Assistant Program Director

Assistant Program Director

At Vision Quest (VQ), we serve children, youth, and families during some of the most critical moments of their lives. Our teams help young people overcome challenges, build resilience, and move toward brighter futures.

VQ is a national child, youth, and family services organization providing residential programming, community-based services, and in-home support across the United States. We partner with state and federal agencies to deliver services where the need is greatest and to strengthen the communities we serve.

Every role at VQ contributes to meaningful impact. Whether working directly with youth or supporting the professionals who serve them, your work helps create opportunity and stability for the next generation.

The Assistant Program Director will work closely with the Program Director to ensure the effective implementation of program goals, policies, and procedures. This individual will play a key role in supporting the overall management and operations of the program, including staff supervision, compliance oversight, and liaison responsibilities with relevant stakeholders.

• Leadership and Workforce Development:
• Take ownership of building a positive culture that supports growth, teamwork and collaboration with an emphasis on trauma informed care.
• Establish open communication by facilitating a strength-based, feedback-rich environment with clear expectations.
• Support and collaborate with the Program Director in various aspects, including executing the program's vision, fostering positive workplace morale, managing departmental issues, and organizing staff meetings for effective communication and collaboration.
• Offer supervisory and technical support to assigned departments, focusing on enhancing their performance and effectiveness. This includes evaluating projects, setting strategic goals, and encouraging continuous professional development.
• Address grievances and complaints from both children and employees, and collaborate with HR to develop corrective actions or disciplinary responses to performance or conduct issues.
• Continued growth and development as a leader, leading by example with commitment to self awareness and skill development.
• Flexible schedule to accommodate staff meetings, unannounced visits, and other program needs to accommodate all shifts.
• Engage in continuous learning through organizational training and external professional development opportunities, including off site training and meetings.
• Partnerships and Communication:
• Serve as primary or secondary liaison to external and internal stakeholders.
• Cover for the Program Director in their absence.
• Ensure effective cross-departmental communication, organizing, facilitating and attending meetings and contributing as a team member across interdisciplinary efforts.
• Works in collaboration with Vision Quest leadership and other sister programs to ensure continuity and consistency across programs.
• Willingness to fill vacant roles as needed.
• Assist with after hours on call responsibilities and unannounced visits.
• Compliance, Quality Assurance and Continuous Quality Improvement:
• Assist in the collection, analysis, and reporting of program data to track outcomes, inform decision-making, and ensure the accurate and timely submission of reports to funding agencies and stakeholders.
• Facilitate the implementation of policies and procedures to ensure the program adheres to applicable federal, state, licensing, funding source, and regulatory requirements, acting as a liaison to oversight agencies and accrediting bodies as necessary.
• In accordance with Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) Standards, serve as the facility's PREA Compliance Manager with sufficient time and authority to coordinate and oversee the facility's efforts to comply with PREA Standards. Responsible for the development, implementation, monitoring, and documentation of PREA policies and procedures; coordinating incident reviews; ensuring staff training and reporting compliance; and leading prevention, detection, and response efforts related to sexual abuse and harassment.
• Ensure identified departments are completing required monthly audits of the program's active and inactive case files.
• Assist with change, risk, and resource management initiatives.
• Operations Management:
• Oversee a specific portion of the program budget while maintaining an understanding of the overall budget, ensuring financial stewardship and resource efficiency.
• Ensure the maintenance of program facilities and vehicles, upholding a safe, efficient, and child-friendly operational environment.
• Directly supervise leads of assigned departments, depending on needs of the program.
• Other tasks and responsibilities as assigned

• Leadership, Supervision and Conflict Management
• Excellent interpersonal communication skills with ability to listen actively
• Knowledge in implementing and ensuring compliance with policies and procedures
• Budget Management
• Application of change, risk and…