Job Title: Assistant Program Director (APD) – Adolescent Mental Health
Location: Vive Adolescent Care – St. George, Utah
Pay: $27–$29 per hour
Schedule: Full-Time | Rotating schedule of 4 ten-hour shifts
About Vive Adolescent Care
Vive Adolescent Care is a specialized adolescent psychiatric hospital serving teens in severe mental health crisis. Our mission is to provide structured, therapeutic, and compassionate care that helps adolescents stabilize and move toward healing.
We are building a strong leadership team focused on staff development, safety, and therapeutic excellence. The Assistant Program Director plays a critical role in developing staff, strengthening the milieu, and ensuring that employees are well-trained and supported to succeed in a high-acuity environment.
Position Overview
The Assistant Program Director (APD) focuses on hiring strong staff and developing them into confident, capable team members. This role is a working leadership position that combines recruitment responsibilities with hands-on leadership and training on the unit.
Approximately 20% of this role focuses on hiring and recruitment, while 80% of the role is spent on the floor supporting staff through real-time coaching, training, and crisis leadership.
This position requires someone who can lead calmly during crisis, develop employees, hold boundaries, and maintain a therapeutic environment for adolescents.
Key ResponsibilitiesStaff Development amp; On-Shift Leadership
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Provide on-the-floor leadership and coaching to staff
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Potential to run groups with clients
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Train employees on therapeutic engagement, crisis response, and boundary setting
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Support staff development through real-time feedback and mentorship
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Model strong de-escalation techniques and therapeutic communication
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Help staff maintain structure and follow daily programming schedules
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Ensure staff follow organizational policies and crisis management processes
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Maintain a calm leadership presence during behavioral incidents
Hiring amp; Recruitment (Approximately 20%)
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Support recruiting efforts for direct care staff and leadership positions
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Conduct interviews and assist in candidate selection
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Identify candidates who align with Vive’s culture and mission
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Help onboard and orient new employees
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Ensure new staff are prepared and supported as they transition into the role
Program Support
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Maintain a structured and safe therapeutic environment
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Hold clear and consistent boundaries with staff and clients
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Work closely with Shift Leads, nursing, and clinical teams
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Support staff accountability, performance, and engagement
Ideal Candidate Attributes
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Strong leadership and staff management skills
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Passion for training and developing employees
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Ability to remain calm and decisive during crisis situations
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Skilled in de-escalation and therapeutic communication
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Ability to hold clear boundaries while maintaining compassion
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Strong attention to therapeutic and safety details
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Organized and capable of managing both operational and staffing needs
Qualifications
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1+ year of experience in mental health, behavioral health, or a similar field preferred
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Leadership or supervisory experience strongly preferred
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Ability to work full-time on a rotating schedule of four 10-hour shifts
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Passion for working with high-acuity adolescents in mental health crisis
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Strong communication, coaching, and mentoring skills
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Reliable attendance is critical. Consistent leadership presence is essential to maintaining safe staffing and strong team development.
Why Work at Vive
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Competitive pay: $27–$29 per hour
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Opportunity to build leadership experience in behavioral health
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Be part of a team dedicated to improving outcomes for adolescents in crisis
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Hands-on leadership role with real impact on staff success and patient care
If you are a calm, capable leader who enjoys developing people and building strong teams, we invite you to apply and help shape the future of care at Vive Adolescent Care.