Leadership Development Program Associate Jobs in Springfield, MO

This is a pipeline requisition for future openings. Velocity Health Group is always looking for great talent-regardless of whether you have prior experience in the behavioral health field. As we continue to grow, we anticipate 30+ openings for Youth Development Instructors later in 2026. We encourage individuals who are passionate about making an impact, eager to learn, and motivated to grow to apply and begin the conversation with our team.

Who We Are

Velocity Health Group (VHG) is building a new model for adolescent behavioral health treatment. Our residential program is designed around a simple belief: the quality of care youth receive is directly tied to the quality of the people who serve them.

We are assembling a team of highly capable professionals who want more than just a job-they want to grow, lead, and make a meaningful impact.

By investing deeply in training, staff wellness, and professional development, we are creating an environment where both youth and staff can reach their full potential.

Our Mission

To radically improve behavioral health outcomes by putting the right people-trained, valued, and inspired-at the center of care.

Our Vision

To set a new national standard in behavioral healthcare through innovative treatment, exceptional training, and a culture of trust-anchored by the first behavioral health teaching hospital of its kind.

The Role
Youth Development Instructors are responsible for the supervision, safety, and development of adolescents in our residential program.

This is a high-engagement role. Instructors work directly with youth throughout the day-mentoring, coaching, guiding, and modeling the behaviors and habits necessary for long-term success.

Our instructors are not simply supervisors. They are mentors, leaders, and role models who help young people develop accountability, emotional regulation, confidence, and life skills. Strong professional boundaries, emotional maturity, and consistent leadership are essential to success in this role.

What Makes This Role Different
Industry-Leading Compensation
Velocity's compensation model is in the top 1% in the United States for direct-care positions:

$25-$27/hour for overnight positions
$27-$31/hour for Day and Swing shift positions

Industry-Leading Staff Ratios
Velocity maintains some of the highest staff-to-youth ratios in the field:

1:2 during day and evening shifts

1:3 during overnight shifts

This allows instructors to build meaningful relationships and provide individualized attention that most residential programs cannot offer.

A Schedule Designed for Staff Wellness
Our work schedule follows a philosophy we call 36 / 56 / 76. There are 168 hours in a week:

36 hours working - four 9-hour shifts per week
56 hours sleeping - assuming 8 hours each night

76 hours for your life outside of work

We believe exceptional care requires healthy, balanced staff.

Extensive Professional Development
Velocity provides over 150 hours of paid professional development annually, including training in:

Youth development
Behavioral health support strategies

Leadership and mentorship
Performance psychology
Crisis prevention and de-escalation

Our goal is to build the most highly trained youth development staff in the country.

Key Responsibilities

Youth Development
Support each youth in meeting treatment goals, developing life skills, and building healthy habits.

Mentorship & Accountability

Model professionalism, emotional regulation, and personal responsibility while helping youth build these same qualities.

Collaboration

Work closely with clinical staff and program leadership to ensure coordinated care and consistent expectations.

Program Performance

Track and support progress toward program benchmarks, including Early Indicators of Success (EIOS) metrics.

Who Thrives in This Role

We are looking for individuals who consistently demonstrate four core attributes:

Curiosity

You seek to learn, improve, and develop new skills.

Authenticity

You show up honestly and build genuine relationships with youth and colleagues.

Resilience

You remain calm, steady, and constructive in challenging situations.

Drive

You are motivated to improve outcomes and make a lasting impact. Successful candidates will also:

Take personal responsibility for their work and outcomes
Be highly coachable and open to feedback
Maintain strong professional standards
Commit to ongoing physical, emotional, and professional growth

Physical Demands

The Youth Development Instructor role is an active, hands-on position within a residential treatment environment. Staff are expected to remain engaged with youth throughout the shift and must be able to safely participate in the daily activities of the program.

Physical requirements of the role may include:

• Standing and walking for extended periods of time throughout the shift
• Frequent movement between residential, academic, recreational, and outdoor environments
• Participating in physical activities such as sports, recreation, and outdoor programming
• The ability to safely intervene and respond to behavioral crises in accordance with trained safety protocols
• Bending, kneeling, lifting, and assisting youth as needed in the course of daily supervision and care
• Maintaining situational awareness and active supervision in both indoor and outdoor environments

The work environment includes a residential behavioral health setting serving adolescents, which may involve responding to emotionally escalated situations, supporting youth in distress, and maintaining a calm and structured atmosphere.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the role, consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and applicable state law.

The Opportunity

Velocity Health Group is building something rare: a program where staff development, youth outcomes, and organizational culture are equally prioritized. If you want to work in an environment that challenges you to grow, values your contribution, and allows you to make a meaningful difference in young lives, we encourage you to apply.

Velocity Health Group is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic under applicable federal, state, or local laws.