experience with crisis intervention, including, risk assessments and incident management
• Excellent communication skills (verbally and written) and ability to work with diverse population
• Strong collaborative skills; ability to work successfully with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders
• Detailed oriented and can manage team tasks
• Valid NY, NJ, CT, or PA driver’s license with a good driving record, as defined by Breaking Ground, is a condition of employment
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite programs including Word, Excel, Outlook, and Microsoft Teams
• Bilingual Spanish/English preferred

EOE/M/F/Vet/Disabled