Client Services Director Jobs in Renton, WA (NOW HIRING)

Lifelong is a community health organization on a mission to make health and food accessible. We remove barriers to health with relentless compassion so that no one faces illness and injustice alone.
We lead with heart. Our respect for people drives our mission. For 40 years, Lifelong has fought health inequities so that everyone has the opportunity to thrive. Our comprehensive services include food and nutrition, healthcare navigation, aging and disability support, and connection to housing and other vital resources.
Position Overview:
The Director, Housing Services provides enterprise-level leadership for Lifelong's housing portfolio, advancing equitable access to stable housing for clients and communities disproportionately impacted by health and housing inequities. This role sets the strategic direction, supports multi-site operations, stewards major partnerships and funding streams, and ensures high-quality, client-centered services that align with Lifelong's mission and values. Responsibilities will also include leading business development, identifying new funding opportunities, pursuing grants & contracts, and negotiating major agreements with public and private partners. The Director serves as a key advisor to executive leadership, integrating housing strategy with Lifelong's broader service lines and driving measurable outcomes, financial sustainability, and system-level impact.
Lifelong's Housing Program currently provides onsite case management and behavioral health services at several locations including our Olive Street, Queen Anne, and Wallingford locations, which are operated by ReblX Partners. This requires the Director to travel between sites and the main office at Georgetown Yards.
The position is part of the management team and works alongside other management team members to promote the agency's mission and values within the individual department, collaborate with other departments, partner agencies, and the community. The role will serve as a representative of Lifelong within the housing services and advocacy continuum to promote our belief that housing is healthcare and a basic human right.
The Director, Housing Services supervises the Associate Director, Housing Case Management. They will report to and work closely with the VP of Client Services. This is a regular, full-time, exempt, non-union position that may include evenings & weekends and is required to participate in agency events.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities:1) Strategy & Enterprise Leadership

• Lead the multi-year strategy for Lifelong's housing portfolio; align goals with the organizational strategic plan and health equity objectives.
• Serve as a strategic advisor to the VP of Client Services and executive team on housing policy, program direction, and resource allocation.
• Establish portfolio-wide policies, standards, and operating models that ensure consistency, quality, and scalability.

2) People Leadership & Culture

• Directly supervise management-level staff; build a strong leadership bench through coaching, performance management, and succession planning.
• Partner closely with the Associate Director to develop, support, and resolve complex people-relations issues across the housing portfolio, ensuring fair, consistent, and values-aligned practices.
• Provide guidance and escalation support on staff relations, conflict resolution, corrective actions, investigations, and performance challenges.
• Collaborate with HR and the Associate Director to ensure compliance with employment law, internal policies, and trauma-informed, equity-centered approaches.
• Lead workforce planning and organizational design to ensure adequate staffing, leadership capacity, and future talent needs.
• Champion an inclusive, values-driven culture grounded in dignity, respect, open communication, and belonging.

3) Program Operations & Quality

• Provide executive oversight of all housing programs, ensuring trauma-informed, person-centered, and culturally responsive services.
• Design and optimize program systems and infrastructure (e.g., HMIS and related data systems, workflows, and quality frameworks) to support operational excellence.
• Drive continuous improvement using data, client feedback, and evidence-based practices.

4) Risk, Compliance, & Safety

• Ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, local, and funder requirements (e.g., HUD, CoC, Fair Housing, landlord-tenant laws, privacy/health information standards as applicable).
• Develop and oversee risk management plans, audit readiness, incident response protocols, and corrective action plans.

5) Financial Ownership & Business Development

• Own the financial strategy for the housing portfolio, including multi-year forecasts, revenue diversification, cost modeling, and budget stewardship.
• Lead business development: identify new funding opportunities, pursue grants and contracts, and negotiate major agreements with public and private partners.
• Monitor financial performance and unit economics; make strategic adjustments to ensure sustainability and impact.

6) Partnerships, Policy, & External Affairs

• Collaborate with the Chief Policy & Advocacy Officer, and the rest of the Executive Team, to inform the housing policy agenda and cultivate strategic partnerships with government agencies, funders, healthcare systems, public housing authorities, housing providers, and community-based organizations.
• Shape and advance Lifelong's housing policy agenda; represent the organization in coalitions, policy forums, and with elected officials.
• Serve as a key spokesperson and subject-matter expert on housing and health equity topics.

