Program Officer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Deputy Chief Program Officer, Housing Services

Location: Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego or Sacramento

Salary: $175,000 - $185,000

Organization Overview

Founded in 2004, Brilliant Corners provides innovative housing and housing-related services to those transitioning from or at risk of homelessness or institutionalization. We develop, own, and manage multi-family supportive housing and licensed residential care homes. Additionally, we implement a broad array of scattered-site, one-on-one supportive housing, and clinical case management programs through partnerships with developmental services, homeless services, veteran services, and health care sectors.

In short, we do good work.

We have offices statewide with a staff of passionate people. While we are growing rapidly, we are also selective: We’re seeking inspired, talented people who want to be effecting profound change and who have fun doing it.

Department Summary

Brilliant Corners’ Housing Services Department is nationally recognized for its role in designing and operating supportive housing solutions that help individuals exit homelessness and avoid institutionalization. We serve individuals with complex needs, including those involved in healthcare, behavioral health, and criminal justice systems.

Our work spans major regions across California, with teams operating in Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, San Mateo, and Sacramento Counties. With more than 350 staff statewide, the department supports thousands of individuals each year in accessing and maintaining stable housing.

The Housing Services Department is led by a team of Deputy Chief Program Officers (DCPOs), including a DCPO of Program Development and two DCPOs of Housing Services. Together, this leadership team ensures strong alignment between program design, policy, evaluation, and day-to-day operations across a complex and growing portfolio.

Our core program areas include:

Flex Pool Supportive Housing
Our Flexible Housing Pool (Flex Pool) is a systems-level model that aligns and deploys housing resources across healthcare, homelessness, and behavioral health systems to rapidly connect individuals to permanent housing. Acting as a centralized intermediary, the Flex Pool braids funding streams, engages landlords, and coordinates services to create a scalable pathway into housing.

By leveraging the private rental market and flexible funding, the model reduces time to housing, expands access, and improves long-term stability for individuals with complex needs.

Intensive Case Management Services (ICMS)
Our ICMS programs provide person-centered, housing-focused services to individuals with complex needs. These services are delivered across a range of settings and populations, always grounded in a Housing First approach.

Managed Care and Behavioral Health Partnerships
We partner with Managed Care Plans and County Behavioral Health Departments to deliver housing-based interventions that improve health outcomes and stability. This includes implementing CalAIM Housing supports, administering Transitional Rent, and supporting housing pathways tied to Proposition 1.

These partnerships require strong coordination across healthcare, housing, and public systems, as well as the ability to manage complex funding streams and regulatory requirements.

Position Summary

Brilliant Corners is seeking an experienced and mission-driven Deputy Chief Program Officer (DCPO) of Housing Services to co-lead our statewide Housing Services Department.

This role is one of two DCPOs of Housing Services, each responsible for overseeing a regional portfolio of programs across California. Regional assignments will be based on candidate location and experience, with current coverage spanning:

• Northern California: San Francisco, San Mateo, Sacramento
• Southern California: Los Angeles, San Diego

In this role, you will lead the day-to-day operations of a large and complex portfolio of supportive housing programs, ensuring strong performance, high-quality service delivery, and alignment with organizational and system-wide goals. You will oversee program management, staffing, regional performance, contract execution, and budgeting across your region.

You will work closely with your counterpart DCPO of Housing Services and the DCPO of Program Development to ensure strong alignment between program design, policy, evaluation, and implementation. Together, this leadership team drives consistency, innovation, and impact across our statewide programs.

Your portfolio will include oversight of core Housing Services programs, including:

• Flex Pool Supportive Housing programs
• Intensive Case Management Services (ICMS)
• Managed Care and Behavioral Health partnerships

Specific program oversight may vary based on regional alignment and the distribution of responsibilities across the DCPO leadership team.

As a senior leader, you will serve as a key external partner to public systems and funders. You will work across healthcare, homelessness, and behavioral health systems—including Managed Care Plans, County agencies, and other partners—to implement and scale housing initiatives. This includes work tied to CalAIM, Transitional Rent, and Proposition 1, alongside other public and philanthropic funding streams that support housing access and stability.

You will lead and support a team of regional Program Directors, working together to drive program performance, strengthen partnerships, and ensure financial sustainability. This role requires a leader who can balance strategy and execution—someone who can see the broader system while ensuring strong day-to-day operations.

