Position: Senior Director of Housing Placement
Days/Hours: Exempt. Generally, Monday – Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5:00. Additionally, the position requires an appropriate level presence and leadership for 24/7 programing.
Reports to: Vice President of Housing Placement and Clinical Services
Department: Programs
Location: 444 Harrison Ave. Boston and other regional locations as needed.
This position is eligible for some hybrid work pursuant to PSI’s Remote Work Policy
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SUMMARY OF THE POSITION:
The Senior Director oversees advancement of PSI’s Housing Placement programs by ensuring guests are moved from the streets or shelter into alternative or permanent housing. This position is responsible for the operations, financial controls, and program evaluation of the PSI Housing Placement programs. The position requires significant visibility and positive, close collaboration between and among other agency departments and external collaborators. The position will have significant responsibility to collaborate, negotiate, and lead coordination of services of placement, housing search/unit acquisition and stabilization programs within PSI. With supervision responsibilities for several senior-level positions, the Senior Director must be available for emergency consultation as needed. The position will partner with embedded/integrated teams and peers to strategize, design and execute complex change management communication plans in support of its strategic goals.
Functions as a member of the senior program leadership team and participates in all management level meetings including program leadership, program working group, and all other working groups as assigned. Remains responsive and supportive across departments, co-leading projects as assigned. Develops implements and maintains, in person or by delegation, contract applications, renewals, and data collection. Ensures that all reporting to funding sources complies with all regulatory requirements. The Senior Director assists in setting policies, operating procedures and workflows in consultation with the Vice President of Housing Placement and Clinical Services.
The Senior Director is responsible for ensuring all housing placement services within the shelters are delivered in accordance with PSI’s mission and values, maintaining an eye toward outcomes, overall quality, and funder satisfaction. The Senior Director also serves in an external capacity and is responsible for developing and maintaining positive working relationships with partners, collaborators and funders. They will also continuously assess changing contexts and environments and the implications to continue necessary relationships/partnerships for the good of PSI and the community.
The Senior Director maintains direct oversight of this department with four-six direct reports, works closely with the program team and external partners, and reports directly to the Vice President of Housing Placement and Clinical Services.
Qualifications:
Education/Training—Required:
Bachelor’s Degree and minimum of fifteen years of progressively responsible human service management and supervisory experience; or equivalent combination of education, skills and experience.
Preferred: LICSW or LMHC
Knowledge/Experience—Required:
· Strong planning, project management and organizational skills; superior interpersonal, verbal and written skills; Demonstrated experience leading a large program or organization with diverse racial, ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds and skills. Expertise in change management.
· Superior communication skills, with demonstrated success in building and leveraging internal and external collaborations
· Demonstrated ability to build and manage state and city government relationships in the areas of homelessness, and/or mental health and substance use disorders; and ability to achieve measurable success in managing complex organizational change, including shifts in program models or evidence-based practices
· Ability to adapt program models to meet changing goals and priorities, while maintaining an eye to client centered modalities
· Excellent leadership, individual and group supervisory skills adding value and support to facilitate retention for professionals who work directly with individuals with untreated mental illness and substance abuse issues
· Strong computer skills including familiarity with management information systems and/or database programs
· Thrive in a culture that is fast-paced, results-oriented, and compassionate toward its guests; embody and uphold the Pine Street Inn mission and values of respect, teamwork, accountability, problem solving, communication and leadership
· Working knowledge of HUD and state-funded housing programs/vouchers and experience with local and regional housing authorities
· Demonstrable experience motivating others. Ability and experience motivating team members, peers and clients to achieve goals
· Ability to think and operate strategically. Ability and demonstrable experience in gathering data and input then formulating and implementing strategy.
· Demonstrated experience leading direct service staff serving dual diagnosed clients. Provides a variety of motivational styles, as appropriate, to different team members and recognizes employees’ strengths, development needs, and professional goals. Inspires and supports them to succeed while holding team accountable for decisions and progress made.
· Ability to delegate and manage a heavy workload
· Significant experience managing teams/programs utilizing Trauma Informed Care, Crisis Prevention and Intervention and/or Motivational Interviewing.
Preferred:
· Demonstrated success and experience leading a team/organization of more than 50 employees with diverse racial, ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds and skills, and annual budgets of approximately $10 million.
· Experience working with homeless individuals suffering from complex disabilities and facing significant barriers to housing.
· Experience in data collection using an HMIS system and in programs emphasizing placement in supportive housing preferred. Advise team members on deriving insights from data collected to make continuous improvements, drive and update strategy, and change management communications to move the approved strategy forward.
Physical Skills and Abilities/Required:
· Ability to access all program locations
· Ability to use computers and office equipment for long periods of time
· Flexibility in schedule as required
· Ability to access different building locations and different program sites
· Ability to stand for moderate periods of time
· Ability to work at a computer for prolonged periods of time, ability to travel to scattered sites as required in all weather conditions
· Ability to respond safely and quickly in emergency situations
· Ability to spend additional time beyond basic schedule as necessary to fulfill job requirements. This position requires 24/7 on-call back-up to all Directors.
