Program Director

Program Director

The Wanda Alston Foundation is currently seeking a full-time salaried, exempt Program Director to join our team.

About the Wanda Alston Foundation

The Wanda Alston Foundation (WAF) provides housing, support, and pathways to economic mobility to DC’s at-risk and homeless LGBTQ+ youth. Founded in 2008 to honor community organizer Wanda Renita Alston, WAF provides gender-affirming transitional housing, trauma-informed case management, life skills training, employment and education support, and a culturally safe environment for healing and growth.

Complementing these core services, WAF’s Counseling Center provides trauma-informed mental health care for residents and survivors of gender-based and anti-LGBTQ+ violence, addressing a dire need for culturally responsive services within a population disproportionately affected by trauma.

Job Description:

The Program Director is a leadership position responsible for providing strategic and problem-solving oversight and for supporting the design and implementation of the Foundation’s programs. The Director provides weekly clinical consultations to staff, mentors and manages our social work, counseling, psychology, and/or related student interns, and informs policy, programming, and initiative development with a focus on the health and wellness of the clients we serve. Additionally, the Director delivers trauma-informed, strength-based guidance to best support client-centered case management services, advocates for our youth’s mental health and wellness, and ensures data is correctly captured, monitored, and assessed. This position will require presence at and travel between the Foundation’s two DC facilities: Shaw & Congress Heights. The work schedule for this position will be Monday - Friday 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM and the individual will need to be available as needed in times of crisis.

Leadership and Team Management:

• Support the Foundation’s performance evaluation process and OKR goal-setting process.
• Understand all grant requirements and ensure that program and service delivery balance grant requirements with the Foundation’s trauma-based, survivor-informed values.
• Solve programmatic escalations, including staff and participant grievances, program non-compliance, program exits, and funder inquiries.
• Lead the development and execution of professional development micro-workshops for the staff with a focus on LGBTQ+ cultural competency, mental health, strengths-based youth engagement, and platform tools.
• Oversees the Foundation’s case managers, operations, and therapeutic support staff as well as consultants.
• Provide on-call coverage as needed and in case of emergencies.

Program Oversight and Responsibilities:

• Assist the Executive Director in overseeing and regularly reviewing the implementation of program policies, procedures, and best practices to ensure compliance and continuous improvement.
• Manage weekly clinical support team meetings and provide direct supervision with case management staff to ensure appropriate treatment planning, intervention, and client progress.
• Supervise the facilitation of therapeutic groups and individualized therapeutic services, including on-call responses to client emergencies.
• Oversee, assess, and audit the Foundation’s data systems, including HMIS, client services tracker, House Monitor notes, case files, and incident reports, to ensure compliance with grant requirements.
• Hold town halls twice a year for the housing program clients to collect feedback, spotlight program rules, and celebrate successes.
• Develop and submit program and grant reporting memos.
• Participate in outside community and agency meetings, building partnerships with community agencies to gather resources beneficial to the organization.
• Other duties as assigned by the Executive Director.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Master’s Degree or higher in Social Work, Counseling/Therapy, Psychology, or Human Services.
• Active DC licensure, LICSW, or LCP required.
• 3+ years of management experience, which includes supervising teams and ensuring compliance.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills.
• Cultural humility and experience with LGBTQ+ youth preferred.
• Experience working in a transitional or residential housing program or with youth between the ages of 18-30.
• Ability to work in-person 5 days a week and to travel between the Foundation’s two offices.
• Ability to successfully pass a criminal background check and drug test.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience managing multiple datasets utilizing HMIS or other related data software.
• Experience conducting the ADL-20 clinical assessment.
• Bilingual in English and Spanish.

Physical Requirements:

This job involves a mix of sedentary and active duties. While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to use their hands or fingers and utilize a computer or laptop to complete their duties successfully. The employee may occasionally be required to lift packages up to 50 lbs. The employee is occasionally required to sit for prolonged periods. Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus. The noise level in this work environment is usually low to moderate.

Other Terms of Employment:

• Salary: $80,000 - $100,000.
• Candidates must complete and successfully pass a drug test, alcohol test, TB test, sex offender registry check, Child Protection Register check, and criminal background check prior to employment and periodically thereafter.
• These duties may be revised and others duties may be assigned as necessary, at any time, with or without notice.
• NOTE:

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.

• 100% employer-paid medical, dental, and vision insurance benefits.
• Unlimited flexible PTO.
• Eligible to elect to contribute to the Company-sponsored retirement plan.

Must be proficient in reading, writing, and speaking in English.