ROLE SUMMARY

The Director of the Life Learning Center (LLC) is responsible for providing overall leadership, management, and oversight of all aspects of the Life Learning Program focused on supporting transition-age young people, ages 16 to 25. This includes hiring staff, ensuring contract compliance, overseeing the divisions budget, managing the divisions performance expectations, implementing policies and procedures, and representing the organization in the community. The Director of the LLC works closely with other leaders, including Executive Leadership, in managing a team-based model approach and serves as a collaborative partner with both internal and external stakeholders, including the Department of Mental Health, Department of Rehabilitation, and the Department of Child and Family Services.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Manage the day-to-day operations of the division, including contract requirements, supervisors oversight of provider caseloads, staff performance, and support of crisis situations.

• Ensure the program consistently meets its contractual requirements and CARF accreditation standards within Intensive Services, which includes Full Service Partnership (FSP) and associated mental health services to TAY and caregivers in public mental/behavioral health services.

• Manage a variety of funding sources (i.e., DMH, DOR), contractual requirements, and program budgets.

• Collect, evaluate and utilize program data to monitor the divisions implementation of services and track program performance to make informed decisions.

• Initiate and direct complex administrative and cost studies of departmental operations and procedures, direct the preparation of reports and recommend and implement new and revised policies and procedures based on study findings.

• Oversee electronic systems, including the agencys Electronic Health Record System, to monitor the achievement of program deliverables.

• Lead divisions staffing activities by actively participating in recruiting, interviewing, and onboarding new team members and managing staff performance and employee relations issues.

• Directly supervise and develop the divisions leadership staff, and provide ongoing coaching and professional support.

• Actively support and model Wellnests diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts to ensure the integration of inclusion throughout all aspects of the program.

• Establish and maintain a variety of communication methods to support the overall success of the team.

• Identify staff training needs and suggest appropriate professional development opportunities.

• Collaborate and coordinate services throughout the organization to ensure integration of services.

• Partner with Housing Leadership to assess the housing needs of TAY population in Los Angeles/SPA 6, evaluate the effectiveness of existing programs; and within agency guidelines, develop and implement new programs or modify existing programs, i.e. mental health services, tutoring, nutrition, job training, and placement, etc.

• Collaborate closely with Housing Leadership to lead and facilitate integrated Housing Board meetings to review and strategize outcomes for young people in Housing LA and The Nest on Florence.

• Direct and implement services to ensure a seamless agency-wide continuum of a system of care.

• Lead outreach efforts to ensure program services reach potential clients and families, as well as other external stakeholders.

• Build relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including other community organizations and collaborative partners, to create partnerships.

• Seek and maintain relationships to augment services that provide culturally humble and non-traditional and alternative approaches to care for a young person and their community.

• Promote a culture of innovation, by seeking the expansion and enhancement of clinical services, programming, external relationships, and funding for the LLC.

• Assist in the writing of grants and establishing other funding sources, as needed.

• Actively participate in providing clinical coverage during after-hours through the on-call rotation

• Other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education and Experience:

• Masters degree in Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy, Psychology, or equivalent from an accredited college or university is required.

• A minimum of five (5) years of management experience, in implementing and supporting treatment programs for youth in a field-based, community mental health setting is required.

Certificates, Licenses and Registrations:

• Must possess and maintain a valid CA license as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), or equivalent.

• Must meet all BBS or appropriate licensing board requirements to provide clinical hours that qualify towards licensure.

• Must possess and maintain a valid CA drivers license and insurable driving record.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• A strong commitment to advancing Wellnests mission.

• Knowledge of 16 to 25-year-old young people and the social and economic dynamics of low-income urban and vulnerable communities is a must.

• Ability to utilize a healing-centered, client-centered, culturally humble, trauma-informed, harm reduction, and housing first approach.

• Knowledge of challenges associated with homelessness, including chemical dependency, mental disorders, physical health concerns, violence, and isolation.

• Ability to understand the needs of homeless young people to develop collaborative goals towards greater self-sufficiency and independence in the larger community.

• Demonstrated experience in overseeing public-funded contracts with DMH and knowledge of associated rules and regulations.

• Working knowledge of Short-Doyle Medi-Cal Rehabilitation Options.

• Ability to conduct initial and quarterly psychosocial assessments with participants referred

• Proficient with Los Angeles County DMH clinical documentation requirements.

• Ability to learn multiple systems of mental health services.

• Knowledge of services for homeless individuals and families throughout Los Angeles County.

• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to build and cultivate relationships to work effectively with a variety of stakeholders.

• Skilled in engaging, motivating, and working with diverse individuals and groups to accomplish established goals.

• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced and achievement-oriented environment.

• Ability to work a flexible schedule, including some evenings and weekends.

The ideal candidate will have extensive knowledge 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.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

• Annualized Salary Range: $105,000 to $117,978 plus incentive compensation opportunities

• Wellnest offers $10,000/year to build a personalized health benefits package from a choice of available medical, dental, and vision coverage plans, as well as an employer-paid $100,000 life insurance and long-term disability policy.

• Wellnest employees benefit from an employer-sponsored 401(k) company match, dollar for dollar, up to 3%, and a profit-sharing contribution benefit of up to 5%.