Director of Housing Services
POSITION: Director of Housing Services
REPORTS TO: Chief Program Officer
STATUS: Full-time, Exempt
COMPENSATION: $67,000- $72,000 per year
BENEFITS: Medical, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance; Employee Assistance Program; and 403(b) retirement plan; Paid Holidays, Sick, and Vacation
LOCATION: Sacramento, CA (position not eligible for full-time remote work)
JOB SUMMARY:
The Director of Housing Services is responsible for developing, enhancing, and supporting the Center’s housing programs, including homelessness prevention and navigation services, 24-hour low-barrier transitional aged youth (TAY) emergency shelter, and 24-month transitional living program serving TAY victims of crime. They are responsible for program design, evaluation, grant reporting, and compliance and supervise a 10-14 person team that includes a Housing Manager, Case Managers, full-time and on-call Housing Advocates, a Housing Navigator, interns, and volunteers who work primarily in-person. This position serves on the Leadership Team and the Program Leadership Team, working collaboratively with their peers to achieve organizational goals and priorities. The Housing Services Department works in partnership with Center program staff, volunteers, stakeholders, and community members, to provide safe, affirming, stable, and sustainable housing and innovative support programs for LGBTQ+ TAY (ages 18-24) experiencing homelessness, leading to improved overall health outcomes.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
1. Design and implement homelessness prevention, transitional aged youth emergency and transitional housing, and support services in alignment with the Center’s strategic plan and in collaboration with the CPO and Program Leadership Team.
2. Effectively lead and manage the Housing Services team to ensure good communication, collaboration with other departments, and support each team member’s professional development.
3. Manage program operations and exercise appropriate fiscal, legal, data capture, and grant reporting and contract oversight.
4. Serve as an effective advocate for LGBTQ+ people experiencing homelessness and ensure authentic community outreach and engagement that supports a culture of equity and inclusion within the housing programs and across the organization.
Program Design & Implementation:
1. Identify, create and implement high-quality TAY housing programming, case management systems, and life-skills curriculum for LGBTQ+ youth experiencing homelessness, built on best practices in the field, innovation, and sharing of resources.
2. Manage the Homelessness Prevention & Housing Navigation Program, Short-term Transitional Emergency Program (STEP) Shelter, and Transitional Living Program (TLP) to ensure unhoused LGBTQ+ youth and young adults are safe, stably housed, have their immediate and long-term needs assessed, and are fully supported through case management, robust resource knowledge and navigation, and wrap-around health, employment, and life-skill building services and enrichment activities.
3. Enhance housing and homelessness focused community resource directories, build relationships with affirming referral partners, particularly youth housing providers, and assist youth and families with resource navigation as needed.
4. Provide support and direction to staff providing direct services, including facilitation of collaborative case conferencing and housing placement.
5. Provide crisis intervention and direct client support as needed.
6. Develop and implement new initiatives including life-skill workshops, mental health and addiction recovery peer support, and family issue navigation.
7. Oversee the planning and execution of all homeless youth-focused events in collaboration or with technical assistance from the Event Director and Community Engagement Team.
8. Develop youth leadership and advocacy programs including internships, restorative justice programs, and other resident learning opportunities.
Leadership & Management:
1. In collaboration with the Housing manager, recruit, hire, inspire, motivate, and evaluate a team of committed and engaged early-career professionals to realize program goals with a high level of trust and integrity.
2. Support the Housing Manager’s supervision and oversight of Housing staff, interns, and volunteers to ensure 24-hour coverage.
3. Maintain a supportive work environment that prioritizes empowerment, collaboration, continuous learning, and professional development that attracts/retains diverse quality staff and college level interns.
4. Meet regularly with and support staff and interns to carry out program activities aimed at the personal and emotional development of youth and adults.
5. Collaborate regularly with community members, staff, and partner organizations to achieve program goals through a team approach.
6. Instill a sense of accountability among team members by modeling tight oversight of individual, organizational, and program performance and personal conduct standards.
7. Train, monitor, and ensure accurate timekeeping records, expense reports, and compliance with all organizational policies and procedures including maintaining healthy boundaries with colleague and clients.
