Program Director

Description
ABOUT LIFEMOVES
LifeMoves is the largest and most effective provider of housing and services for neighbors experiencing homelessness in Silicon Valley since 1987. Our Mission is to end homelessness by providing interim housing, supportive services, and building collaborative partnerships. With 40 programs, LifeMoves gives our neighbors experiencing homelessness a temporary place to call home while providing intensive, customized case management through site-based programs and community outreach.

POSITION PURPOSE
LifeMoves | Palo Alto
LifeMoves Palo Alto provides interim supportive housing with 24 family units and 64 individual units, offering holistic, client-centered services that help households build self-sufficiency and return to housing stability. Through case management, workshops, and access to specialized resources, clients receive support with employment, housing, benefits, and overall well-being.

The Program Director will lead the successful launch and ongoing operations of the new Palo Alto site, ensuring services are safe, welcoming, and aligned with LifeMoves' mission and values. This role oversees all aspects of program management, including staff hiring and training, facility coordination, partnership development, budget oversight, and compliance. The Program Director establishes a strong foundation of trauma-informed care, community collaboration, and operational excellence that supports long-term sustainability and measurable client outcomes.

A key focus of this role is building a healthy, positive, and high-performing team culture. The Program Director provides trauma-informed supervision, coaching, and mentorship to staff, fostering professional growth and accountability. They partner closely with agency leadership to ensure consistent service quality, effective communication, and a unified program vision.

The role also maintains strong relationships with funders, community organizations, and local partners to enhance client resources and uphold LifeMoves' professional reputation. Additionally, the Program Director ensures safety protocols are followed, leads continuous improvement initiatives, and supports staff in delivering high-quality, client-centered services within a 24/7 residential setting.

Reporting to the Director of Interim Supportive Housing, the Program Director plays a critical role in advancing LifeMoves' mission by ensuring excellence in operations, leadership, compliance, and community partnership.

LifeMoves Interim Supportive Housing programs serve neighbors in time-based accommodations by providing more stability before their move to permanent housing and focusing on accommodations, meals, laundry, case management, and therapy. These sites are staffed 24/7 and this role provides support and resources to staff at the site and reports to the Director of Interim Supportive Housing.

The Program Director supports the effective operation, leadership, and growth of LifeMoves programs, ensuring services are safe, trauma-informed, and client-centered. This role oversees daily program operations, supervises staff, fosters community partnerships, ensures compliance, and promotes service excellence aligned with the organization's mission.

Essential Job Responsibilities
Program and Operations Management

• Oversee daily program operations to ensure services are safe, welcoming, and effective.
• Manage program administration, budgeting, scheduling, and resources to meet program goals.
• Identify and address safety, training, and data needs in collaboration with staff and leadership.
• Lead new program openings, including facility setup, policy and procedure development, staff recruitment and onboarding, stakeholder engagement, and community partnership building.
• Maintain clean, safe, and well-maintained sites for clients, staff, and visitors.
• Provide timely verbal and written updates to leadership and program teams.

Leadership and Supervision

• Coach, mentor, and guide staff using trauma-informed and strengths-based practices.
• Foster a positive, supportive program culture where staff feel respected, safe, and motivated.
• Plan and lead client meetings, staff meetings, team check-ins, and one-on-one meetings.
• Support hiring, training, scheduling, and performance evaluation of staff.

Client Services Support

• Ensure all client services are trauma-informed, ethical, professional, and effective.
• Support staff in facilitating client groups, workshops, activities, and meetings.
• Provide direct client support, including referrals, crisis intervention, and maintaining a small caseload when necessary.
• Oversee case management services and ensure accurate, up-to-date client documentation.

Community and Stakeholder Partnerships

• Build and maintain relationships with service providers, businesses, government agencies, and community groups.
• Collaborate with partners to enhance services and expand client resources.
• Represent LifeMoves professionally in the community and educate partners on programs and services.
• Support contract management to ensure program activities meet funder expectations.

Compliance, Reporting, and Quality Improvement

• Gather, review, and report program data on a monthly, quarterly, and annual basis.
• Support compliance with funding, regulatory, and agency requirements, including HUD and Fair Housing guidelines.
• Assist with audits, certifications, and continuous quality improvement initiatives.
• Partner with staff and leadership to identify opportunities for program growth, innovation, and service excellence.

