Interfaith Works Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Position Title: Program Director of New Leaf Shelter

Department: Homeless Services

Reports to: Deputy Director of Homeless Services for Emergency Shelters

Employment Status: Full-time

FSLA Status: Exempt

Pay rate: $80,000 - $85,000 annually

POSITION SUMMARY

The Interfaith Works New Leaf Shelter (IWNL) is a low barrier, all gender emergency shelter for adult individuals experiencing homelessness. The 35-bed program provides shelter, meals, and case management services. The program adds six beds for a total of 41 in the winter overflow season (November 1st-March 31st) but may also increase capacity in extreme temperatures of winter or summer when there is community need and/or requested by Services to End and Prevent Homelessness (SEPH). The goal of the program is to quickly move shelter guests to housing so that homelessness is rare, brief, and non-recurring.

The Program Director oversees all program activities and provides direct supervision to the Program Support Manager (PSM), the Case Managers, and the Behavioral Health Technician (BHT). The Program Director will also supervise the Volunteer Coordinator in collaboration with the Director of Faith Community Partnerships. In addition, the Program Director acts as the liaison to SEPH, other departments of Montgomery County Health and Human Services, and partner agencies for onsite issues.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

The essential functions include, but are not limited to the following:

Strategic Leadership

• Provide strategic leadership for shelter operations, ensuring a safe, welcoming, trauma-informed, and housing-focused environment for guests, staff, volunteers, and community partners.
• Develop annual program goals, quality improvement initiatives, and operational priorities aligned with the Homeless Services strategic plan.
• Foster a culture of accountability, equity, collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Promote a trauma-informed, housing-focused, person-centered service model.
• Identify operational challenges and implement solutions that improve client outcomes and staff effectiveness.
• Lead organizational change initiatives and implement new County or organizational requirements.

Program Operations

• Direct all daily shelter operations to ensure a safe, welcoming, and low-barrier environment.
• Ensure shelter operations consistently support rapid exits to permanent housing.
• Oversee admissions, eligibility determinations, assessments, housing plans, referrals, discharge planning, and crisis intervention.
• Review client grievances and oversee resolution in accordance with Interagency Commission on Homelessness standards.
• Ensure policies and procedures remain current and are consistently implemented.
• Oversee emergency preparedness planning and operational continuity.

Staff Leadership & Workforce Development

• Recruit, hire, onboard, develop, coach, and retain high-performing staff.
• Directly supervise the Program Support Manager, Case Managers, Behavioral Health Technician, and Volunteer Coordinator.
• Conduct weekly supervision meetings focused on performance, professional development, accountability, and case consultation.
• Complete annual evaluations and corrective action plans when necessary.
• Build leadership capacity among supervisors and emerging leaders.
• Ensure adequate staffing coverage while managing overtime and workforce efficiency.
• Support employee engagement initiatives that strengthen morale, retention, and organizational culture.
• Provide clinical supervision hours when qualified for staff pursuing Maryland licensure.

Clinical & Service Delivery Oversight

• Ensure delivery of evidence-based, trauma-informed, and housing-focused services.
• Provide consultation on complex behavioral health, housing, and crisis situations.
• Monitor documentation quality and clinical standards.
• Ensure individualized service plans support client goals and housing stability.
• Monitor service effectiveness through outcome data and client feedback.

Compliance, Risk Management & Quality Assurance

• Ensure compliance with all County contracts, Interfaith Works policies, licensing standards, grant requirements, and applicable federal, state, and local regulations.
• Maintain readiness for audits conducted by SEPH, LBHA, HUD, and other funding agencies.
• Ensure timely completion of incident reports, mandatory reporting, corrective action plans, and risk mitigation strategies.
• Monitor compliance with documentation standards and HMIS requirements.
• Lead quality assurance reviews and continuous quality improvement initiatives.
• Investigate operational concerns and implement corrective actions.

Fiscal Management

• Maintain fiscal accountability for shelter operations, monitoring expenditures, forecasting budget needs, identifying cost-saving opportunities, and ensuring responsible stewardship of organizational and public funds.
• Develop and manage the annual operating budget.
• Review monthly financial reports and identify budget variances.
• Approve purchases, invoices, payroll, and other financial transactions.
• Ensure County reimbursement requests and invoices are submitted accurately and on time.

