Program Director

The Administration for Children's Services (ACS) protects and promotes the safety and well-being of New York City's children and families by providing child welfare, juvenile justice, and early care services. In juvenile justice, ACS manages and funds services including detention and placement, intensive community-based alternatives for youth, and support services for families.

The Division of Youth and Family Justice (DYFJ)/Detention Services is a 24/7 operation responsible for oversight and management of secure detention services for juveniles awaiting disposition in family and supreme courts. Under administrative direction, the Director of Programs, Crossroads will work within ACS' detention continuum to effectively manage the day-to-day operation of enrichment, prosocial, vocational, and workforce programming for juvenile delinquents, juvenile offenders, and adolescent offenders remanded to and/or placed in the care and/or custody of ACS in an assigned secure detention facility.

Specific duties include, but are not limited to:

• Directly manage, coordinate, and lead the day-to-day implementation and facilitation of day-to-day programing within a juvenile detention facility for youth including recreational and educational activities and workshops, youth and family-focused events, scheduling and logistical coordination with contracted vendors, partners, and external volunteers, development of internships, support with after-school activities and the maintenance of the youth behavior management system.

• Together with Program leadership, manage the coordination, scheduling, and other logistical implementation of comprehensive program delivery models in secure detention in compliance with applicable regulatory requirements, policies and internal controls.

• Oversee a unit of Program staff by managing the recruitment, hiring, direction, orientation, in-service training, supervision and coaching of area program supervisors and line staff as well as related staff professional development.

• Convene and facilitate daily, weekly, and ad-hoc stakeholder meetings to ensure programs are afforded in a comprehensive, integrated, and youth-centered manner across ACS' secure detention facilities and to mitigate operational issues related to coverage, facility coordination and movement of youth.

• Maintain collaborative and ongoing relationships with the Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD), Department of Education (DOE), other public agencies and external partners to maintain current programing and bring in new and innovative projects in the areas of recreation, enhanced adolescent programming, social emotional learning, workforce development and religious services.

• Ensure programming unit representation at detention, milieu-based meetings and conferences to support the planning, development and coordination of care and behavior plans and discharge recommendations for youth.

• Ensure the data collection and data entry pertaining to the delivery and completion of all detention facility-based programming, as well as reports and other documentation requested by DYFJ administration and public partners and funding sources.

• Together with DYFJ leadership staff, develop, evaluate, and refine data metrics and outcomes for program operations, and maintain ongoing data tracking that informs the identification of program trends, youth resident engagement, youth needs, strengths and interests, as well as the development of related protocols, procedures, and policies.

• Together with Facility leadership, coordinate and/or facilitate area related visits and tours by oversight bodies and elected officials.

Note: Candidate must be willing to work one day in the weekend each week, travel and attend meetings and events across ACS' secure detention facilities as well as work evenings (as needed).

Minimum Qualifications

1.A master's degree in social work from an accredited school of social work and four years of full-time, paid professional experience in a child care institution or in group work with children in a child care setting, including two years in an administrative capacity; or

2.A master's degree from an accredited college in sociology, psychology, education, public administration or a closely related field, and five years of full-time paid professional experience as described in "1" above including two years in an administrative capacity; or

3.Education and/or experience equivalent to "1" or "2" above. However, all candidates must have two years of administrative experience in a child care setting.

Preferred Skills

The preferred candidate should possess the following: - Two (2) or more years' experience in direct service programming.

• Experience developing and overseeing programs for adolescents.

• Experience with recreational activities for adolescents and older youth.

• Working knowledge of supervision and coaching.

• Experience in and/or knowledge of the juvenile justice system.

• Understanding of the functions and operations of a juvenile detention facility.

• Ability to conceptualize process, develop and implement projects in a timely manner.

• Ability to work as part of a team, as well as independently to achieve necessary results.

• Flexibility and the ability to work and produce in a fast-paced environment.

• Experience navigating City and State databases.

• Excellent oral and written communication skills.

55a Program

This position is also open to qualified persons with a disability who are eligible for the 55-a Program. Please indicate at the top of your resume and cover letter that you would like to be considered for the position through the 55-a Program.

Residency Requirement

New York City residency is generally required within 90 days of appointment. However, City Employees in certain titles who have worked for the City for 2 continuous years may also be eligible to reside in Nassau, Suffolk, Putnam, Westchester, Rockland, or Orange County. To determine if the residency requirement applies to you, please discuss with the agency representative at the time of interview.

Additional Information

The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.