Director of Clinical Services and Residential Operations

About Thrive for Life: The mission of Thrive for Life Prison Project is to transform lives both behind and beyond the prison walls. At Thrive for Life, we envision a world where educational opportunities provide a clear and attainable pathway to a successful and permanent re-entry for people coming out of prison. Our long-term ambition is to establish houses of studies across the country—residential communities where formerly incarcerated individuals can live together in a supportive living community while pursuing their education and growing into the loving and generous people God created them to be.

Our holistic suite of services is built upon four foundational pillars: purpose, education, employment, and housing. Each of these pillars is essential in guiding individuals through their re-entry journey, but it is the secret ingredient of community that binds them together. It is only in community that we can truly flourish and thrive in life.

Position Overview: The Director of Clinical Services & Residential Operations serves as the senior onsite leader responsible for overseeing clinical care, resident wellbeing, CARE Team coordination, and residential operations across Thrive for Life’s Houses of Study in New York.

This role provides direct therapeutic support to resident scholars while ensuring the delivery of integrated, trauma-informed, and mission-aligned services across all aspects of residential life. The Director serves as the lead coordinator of the CARE Team and works to ensure strong communication, accountability, and continuity of care across education, operations, housing, employment readiness, and resident support services.

This role oversees and supports the execution of Thrive for Life’s employment and permanent housing pillars as part of the organization’s holistic reentry model, working directly with resident scholars to support their transition toward stable employment and permanent housing.

In addition to providing clinical leadership, this role oversees the Facilities & Operations Manager to help ensure that the residential environment remains safe, structured, welcoming, and aligned with Thrive for Life’s values of dignity, accountability, hospitality, and community.

This is a highly relational and hands-on leadership role for someone who believes deeply in second chances, transformative relationships, and the power of community-based reentry support.

Key Responsibilities

Clinical Leadership & Resident Support

• Provide direct clinical and therapeutic support to resident scholars
• Conduct individual counseling and supportive therapy
• Complete psychosocial assessments and care planning
• Provide crisis intervention and behavioral support
• Lead and reinforce a trauma-informed, resident-centered model of care
• Coordinate with external providers and referral partners
• Ensure appropriate confidentiality, documentation, and professional standards

CARE Team Leadership & Coordination

• Lead and facilitate weekly CARE Team meetings
• Provide direct supervision and support to CARE Team members
• Support interdisciplinary communication and accountability
• Serve as a lead decision-maker for complex resident situations
• Help establish clear workflows and continuity of care practices

Employment & Housing Support

• Support employment readiness, job search coordination, and workforce planning
• Support housing stabilization and transition planning
• Coordinating referrals and relationships with external employers, workforce partners, landlords, and housing providers
• Helping residents develop realistic and individualized employment and housing goals
• Monitoring progress and addressing barriers impacting long-term stability and successful reentry

Residential Operations Oversight

• Supervise the Facilities & Operations Manager
• Help ensure the houses remain safe, welcoming, and mission-aligned
• Collaborate closely with operations staff regarding resident needs and house culture
• Support operational coordination related to admissions and resident transitions

Resident Experience & Community Life

• Conduct regular one-on-one meetings with residents
• Participate in admissions and transition planning
• Support the development of a structured and respectful residential culture
• Help reinforce the connection between Thrive for Life’s four-pillar model and resident goals

Staff Support & Development

• Support onboarding, coaching, and professional development for CARE Team staff
• Help foster a collaborative culture rooted in professionalism and accountability
• Partner with leadership on staffing needs and team development

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Social Work, Mental Health Counseling, Psychology, or related clinical field preferred
• Licensed clinical social worker, therapist, or mental health professional strongly preferred
• Minimum 5 years of progressively responsible experience in clinical services, residential programming, case management, or community-based support services
• Experience working with justice-impacted, underserved, or vulnerable populations strongly preferred
• Experience supervising staff and coordinating interdisciplinary teams preferred
• Strong crisis management, communication, organizational, and relationship-building skills
• Comfort working in highly relational and community-oriented environments
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) strongly preferred

Core Competencies

• Clinical Leadership
• Team Coordination
• Relationship Building
• Operational Awareness
• Crisis Management
• Mission Alignment

Additional Expectations

• Regular onsite presence across Abraham House and Ignacio House
• Participation in occasional evening or weekend programming and community activities, as needed
• Availability to support urgent resident or operational situations when necessary

Preferred qualifications

• Familiarity with the Roman Catholic Church and its institutional culture
• Experience working with dioceses, Catholic institutions, religious communities, or faith based organizations
• Understanding of faith-centered community environments and mission-driven service models

Medical, Dental, Vision, 401K match, and PTO.