Program Director Jobs in Lancaster, CA (NOW HIRING)

Mental Health America of Los Angeles (MHALA) has been a pioneer in mental health service, advocacy, innovation, and training for nearly a century, working to ensure that people with mental health needs achieve meaningful, healthy lives in their communities.

MHALA is among the largest and most comprehensive nonprofit mental health agencies in Los Angeles County. The agency supports over 19,000 low-income and no-income individuals annually with integrated services. MHALA achieves impact in the areas of mental and physical healthcare, homelessness and housing, supported employment, and wellness and financial services, with special programs for Veterans and transition-age youth.

MHALA also provides training programs for individuals joining the behavioral health workforce and for the larger community around mental health issues.

MHALA works to ensure that its employees are just as cared for as its members. Communication, collaboration, transparency and a healthy work/life balance are core components of the agency culture. Employees are encouraged to engage in self-care and can enjoy a 35-hour workweek.

MHALA fosters diversity at all levels of the organization. The agency promotes a team-oriented culture that offers opportunities for growth. We are proud to offer a competitive salary and full benefits package, including an employee assistance program, and generous paid time off.

Program Manager

$70,304 to $71,000 annualized 

(The actual compensation will be determined based on experience and other factors permitted by law.)

Supervision Responsibilities: Under the general supervision of the Senior Director of Housing Services, oversee the daily operation of the Intensive Case Management Services (ICMS) to clients eligible for permanent housing through the Department of Health Services’ (DHS) Housing for Health (HFH) program based on psychosocial rehabilitation model of treatment and services.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: This is not an exhaustive task list, and other duties may be assigned as deemed appropriate or necessary by the supervisor or program director. Reasonable accommodation will be provided to any qualified person with a medical or psychiatric disability, providing it will not change the essential nature of the position, nor cause undue hardship to the Agency’s operations. The Agency will consider individuals with a criminal history in accordance with both the Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers (FCO) and the California Fair Chance Act (FCA).

• In collaboration with the Program Director, recruit, hire, supervise, train, direct, evaluate, reward, discipline, and terminate assigned staff in accordance with organizational policy and applicable laws and regulations. Provides direct supervision and encourages professional growth for staff and interns.
• Must be willing to travel and provide direct supervision to staff working out of MHALA’s Lancaster, Palmdale, and Newhall offices.
• Track, assess, and document how effectively programs under span of control meet their objectives.
• Responsible for the overall day-to-day activities of all Housing for Health (HFH) Project-Based and Scattered-Site housing, including HACola and HACLA Shelter Plus Care (SPC), staff supervision, team support, management and coordination of the Statement of Works for SPC and HFH, and liaison with Departments of Health Services and Mental Health.
• Provision of case management and/or mental health services in permanent supportive housing, including maintenance of a crisis response system.
• Provide timely information and feedback to the Program Director with regard to emergent staff, team, or member issues and work with executive management to provide intervention to redirect staff and/or programs when objectives are not being met.
• Assist in overseeing and managing team budget and expenditures, making adequate and timely adjustments as needed.
• Assist and support program documentation standards of staff in accordance with MHALA, HACoLA, HACLA, and DHS County Contracted Provider, and funding source standards and requirements, and documents in Electronic Health record (EHR), including 24 hour turnaround documentation.
• Oversee and manage as custodian of petty cash.
• Assume leadership or delegate leadership of the day-to-day operations of the team as needed.
• Conduct team meetings to discuss the status of each person, allocate the work of the staff; conduct case consultations using interdisciplinary inter/intra-agency conferences and consultation to coordinate individual care; meet with director of housing regularly.
• Provide timely information and feedback to Director of Housing Programs with regard to emergent staff, team or participant issues.
• Developing and implementing quality control plans.
• Work closely with property management agency and other supportive services agencies, including case management and mental health providers to ensure clients’ needs are being met.
• Building collaborative partnerships with county funders, stakeholders and community partners.
• Responsible for developing policies and procedures and creating forms that facilitate the effective operation of intensive case management in permanent housing and delivery of high quality ICMS services.
• Act as the point of contact throughout the day to address participant crises and emergent needs. Shall have full authority to act for contractor on all matters relating to the daily operation of the Housing For Health Statement of Work.
• Duties may include being reached on a twenty-four (24) hour per day basis, 365 days per year, by DHS if needed. 
• Participate in meetings with DHS, HACoLA, HACLA and community partners such as local community homeless outreach teams and the Coordinated Entry System (CES) teams.
• Read, perform researches, attend classes, workshops or seminars and participate in other professional development activities in order to maintain and enhance personal and professional skills.
• Other duties as assigned.

Other Position Requirements:

• Bachelor degree in a human service or related field or certification in a mental health specialty i.e. RN, LVN, LPT, drug alcohol rehab counselor preferred.
• Minimum 3 years of experience providing psychosocial rehabilitative services to a disabled population plus experience in a supervisory/leadership role.
• Demonstrated ability to provide supervision and leadership to diverse staff who possess a wide range skills, abilities and professional competencies.
• Must function well in a team-oriented approach to client services.
• Proficient in computer applications such as Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook.
• Be able to learn and utilize CHAMP, Homeless Management Information Systems (HMIS) and Electronic Health Records Systems.
• Have expertise in the following areas: chronic homelessness, outreach and engagement strategies, intensive case management services, best practice models, mental health and substance use disorder services, crisis intervention, suicide assessment and prevention, affordable housing and public benefits applications, housing and landlord/tenant rights, eviction prevention, etc.
• Ability to work collaboratively and effectively with public and private housing providers, mental health consumers and their family members or client advocates, vendors and other staff.
• Ability to track and interpret complex data sets for the program services and budget.
• Knowledge of community resources.
• Flexible work schedule to include some nights, weekends and holidays.
• Driving with current class C driver’s license, a vehicle for transportation, proof of valid automobile insurance, the ability to be insured by MHALA’s liability insurance are conditions of employment
• TB clearance and re-testing every year are conditions of continued employment
• COVID-19 vaccinations or booster shots are not currently required, however this may become a requirement in the future. Failure to abide by any agency policy, including those relating to a vaccine or booster shot may result in termination of employment
• Employment verification directly from three (3) past employers within the most recent 7-year period