Mental Abilities/Skills Required:
Highly developed management, organizational and communication skills required. Ability to adapt operations to meet changing goals and priorities. Must be able to perform a wide variety of difficult tasks at the same time. Excellent leadership, individual and group supervisory skills required. Strong analytical/critical thinking competencies as well as significant experience in budget and personnel performance management and program evaluation. The position requires the ability to clearly identify root causes of problems and coach/develop staff and others to see challenges as opportunities, with solutions coming from data analysis and experience. Strong computer skills including familiarity with management information systems and/or database programs required. Must be able to work with diverse constituencies in a stressful environment. Successful candidate must be able to work creatively, provide training to small and large groups, and function as a member of a team.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
Leadership
· Incorporate national best practices and regulations around housing placement, stabilization, unit acquisition, rapid rehousing, and working with chronically homeless individuals
· Working with Pine Street’s senior and executive leadership teams, engage staff in evolving operations in accordance with the agency’s strategic plan. Leads the translation of broad organizational change strategies into specific directions and goals.
· Develop and implement approved annual program goals and plans that focus Housing Placement staff in planned activities that support the transition of homeless individuals into housing and reduce lengths of shelter stays. Strategize a long-term vision and plan with the leadership team to generate opportunities to communicate and message that housing is possible and our guests do succeed in housing placements. Develop metrics to support and measure these goals.
· Work closely with the peers in associated departments to support and sustain programs and initiatives.
· Consistently identify, organize, promote and operationalize approved opportunities and innovations to advance Pine Street Inn’s mission, vision and strategic plan to end homelessness. Make strategic decisions that improve and enhance program financial sustainability and increased impact of the organization and overall system.
· Lead staff in consistently delivering services that emphasize dignity, respect and fairness in all interactions with the Inn’s guests. Implement appropriate methods to advance work with respect to the diverse relationships and groups within the workplace and community. Provide vision and support of the agency’s strategy and engage team in participating in program improvements associated.
· Facilitate cooperative relationships with all departments contributing to the services provided to homeless individuals including - program administration; shelter operations, behavioral health; health care clinics; housing programs; finance; human resources; development; external affairs; volunteer department; workforce development; facilities;
· Provide visible, front-line leadership and participation in all Pine Street activities including but not limited to general staff meetings, human resource events, agency celebrations and commemorations, and city events. Develop the Housing Placement Leadership Team members to expand their roles in these Pine Street activities.
· Manage senior and mid-level relationships among a portfolio of key external collaborators and funders including but not limited to: the Commonwealth’s Department of Mental Health, Department of Community and Housing Development, and Department of Public Health; City’ of Boston’s Public Health Commission, Mayor’s Office of Housing, third party vendors and contractors; and other homeless services providers
Management
· Establish, implement and evaluate annual performance of all direct reports including specific objectives connected to the agency’s overall strategic and annual plans, achievement of guest housing placements, data management, and professional development
· Ensure consistent onboarding and training opportunities to maximize development of staff skill and maximize retention
· Create and monitor annual personnel and operating budgets and manage within budgetary limitations. Identify and address any fiscal concerns proactively. Partner with the Finance department to ensure program operates efficiently and within budget.
· Clearly communicate and empower the teams to execute the vision, strategy and goals within their own program division and across intra-departmental teams identifying and determining when to lead, guide, coach, or direct as required
· Working with Pine Street Inn’s Human Resources department and direct reports, ensure that all human resource policies and procedures – including required training, time sheets, benefits enrollments, etc., are appropriately communicated, followed, documented and evaluated for all staff working in Housing Placement programs.
Compliance and Contract Management
· Working with Pine Street’s Strategy and Planning Department, ensure program staff are properly trained and managing the implementation of HMIS data collection procedures; provide oversight and monitoring to ensure accuracy and completeness of the data collected, entered, and reported.
· Utilize data to inform decisions for program improvement and partner with Strategy & Planning to develop programing and evaluation plans.
· Create and maintain policy and procedures manuals for assigned programs. Interface with the public and private funders as necessary.
· Oversee compliance with contracts and grants and contribute to the preparation of grant proposals and contract renewals as needed. Ensure all funder and contract reporting is complete, accurate and timely. Prepare for and host any site visits, program monitoring by funders.
Safety and Security
· Working with the Director of Security, ensure directors and their teams are consistently managing and implementing safety and security training, policies, procedures and monitoring as determined by Pine Street Inn to enhance the safety of staff and guests, including the implementation of Crisis Prevention and Intervention training and safety plans, protocols and procedures
Other Duties
· Participate in management forums, work groups and meetings as scheduled the Vice President of Housing Placement and Clinical Services, Chief of Programs, Deputy Director and/or President and Executive Director. Communicate and support management decisions and the inn’s initiatives, policies and procedures.
· Performs other related duties as assigned by the Vice President of Outreach and Emergency Programs, Chief of Programs, Deputy Director and/or President and Executive Director. Communicate and support management decisions and the Inn’s initiatives, policies and procedures.
Supervision to be Exercised: As Assigned
Supervision to be Received: Vice President of Housing Placement and Clinical Services, Chief of Programs, Deputy Director, President & Executive Director
Internal candidates applying for this position should submit a promotion/transfer application to the Human Resources Department within 10 days of posting.