Program Director

Stephen Center has served homeless and low-income individuals in Omaha since 1984 with the mission to partner with the community, families and individuals to overcome homelessness, addiction and poverty. The Pettigrew Emergency Shelter and Permanent Supportive Housing offerings provide safe and secure housing while individuals and families complete an assessment of permanent housing options. All Stephen Center residents have access to dual diagnosis support services via the HERO addiction/recovery program.

100% of Stephen Center shelter supportive housing participants are living in poverty. Housing transition support identifies poverty barriers that may impact one’s ability to achieve or maintain permanent housing through case management, life skills, and behavioral health services. Stephen Center serves approximately 250 people daily in all programs.

The HERO Program Director is responsible for the overall clinical and operational management of a 24/7 dual diagnosis addiction recovery program, ensuring delivery of high-quality, evidence-based services that meet client needs and comply with all applicable regulations. The Program Director provides leadership, oversight, and strategic direction for clinical/non-clinical staff, programming, and client care while fostering a trauma-informed, culturally competent, and client-centered approach to treatment.

This role includes oversight of both mental health and substance use disorder services and ensures seamless integration of co-occurring care. The HERO Program Director reports to the Chief Programs Officer in all matters related to the programs.

• Provide supervision, guidance, coaching and staff development for all the HERO program staff; clinical and non-clinical.
• Ensure all documentation (including assessments, treatment plans, and progress notes) is accurate, timely, and compliant with regulatory, licensing, and organizational requirements.
• Conduct regular clinical chart audits, in conjunction with the finance department, to ensure accuracy, quality and effectiveness of care.
• Review, develop and implement evidence-based programming that addresses co-occurring disorders.
• Promote and maintain high ethical standards in clinical practice aligned with professional licensure requirements (e.g., LIMHP, LADC).
• Responsible for maintaining a consistent on-site presence and providing oversight for the 24/7 HERO residential and non-residential substance use and co-occurring treatment programs.
• Coordinate and assign interns to appropriate therapists; provide weekly supervision for master’s-level interns and support undergraduate students through scheduled discussions and learning contract reviews. Maintain regular communication and collaboration with university supervisors as needed.

• Maintain program compliance with all local, state, and federal regulations, including CARF and DHHS standards.
• Oversee accurate and timely billing practices, in partnership with the finance team.
• Participate in audits and prepare documentation required for licensure and accreditation.
• Contribute to the development of the organization’s mission and vision, and ensure alignment between strategic objectives and the goals of the HERO program.
• Collaborate with the Finance Department to oversee all billing operations, including state parole/probation vouchers, federal offender reimbursements, Medicaid claims, and client self-pay transactions.

• Foster a culture-driven work environment grounded in open communication, mutual understanding, transparency, and effective conflict resolution.
• Model healthy boundaries, professionalism, and trauma-informed care principles.
• Provide regular coaching and performance evaluations to direct reports.
• Lead weekly clinical team meetings and interdisciplinary collaboration.
• Observe, train and follow-up on clinical group processing efficacy and engagement.

• Monitor client progress and outcomes, ensuring individualized, client-centered plans of care.
• Support coordination of care with external agencies, courts, probation officers, and family…