Data & Performance Management

• Establish clear performance expectations and accountability measures for all shelter staff while fostering a culture of teamwork, professionalism, respect, and continuous improvement.
• Ensure accurate utilization of the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS).
• Monitor program performance through dashboards and outcome reporting.
• Prepare monthly, quarterly, annual, and ad hoc reports for County and organizational leadership.
• Utilize program data and outcome measures to identify trends, improve service delivery, and drive performance toward housing placement and shelter stabilization goals.

Community Engagement & Partnership Development

• Build and maintain positive working relationships with Montgomery County officials, SEPH, community partners, law enforcement, healthcare providers, behavioral health agencies, and other stakeholders supporting individuals experiencing homelessness.
• Develop and maintain collaborative relationships with housing providers, behavioral health agencies, healthcare organizations, nonprofit partners, law enforcement, and community stakeholders.
• Represent Interfaith Works at community meetings, workgroups, and public forums.
• Provide direct supervision to the Volunteer Coordinator in partnership with the Director of Faith Community Partnerships, ensuring alignment between volunteer engagement activities and shelter operational needs.
• Assist with donor visits, program tours, and community engagement activities.

Leadership Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary leader for critical incidents, emergency response, safety concerns, behavioral health crises, and facility disruptions. Ensure incidents are managed appropriately, documented thoroughly, and communicated to leadership and County partners as required.
• Participate as an active member of the Interfaith Works Leadership Team.
• Attend leadership meetings, strategic planning sessions, and organizational initiatives.
• Support agency-wide initiatives and cross-departmental collaboration.
• Participate in the leadership on-call rotation and respond to after-hours emergencies.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS (KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES)

• A Master's in Social Work, Counseling, or similar behavioral health field.
• A valid Licensed Certified Social Work - Clinical (LCSW-C) or Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) preferred.
  • Maryland license preferred and a minimum of three years post-graduate experience. LGSW or LGPC is also acceptable.
• Experience working with individuals with acute and chronic behavioral health issues and knowledge of crisis intervention techniques.
• Knowledge and ability to effectively apply best practices in engaging those experiencing homelessness, including Trauma-Informed Care, Housing First, Harm Reduction, and Motivational Interviewing.
• Flexibility and openness to working in a fast-paced program serving clients from diverse racial, cultural, and socio-economic backgrounds.
• Available to work at least one evening per week.
• Available to answer calls after hours.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Ability to work as a team member with compassion, respect, and professionalism.
• Knowledge of issues related to homelessness and community resources.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions. While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to use hands or fingers, handle or feel objects, tools, or controls. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; and reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus. The noise level in the work environment is usually low to moderate.

BENEFITS

Interfaith Works offers a comprehensive benefits package for its employees. Employees receive 14 paid holidays and 21 days of PTO. Benefits for full-time employees, those who work 30 hours per week or more, include access to subsidized medical, dental, and vision costs for employees and their families; employer paid long-term disability insurance as well as life and AD&D insurance. Employees have the option to purchase supplemental benefits that are fully portable, including short-term disability insurance, critical illness insurance, and more. All employees regardless of full or part time status have access to an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) at no cost to them.

NOTE

This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee(s) incumbent in this position. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by any person authorized to give instructions or assignments. All duties and responsibilities are essential functions and requirements and are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. To perform this job successfully, the incumbents will possess the skills, aptitudes, and abilities to perform each duty proficiently. Some requirements may exclude individuals who pose a direct threat or significant risk to the health or safety of themselves or others. The requirements listed in this document are the minimum levels of knowledge, skills, or abilities. This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an "at will" relationship.

TO APPLY

Interested candidates must submit a resume with their application to be considered. Applicants must apply through this link. Please send any questions about the application process to hr@iworksmc.org.

Interfaith Works is an equal opportunity employer which values diversity, equity, and inclusion. We are committed to a continued focus on equitable hiring, training, promotional practices, and policies. We are a drug free workplace and comply with ADA regulations, as applicable.