Program Director - Laurel Hall

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Full Time Management Queens, NY, US

Salary Range: $85,000.00 To $ Annually

Classification: Full-time Exempt
Reports to: Vice President
Location: Ozone Park, NY
Status &

Hours:

Full-time, Mon-Fri 9 am to 5 pm. Hours may vary and include on-call responsibilities. Lantern staff may be asked to change work schedule and hours depending on the operational needs of the site and the agency.

Who We Are: Lantern Community Services helps New Yorkers impacted by homelessness move from surviving to thriving by pairing safe, supportive housing with wraparound services that build lasting stability and independence. If you believe a steady home can be the start of everything else, you’ll fit right in with our mission-first team. Lantern was also recognized as a Top 2025 Workplace by City & State New York - a great place to do meaningful work with people who care!

Where You Will Work: Laurel Hall is a 113-bed Single Adult Mental Health Male shelter in Queens

About The Role: The Shelter Director provides leadership and oversight to ensure high-quality, compliant shelter operations that support residents’ safety, stability, and well-being. This role supervises intake and social services functions and ensures adherence to DHS and OTDA standards.

The Shelter Director drives program performance through effective implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of measurable outcomes while fostering a supportive and accountable team environment.

Essential Functions:

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Hire, supervise, and develop a high-performing shelter team with accountability for client outcomes and compliance with Lantern and funder requirements.
• Provide leadership, direction, and ongoing support to staff to ensure timely completion of operational goals, deliverables, and performance benchmarks.
• Conduct regular one-on-one supervision, performance evaluations, and progressive discipline as needed to strengthen staff effectiveness.
• Identify training and professional development needs and coordinate onsite/offsite learning opportunities for staff growth.
• Oversee all aspects of shelter operations, including service delivery, case management, compliance, housing and employment targets, charting and medical coordination, programming, recreation, food service, security, and supply management.
• Develop and implement program activities that support residents’ stability, independent living skills, and housing readiness.
• Ensure adherence to all Lantern, DHS, OTDA, and regulatory policies, procedures, and contractual standards.
• Attend all mandatory DHS trainings and meetings to maintain program compliance and best practices.
• Facilitate case conferences to address safety concerns, gross misconduct, and non-compliance that affect the transition into permanent housing.
• Plan and coordinate social, recreational, and peer-support activities that align with program goals and performance targets.
• Facilitate regular staff meetings and ensure accurate reporting, statistical documentation, and timely submission of required data.
• Conduct internal file reviews and implement quality assurance measures to maintain high standards of client care and service delivery.
• Build and maintain relationships with community partners and leaders, including development of a Community Advisory Board.
• Implement crisis prevention and intervention strategies, respond to critical incidents, and ensure ongoing safety through an active Good Neighbor Policy.
• Ensure appropriate staffing coverage at all times, including…