The Bridge offers supportive housing and behavioral health services to vulnerable New Yorkers facing behavioral health and substance use challenges. We provide individuals with the tools they need to pursue their dreams and live meaningful lives. The Bridge envisions a world where adults experiencing serious mental illness can live and thrive within their communities. As a recognized leader in developing and operating supportive housing and community-based programs, The Bridge has 70 years of experience helping New Yorkers with mental illness, including those affected by homelessness, incarceration, and institutionalization.   

Scope of Position: The Program Director supervises staff and fosters an environment that acknowledges the impact of trauma on behavior. They motivate staff to effectively use crisis intervention and verbal de-escalation techniques to manage crises. The director ensures services are client-driven while meeting funder requirements and oversees the development and implementation of on-site programming.

Essential Position Functions:

• Directly supervise program staff and oversee client services, including admission, operations, and discharge.
• Ensure staff training in crisis intervention, verbal de-escalation, and trauma-informed care. Model client-centered interactions that consider past trauma.
• Prepare for audits and reviews, and complete monthly data collection to monitor trends in services, attendance, incidents, and funder outcomes.
• Be available for 24-hour crisis intervention and attend meetings as needed, including nights and weekends.
• Manage personnel activities, including hiring, scheduling, policy development, training, evaluations, and handling labor/management issues.
• Complete administrative duties such as data entry, performance monitoring, petty cash management, and staff attendance tracking.
• Assess building maintenance needs and liaise with maintenance staff for repairs and facility management, including purchasing.
• Serve as liaison with Property Management & Maintenance to ensure compliance.
• Attend required staff meetings, supervision, and training sessions.
• Work respectfully with clients, families, and staff, considering cultural differences.
• Conduct apartment/building inspections and provide client escorts throughout the community using public transportation. Attend off-site meetings/training.
• Immediately report serious incidents or sensitive situations to supervisors.
• Assist with other programs and clients as needed within the Brooklyn Housing portfolio.
• Perform any other assigned duties.

• Educational Requirement: MSW or Masters in a related field.
• Experience in mental health, crisis intervention, and managing trauma-triggered behavior.
• Excellent time management, stress resistance, flexibility, strong team player, open to feedback, and creative.
• Willing to perform CPR, First Aid, AED, Crisis Intervention, and Naloxone administration.
• Experience supervising clinical and operational staff.
• Strong interpersonal communication and organizational skills.
• Preferred knowledge of AWARDS.
• Spanish-speaking ability is a plus.
• Hours: 35 hours per week, Monday - Friday
• Union Status: Non-Union

The Bridge Inc. is an Affirmative Action / Equal Opportunity Employer