Residential Program Manager Jobs in Louisiana (NOW HIRING)

Right now, a future Ness Center Veterans Services resident is couch surfing at a friend’s house. Another is living out of their car, running out of options and running out of road. A third may have a home, but may not yet be in a safe emotional place to return to their family.

What they have in common is that they need help finding their way forward. They have given a great deal for the country they love, and they should not have to face this next chapter alone.

What they do not need is judgment. They need a welcoming atmosphere, a safe space to work through their experiences, and people who will meet them where they are and help them figure out what comes next.

Most of all, they need you.

The Opportunity

The Ness Center will be opening a new Veterans Services residential program designed to provide more than a place to stay. We are creating a safe, supportive environment where Veterans can stabilize, address behavioral health and substance use needs, reconnect with their families, and build a path toward independence.

As the Program Manager, under the leadership of the Executive Director, you will lead the clinical and day to day operations of the program. You will oversee the team, coordinate services, maintain clinical and regulatory standards, develop community partnerships, and help build the program from the ground up.

What You Will Do

• Lead the clinical and day to day operation of the program, including admissions, staffing, safety, and residential operations

• Coordinate behavioral health, substance use, housing, employment, life skills, benefits, and other supportive services

• Supervise counselors, case managers, peer specialists, and residential staff

• Provide clinical supervision and coordinate crisis response and therapeutic support

• Support individualized goals focused on stability, recovery, and independence

• Lead quality improvement and ensure strong documentation, compliance, and resident safety

• Build relationships with housing providers, Veterans organizations, behavioral health providers, employers, and community partners

• Manage program operations, including scheduling, facilities, contracts, supplies, and budget responsibilities

• Develop the policies, workflows, intake processes, and partnerships needed to launch the program

What You Need

• Master’s degree in social work, counseling, or a related behavioral health discipline

• Current Louisiana Clinical License such as LCSW, LMSW, LPC, or LMFT

• Post-master’s clinical experience, including leadership of outpatient behavioral health or substance use disorder services

• At least three years of post-master’s experience, including supervisory or program coordination experience

• Experience with co-occurring conditions, clinical supervision, crisis coordination, quality improvement, documentation, and regulatory compliance

• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams and managing program operations

• Strong clinical judgment, leadership, communication, and organizational skills

• Valid driver’s license and ability to travel locally

Preferred Qualifications

• Approved clinical supervisor status, advanced substance use credential, or specialty certification

• Military service, Veteran status, or experience serving Veterans and military families

• Experience with residential, supportive, or transitional housing or homelessness services

• Experience with integrated care, Veterans systems, or Louisiana behavioral health provider networks

What Sets You Apart

You understand that this work is bigger than housing.

You know how to create a residential environment that feels safe without feeling institutional. You can provide structure without taking away independence. You know when someone needs clinical intervention, practical help, or simply someone to listen.

Most importantly, you are comfortable building something that does not exist yet. You see the gaps, create the systems to fill them, and are willing to do the work required to build a place Veterans can trust.

Equal Opportunity Employer
The Ness Center is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected characteristic or class.