8. Center racial justice as a form of liberation for LGBTQ+ employees, clients, and stakeholders.
Program Operations:
1. Ensure uninterrupted STEP Shelter and TLP operations, seven days/week, 24-hours a day, including scheduling staff and interns for shifts at least 2-weeks out.
2. Monitor day-to-day STEP and TLP facility operations and address any issues that arise in a timely manner.
3. Develop and maintain department-specific policies, procedures, and training protocols; evaluate risk, make recommendations, and implement safety and emergency response protocols for all housing programs.
4. Create annual program plans and publish monthly event/program calendars.
5. Assist in the development of department, program, and event budgets.
6. Regularly evaluate program components to ensure that the requirements of funders are met and that outcomes measurements are produced that can be effectively communicated to the board, funders, and other stakeholders and that can be used to drive program improvement.
7. In collaboration with the Data Manager, maintain effective systems to track housing department data and outcomes, including confirming data entry and assisting staff with entering data in Apricot and external data systems, including Survey Monkey (County) and HMIS (CoC) and support staff’s compliance with required data entry protocols.
8. Support compliance with all laws and regulations, contract terms, internal operating policies and procedures, and standards of professional conduct with the Housing team.
9. Monitor progress toward grant deliverables and produce complete and engaging grant reports that demonstrate program effectiveness ahead of reporting deadlines.
10. Seek and maintain funding to sustain and build Housing Programs that align with the Center’s strategic plan.
Community Outreach & Engagement:
1. Develop strong community partnerships and ongoing communication channels with other affirming youth service providers, schools, and youth programs, as well as a robust inbound and outbound referral network, that enhance access to LGBQ+ affirming resources throughout the Sacramento region for youth and their families.
2. Serve as the Center’s content expert on issues facing unhoused LGBTQ+ youth.
3. Serve as the organizational and community representative and liaison to local, city, and state agencies, boards and commissions, and other nonprofit organizations; Serve as a Center representative to the Sacramento Steps Forward (SSF) Continuum of Care (COC) Advisory Board, Point in Time (PIT)Committee, Homeless Youth Task Force (HYTF), and Youth Action Boar (YAB).
4. Build and maintain an outreach network and tools in collaboration with marketing and community engagement staff, including client and community member email lists, social media, GSA contacts, influencers, schools officials, and mission aligned youth organizations and assist in maintaining communication and relationships throughout the Sacramento Region.
5. Collaborate with the marketing, outreach, and community engagement staff and interns to develop annual program and event marketing plans.
GENERAL DUTIES:
1. Functions as a strategic member of the Leadership team, routinely collaborating with other departments engaged in homelessness prevention, drop-in services, and life-skill development focused programming including resource navigation, advocacy, youth enrichment, health services, and external partners.
2. Participate in staff meetings, planning meetings, committee meetings, and other meetings as needed.
3. Provide guidance and mentorship to less experienced internal staff and leaders at developing LGBTQ+ organizations across the country.
4. Maintain strict confidentiality and the highest level of integrity and professional boundaries in relationships with all program leadership team members, staff, clients, media, and donors.
5. Participate in a rotating Leader On-Call Program to support on-site staff in case of after-hours emergencies.
This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change, or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice.
QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:
1. Knowledge and understanding of the issues, needs, and interests of LGBTQIA2S+ youth, including a thorough understanding of the intersections of race and the spectrum of gender and sexual identities.
2. Embodies an equity mindset--understands and is committed to the goals of diversity, equity, inclusion, justice, and belonging in the organization’s work and workplace.
3. Experience working with queer and transgender Black, Indigenous, and other youth of color experiencing homelessness, undocumented community members and asylum seekers, people living with HIV/AIDS, people with mental health and addiction issues, non-native English speakers, having modeled a client-centered approach is critical.
4. Critical thinking skills and high emotional intelligence--consistently identifies, gathers, and applies relevant information to exercise sound judgement under pressure;
5. Highly collaborative orientation--builds relationships internally and externally with diverse constituencies, helps colleagues as needed, and views responsibilities as shared.
6. Excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication with staff, volunteers, internal and external stakeholder groups; demonstrates empathy and active listening; and a strong presence in conflict resolution and facilitation roles.
7. Problem solving ability to identify challenges, formulate and implement solutions drawing on expertise and the input of others, and proactively adapt to support the team.
8. Strong political acumen and ability to handle agency information and correspondence with strict confidentiality and discretion.
9. Continuous improvement mindset, including a desire to learn from others, research and weigh diverse inputs, and implement strategies and evidence-based program models to improve organizational impact.
10. Track record building and maintaining trust, team cohesion, and a collaborative and engaged culture that breaks down silos and creates better outcomes for clients across a continuum of care.
11. Project/event management skills, including attention to detail in managing project logistics with multiple strict and competing deadlines, budgets, and engagement targets.
12. Ability to work independently and as part of a team and a demonstrated track record developing less experienced staff, interns and volunteers.
REQUIREMENTS:
1. Personal commitment to the Center’s mission and work to create a region where all LGBTQ+ people can thrive and a passion for LGBTQ+ issues including a robust understanding of anti-racist frameworks, intersectionality, systems of oppression, civil rights, and a thorough understanding/lived experience with homelessness is critical.
2. Education: Bachelor’s Degree required; master’s degree preferred in youth development, social work, ethnic studies, human services, community development, or other related fields. 7 years of direct experience may be substituted for formal education.
3. Experience: a minimum of 5-7 years of housing or youth development program management and a minimum of 5 years of experience managing staff who serve youth and young adults.
4. Computer/Office Equipment Skills: Superior proficiency working with Microsoft Office, particularly Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneDrive, and Teams, database systems, and social media tools. Prior experience with HMIS systems is strongly preferred.
5. Language Skills: Fluency in English is required. Bilingual individuals who are able to speak/read/write/translate in Spanish are encouraged to apply.
6. Work Schedule: This position is primarily in-person working at the Center’s Lavender Heights location and splitting time between the STEP Shelter and Transitional Living Facility 1-3 times per week. 9 a.m.-6 p.m. work hours are typical, but may be variable depending on program needs. Reliability is critically important in this role and flexibility is required to routinely meet with staff who work on 24-hour schedule and participate in occasional evening and weekend events, meetings, and local travel as necessary.
7. Transportation: Access to reliable automobile transportation with a valid driver’s license and proof of insurance is required. This position will require regular travel throughout the Sacramento region and may occasionally be required to drive rented vehicles and travel throughout California and the United States.
8. Physical Demands: The person in this position may be required to sit or stand for extended periods, move objects up to 25 pounds, ascend/descend stairs, operate office equipment, open and close filing cabinets and boxes, observe visitors, and communicate messages and tone by telephone. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
9. Background Check: Offer of employment may be contingent on satisfactory results of a criminal history background check.
10. Employment Eligibility: Employees must be legally permitted to work in the United States.
11. Drug Free Workplace: The Sacramento LGBT Community Center is a drug free workplace; employees may be subject to a drug test.
12. Vaccination Requirement: All employees are required to be vaccinated for COVID-19 and are encouraged to stay up to date annually or obtain an approved medical or religious exemption. Documentation will be required prior to your first day of work.
ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION:
The Sacramento LGBT Community Center works to create a region where all LGBTQ+ people can thrive. We support health and wellness, advocate for equity and justice, and work to uplift a diverse and culturally rich LGBTQ+ community.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY:
The Sacramento LGBT Community Center is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All individuals, including those of color, women, persons with disabilities, and persons who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or intersex are encouraged to apply. The Center maintains a policy of non-discrimination with respect to employees, volunteers, interns, and applicants. No aspect of employment will be influenced in any matter by actual or perceived race, color, religion, religious creed, ancestry, sex, age, national origin, marital status, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, physical or mental disability (including HIV or AIDS), medical/mental condition, genetic information, veteran or military status, or any other basis prohibited by statute; nor as to any individuals associating with an individual of any legally protected class.
TO APPLY:
Please submit application materials through our career portal at saccenter.org/careers. No phone calls please. Posting will remain up until position is filled.