This role is critical to ensuring Brilliant Corners continues to scale its impact while maintaining high-quality, equitable service delivery across regions and systems.

Requirements

Responsibilities:

1. Program Management
Oversee the execution of day-to-day program operations across a regional portfolio, ensuring achievement of program objectives, housing placement and retention outcomes, and contractual compliance across Flex Pool, ICMS, and MCP/Behavioral Health programs.

2. Leadership Development and Staff Management
Lead, coach, and support a team of Program Directors and senior staff, fostering a culture of accountability, growth, and excellence.

3. Staffing Capacity and Hiring
Ensure appropriate staffing levels across programs, including workforce planning, hiring strategy, and contingency planning to maintain program continuity.

4. Regional Reporting
Oversee regional performance reporting, using data to track outcomes, identify trends, and drive continuous improvement.

5. Contract Management and Budgeting
Partner with Finance and internal teams to manage complex contracts and funding streams, including those tied to CalAIM Community Supports, Transitional Rent, and Behavioral Health initiatives. Ensure financial sustainability and alignment with program goals.

Mindsets of an Ideal Candidate

You’re a recognized leader. Your track record shows that you can manage a team effectively. You act with confidence and integrity with an eye towards solutions. You are energized as much by the success of your team as your own personal success.

You bring your “A” game to work.You inspire a culture of excellence and take pride in doing “whatever it takes” for our clients, staff and partners. You see opportunities for improvement wherever you look, and know how to get buy-in from others to make it real.

You see equity as “the” work. You understand that working on housing means working on racial equity. You know that the work happens at all levels—personal, programmatic, organizational, and system —and you’re committed to transformational change.

You’re a system thinker who puts people at the center. You know how to take proven solutions to scale without feeling bureaucratic.

You thrive in an entrepreneurial environment. You’re resourceful and at ease with ambiguity and rapid change. You possess a positive, can-do attitude, and are adept at identifying creative solutions that turn challenges into opportunities. You can handle many important responsibilities at once, and you’re rigorous about prioritization.

You embody a collaborative spirit. You’re able to work collaboratively with our partner case management agencies, funders, housing partners, and tenants to develop an appropriate resolution that maintains the spirit of the Brilliant Corners model. Partners know that you are empathetic and fair in your decisions.

Professional Experience

• At least 10 years of experience in human services, housing, healthcare, nonprofit leadership, or public systems
• At least 8 years of experience building and managing teams
• Demonstrated leadership with increasing levels of responsibility over time
• Experience designing, implementing, or overseeing Housing First or supportive housing programs strongly preferred

Knowledge, Skills and Ability

• Deep commitment to Housing First and Brilliant Corners’ mission
• Strong understanding of housing, healthcare, and/or behavioral health systems
• Experience managing complex programs, contracts, and budgets
• Strong financial and operational acumen
• Ability to lead multiple large-scale initiatives simultaneously
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills
• Experience working across large geographies and diverse teams
• Ability to use data to inform decision-making and improve performance
• Comfort navigating complex funding streams and regulatory environments
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office; experience with Salesforce or similar systems a plus

Physical Requirements 

Candidates should have physical mobility for tasks such as standing, bending, stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, twisting, and walking on uneven surfaces. They should be capable of performing stationary tasks like sitting for up to 6 to 8 hours a day.  Additionally, candidates should be able to lift, carry, push, pull light to moderate weights up to 15 pounds safely. Requires mental acuity for analytical reasoning and document interpretation. 

Salary range for this position is $175,000 - $180,000 annually. This position is being offered at $175,000 - $185,000 annually. 

Brilliant Corners does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its activities or operations. These activities include, but are not limited to, hiring and firing of staff, selection of volunteers and vendors, and provision of services. We are committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of our staff, clients, volunteers, subcontractors, vendors, and clients. Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Benefits

• Health Care Plan (Medical, Dental, & Vision)
• Retirement Plan (With 5% Match)
• Life Insurance (Basic, Voluntary and AD&D)
• Paid Time Off (Vacation, Sick & Public Holidays)
• Family Leave (Maternity, Paternity)
• Short Term & Long-Term Disability
• Training & Development
• Wellness Resources
• Hybrid Work