The Homeless Services Director at New Beginnings will oversee all of the shelter, vehicle encampment resolution, outreach and multidisciplinary services, homeless prevention, rapid rehousing and permanent supportive housing supportive services activities and contracts, as well as the Enhanced Care Management and Community Supports provided via CenCal’s CalAIM initiative. These programs include our Safe Parking Shelter and Rapid Rehousing Programs, our Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) Program, and other contracts such as our work with the Vera Cruz Village and Johnson Court Veteran permanent supportive housing developments. The position will also oversee our program services in North County, and therefore some travel to and from North County is expected. The position will work in collaboration with the Safe Parking and SSVF Program Directors, Managers and Coordinators and will report to the Executive Director. This position is based in Santa Barbara in the office. This is not a remote or hybrid position.
The purpose of this position is to provide support to New Beginnings’ homeless services through the design, implementation and execution of programmatic policies and procedures necessary to support the vulnerable populations we serve. This is done through the hands-on oversight, consultation, guidance and supervision of program staff, in collaboration with program management and community partners, and through the coordination of housing and social services.
Position Duties:
Functions in both a strategic and hands-on operational capacity to manage the short-term tactical implementation of our annual service provision goals, while managing longer-term agency and community strategic goals;
Directs staff in the implementation of housing interventions, crisis triage, planning, coordinating, scheduling, and providing community supports and housing, shelter and complex supportive services to individuals and veterans at risk of losing their housing, currently homeless, and working to stabilize as newly housed individuals and families;
Provides leadership and planning to ensure appropriate collaborations are in place to serve homeless individuals and families;
Oversees government grant and contract compliance;
Works closely with the Program Management and staff to locate support services and resources for high barrier individuals and families experiencing housing insecurity;
Supports staff in the field with critical cases and with clients who require additional support to stabilize and maintain their housing;
Responds to and triages mental health and housing crises with professionalism and ethical and legal integrity, and while ensuring standard of care and following the best practice interventions supported by data and successful models nationwide;
Establishes and maintains internal and external processes for serving our clients and creates an environment of accountability;
Provides support and communication with internal teams to ensure the appropriate and comprehensive delivery of services to clients;
Works with program management to develop program-specific goals and timelines consistent with grant guidelines, and as necessary support program staff in meeting these goals;
Collaborates, as necessary, in the preparation of grant reporting, grant applications, program evaluations, performance analyses, audit preparation, and accreditation maintenance, and ensures program and grant compliance;
Maintains working knowledge of local services for the homeless, veterans, and individuals and families struggling with mental illness;
Trains and supervises staff, including conducting annual performance evaluations, ensuring training needs and requirements are met, and recommending personnel actions, as appropriate;
Evaluates the skill, experience, and professional development needs of all homeless services staff;
Works in conjunction with the Executive Director to track and develop objective performance measures across programs to assess program quality;
Works with program management, compliance, administrative and operational staff to monitor budgets to ensure they are within budgetary and regulatory constraints;
Represents New Beginnings in relevant coalitions, committees, policy discussions, city, county and community hearings and advocacy opportunities;
Supports clients as needed in order for the client to thrive within their housing;
Commits to treating each community member with respect and dignity;
Supports other staffing needs on an emergency or temporary basis as needed; and
Performs other job duties as may be assigned.
Expected Competencies:
Master’s or Doctoral Degree in related field, licensed LCSW, LMFT, LPCC or Psychologist preferred; Bachelor’s degree will be considered with a minimum of five years management experience in a related field and significant experience managing mental health crises;
Background in and passion for working with low-income and veteran communities around issues of housing insecurity, housing navigation, housing stabilization and housing retention;
At least five years working with the homeless population, with at least three of those years in a management capacity;
Ability to run and manage on a daily basis a complex and very robust homeless services department county-wide with 40-60 staff;
Strong mental health and/or clinical triage skills, with knowledge of the dynamics of addiction, trauma, and severe and persistent mental illness;
Knowledge of HMIS and the Housing First model preferred;
Self-directed person who is able to work independently and manage time effectively;
Experience managing partnerships and collaborations;
Strong budgeting, expense monitoring, and contract management skills;
Ability to hire, train, supervise, and evaluate qualified staff, develop and foster positive teamwork, and take personnel actions;
Strong problem solving, critical thinking, risk management and analytical skills; systems thinking;
Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail;
Excellent communication skills (oral and written) and interpersonal skills for frequent contact with staff, clients and external stakeholders;
Working knowledge of Microsoft Suite, other e-mail, computer literacy and willingness to learn other applications; and
Ability to multi-task and prioritize a significant daily workload.
Position Requirements:
Must have own working transportation with liability insurance to conduct job-related travel.
Must satisfactorily pass the company’s background, DMV and reference check.
Must meet insurance carrier’s requirements for approval to drive.
Bi-lingual a plus but not required.
The successful applicant for this position will be a team player who is comfortable handling a variety of tasks and overseeing a broad diversity of work areas – a self-directed, values-driven individual with extensive experience in program management, grant and budget oversight, program development, crisis triage, staff supervision, and ideally familiar with the operations and requirements of affordable housing programs.
Work hours are Monday - Friday, 9-5 although there will be some nighttime and weekend hours on occasion to attend community events and/or to manage any off-hour client crises that may arise.
Starting salary range is $100,000 - $110,000 (DOE) with medical and dental benefits provided, 403b participation and match, as well as generous paid time off. Position begins asap. This is not a remote position.
Send resume, cover letter and a list of three professional references. If we feel you are a good match for the position, you will be contacted to schedule an interview.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race; color; ancestry; national origin; religion/creed; sex/sexual orientation; gender; gender identity/expression, transition; political affiliation or beliefs; disability, medical condition, generic information, marital status; military/veteran status; pregnancy and conditions related thereto.; or any other characteristic protected by law (as defined by the California Fair Employment and Housing Act Government Code Section 12900-12996), except where such discrimination is based on a bona fide occupational qualification.