7) Measurement, Evaluation, & Impact

• Establish portfolio KPIs and dashboards (e.g., time to placement, housing retention, returns to homelessness, client outcomes, occupancy/utilization, cost per outcome, equity indicators).
• Use data to identify trends, guide strategic course corrections, and report results to leadership, funders, and Board committees.
• Embed equitable evaluation practices and engage people with lived experience in program design and measurement.

8) Equity, Community, & Client Voice

• Advance strategies that address disparities in access and outcomes; set equity goals and monitor progress across the portfolio.
• Engage clients, community partners, and staff in co-design and feedback loops to inform policy and service improvements.

9) Governance & Executive Communication

• Prepare portfolio updates, risks, and recommendations for executive leadership and Board committees.
• Develop executive-ready materials, presentations, and briefing documents for internal and external stakeholders.

10) Other Duties

• Perform other responsibilities as assigned to support organizational priorities.

Education & Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in Public Administration, Public Health, Social Work, Urban Planning, Business, or related field required; Master's degree (MPA/MPP/MSW/MBA) or equivalent leadership experience preferred.

• 8-10+ years of progressive leadership in housing, homelessness response, affordable housing, supportive housing, or integrated health/housing systems.
• 5+ years managing managers/senior leaders and multi-site programs.
• Demonstrated success overseeing complex funding portfolios (public contracts, grants, philanthropy) and negotiating major agreements.
• Experience with compliance frameworks (e.g., HUD/CoC, Fair Housing, landlord-tenant law) and program data systems (e.g., HMIS).
• Proven track record in strategic planning, business development, and portfolio-level financial stewardship.

Work Environment:

• This position is primarily located in a leased apartment buildings and extended stay motels with some participants being served in scattered sites (scattered sites are hybrid and/or outreach) (apartment building) throughout the King County Region. Housing Case Manager positions require staff to be available to meet clients in the office setting or within the clients' homes (as required by specific programs) and fieldwork.
• All positions that involve in person work with clients are required to undergo a TB test within 30 days of starting employment and annually, or as required by program.
• Any offer of employment is contingent upon passing a criminal background check. Some programs may require additional background checks or frequency.
• This position requires regular work at a desk and on a computer, combined with frequent interaction with clients both on-site and in the community. The role may involve travel to client homes, partner agencies, or community locations, which can include exposure to a variety of environmental conditions. Employees must be able to sit, stand, walk, bend, and reach as needed, and occasionally lift up to 20 pounds to transport materials or supplies. Work may occur in office, residential, or community settings, and may occasionally involve outdoor conditions or environments with moderate noise.

About Lifelong:
Lifelong is a community health organization committed to removing barriers to health with relentless compassion so that no one faces illness and injustice alone.
We lead with heart. Our respect for people drives our mission. For 40 years, Lifelong has fought health inequities so that everyone can have the opportunity to thrive. Our comprehensive services include food and nutrition, healthcare navigation, aging and disability support, and connection to housing and other vital resources.
We are looking for passionate, dedicated people to join our talented team and make real, meaningful changes in the daily lives of those living with chronic and life-threatening illnesses in their community. Lifelong offers exceptional benefits, including paid time off, medical and dental coverage in addition to a balanced work-life integration.
Don't meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At Lifelong, we are dedicated to building a diverse, equitable, inclusive and authentic workplace, so if you're excited about this role but your experience doesn't align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyways. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.
EEO Statement:
Lifelong is committed to creating an accessible, supportive environment and experience that recognizes diversity and cultural competence as integral components of what we do.
We are an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and as such, we do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.
DISCLAIMER: INTENT AND FUNCTION OF JOB DESCRIPTIONS
Job descriptions are not intended as and do not create employment contracts. The organization maintains its status as an at-will employer. Employees can be terminated for any reason not prohibited by law.
Job descriptions assist organizations in ensuring that the hiring process is fairly administered and that qualified employees are selected. They are an integral part of a compensation system, effective performance review system, related promotion, transfer, layoff, etc. decisions.
All descriptions have been reviewed to illustrate the job functions and basic duties, in addition to peripheral tasks or that could generally be considered as other duties as assigned.
In no instance, however, should the duties, responsibilities and requirements be interpreted as all-inclusive. Additional functions and requirements may be assigned by supervisors as deemed appropriate. Requirements, skills and abilities included have been determined to illustrate the minimal standards required to successfully perform the positions.