General Agency Responsibilities

• Attend team, staff, partner, board meetings, and fundraising events as needed.
• Participate in agency-wide initiatives, trainings, and activities that support LifeMoves' mission.
• Complete all required trainings, including CPR, Mental Health/First Aid, Nonviolent Crisis Intervention, HMIS, and additional online learning modules.
• Engage in continuing education to maintain expertise and best practices.
• Be available to work occasional evenings and weekends as required.
• Perform additional duties as assigned to support the program, department, and organization.

Qualifications
QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in human or social services, community outreach, or related fields.
• Minimum 3 years of direct service experience and 2 years of supervisory experience in a human or social services setting supporting vulnerable populations.
• Knowledge of trauma-informed care, harm reduction, crisis intervention, and Mental Health First Aid (or equivalent training).
• Basic understanding of budgeting, contract management, and program operations.
• Demonstrates care, respect, and empathy, with a commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB).
• Maintains professionalism and emotional regulation under pressure; applies de-escalation techniques to support safety and positive outcomes.
• Strong growth mindset, open to feedback, continuous learning, and professional development.
• Excellent organization, prioritization, and time-management skills; pays attention to detail and takes initiative.
• Clear, professional, and accurate written and verbal communication; maintains thorough documentation.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office, email, databases, and case management or reporting systems.
• Advocates for clients, connecting them with housing, employment, health, and community resources.
• Builds and maintains strong partnerships with community organizations, service providers, and government agencies.
• Problem-solving and research skills to identify solutions and resources for client needs.
• Supervises, coaches, and develops staff using trauma-informed, strengths-based approaches.
• Delegates responsibilities effectively and promotes team accountability.
• Responds calmly and effectively to crises using safety and de-escalation strategies.
• Models and reinforces professional boundaries and self-care practices.
• Facilitates group sessions, workshops, and client meetings to support learning and empowerment.
• Anticipates program needs, encourages innovation, and applies best practices in service delivery.
• Supervises Case Managers, Specialists, Residential Service Coordinators, Resident Managers, and Program Aides.
• Provides coaching, performance evaluation, and ongoing support to ensure high-quality, client-centered services.

Supervisory Responsibilities
This role provides supervision to Case Managers, Specialists (as applicable: housing, employment, benefit, children service coordinators, licensed vocational nurses) and supervision of Residential Service Coordinators, Resident Mangers, and Program Aides (as applicable) who are responsible for performing site operation duties.

Travel Requirements

• This position requires regular travel between agency sites, community partner locations, client service events, and internal and external meetings.
• A valid California driver's license and reliable transportation are required.
• Must be able to travel throughout the Bay Area as part of regular duties.
• Mileage reimbursement is provided in accordance with agency policy.
• Occasional evenings or weekend travel may be required to attend community events or support client services. Must maintain vehicle insurance as required by law and agency policy.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS
The physical demands described here represent those that an employee must meet to perform the essential functions of this position successfully. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions. While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to talk, hear, and communicate with others in the workplace. The employee must frequently use hands or fingers and handle or feel objects, tools, or controls. The employee must frequently stand, walk, sit, and reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities this position requires include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus.

Compensation And Benefits
This rewarding role offers a competitive annual base salary and an opportunity to participate in the LifeMoves benefits package.

LifeMoves is an equal opportunity employer (EOE) committed to building a culturally diverse staff representing the communities we serve. We provide equal employment opportunities to all individuals without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, marital status, physical or mental disability (non-disqualifying), sexual orientation, membership or non-membership in an employee organization, personal favoritism, lived experiences or any other non-merit-based factor. Candidates who are bilingual/bi-cultural, of color, Native/Indigenous, with disabilities, who identify as LGBTQIA+, or who are members of other marginalized groups are strongly encouraged to apply. We aim to create and sustain inclusive, equitable, and welcoming environments where everyone can thrive.

This job description is not intended to be a complete list of all responsibilities, duties, or skills required for the job and is subject to review and change at any time, with or without notice, in accordance with the needs of LifeMoves. Since no job description can detail all the duties and responsibilities that may be required from time to time in the performance of a job, duties, and responsibilities that may be inherent in a job, reasonably required for its performance, or required due to the changing nature of the job shall also be considered part of the job holder's responsibility.

If you require a disability accommodation during the application process, please contact the Human Resources Department