Program Director (52652)

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Program Director ensures program services are delivered in accordance with grant requirements, applicable federal and state requirements, contractual obligations, WestCare policies and procedures, and established program goals and performance measures. This position provides supervision and leadership to program staff, develops and maintains collaborative relationships with Veteran-serving organizations and community partners, oversees grant performance and reporting, monitors service quality and program outcomes, and ensures appropriate stewardship of grant resources.

The Program Director promotes a Veteran-centered, trauma-informed, recovery-oriented, culturally responsive, and person-centered approach to suicide prevention

 Essential functions include those listed below.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

• Provides overall leadership, direction, and day-to-day management of the program.
• Ensures program services are implemented in accordance with the approved grant application, VA requirements, applicable regulations, contractual obligations, and WestCare policies and procedures.
• Develops, implements, and monitors program procedures, workflows, service-delivery practices, and operational processes.
• Ensures program activities remain consistent with the goals, objectives, scope of services, approved budget, and performance expectations established by the grant.
• Monitors program operations and identifies opportunities to improve efficiency, service quality, participant engagement, and outcomes.

• Ensures appropriate staffing and program coverage to meet service-delivery requirements.
• Provides leadership and direction during programmatic, participant, or operational emergencies.
• Participates in organizational leadership meetings, program meetings, grant meetings, community meetings, and other activities as assigned.
• Maintains effective communication with WestCare leadership regarding program performance, staffing, compliance, challenges, and accomplishments.

Veteran Suicide Prevention Services

• Provides leadership and oversight for community-based suicide prevention services for eligible Veterans, Service Members, and their families.
• Ensures appropriate outreach and engagement strategies are implemented to identify and connect eligible individuals with available services.
• Oversees implementation of required screening, assessment, referral, and follow-up processes within the scope of the program.
• Ensures participants identified as potentially at risk receive timely and appropriate intervention, referral, safety planning, and connection to qualified clinical or emergency resources in accordance with established protocols.
• Ensures staff understand and appropriately implement program procedures related to suicide risk identification, escalation, referral, and follow-up.
• Promotes early intervention and efforts to address factors that may contribute to suicide risk, including behavioral health needs, social isolation, housing instability, financial hardship, employment concerns, access to benefits, and other social determinants of health.
• Ensures program participants are appropriately connected with VA services, community behavioral health providers, social service organizations, and other resources based on individual needs.
• Promotes participant engagement and continuity of services throughout program enrollment.

Staff Supervision and Development

• Interviews, selects, trains, supervises, develops, and evaluates assigned program staff in collaboration with Human Resources and appropriate organizational leadership.
• Provides ongoing supervision, coaching, feedback, and professional development to program staff.
• Establishes clear expectations regarding program performance, documentation, participant services, outreach, productivity, and compliance.
• Conducts regular individual and team meetings to review program operations, participant needs, performance measures, and emerging concerns.
• Monitors staff performance and addresses performance concerns in accordance with WestCare policies and procedures.
• Ensures staff receive appropriate training related to Veteran suicide prevention, trauma-informed care, suicide risk identification, cultural competency, community resources, documentation, confidentiality, and grant requirements.
• Promotes a positive, collaborative, accountable, and professional working environment.
• Supports employee engagement, retention, professional growth, and effective teamwork.
• Ensures adequate staffing and appropriate distribution of program responsibilities.

Community Outreach and Partnerships

• Develops and maintains collaborative relationships with VA facilities, Veteran-serving organizations, behavioral health providers, healthcare systems, community-based organizations, government agencies, social service providers, and other community partners.
• Builds referral networks designed to identify and engage Veterans and other eligible individuals who may not currently be connected to VA or community services.
• Represents WestCare and the SSG Fox SPGP at community meetings, coalitions, outreach events, Veteran events, and other appropriate activities.
• Develops strategies to increase community awareness of available suicide prevention and supportive services.
• Promotes coordination among community partners to reduce barriers to services and improve continuity of care.
• Identifies opportunities for collaboration, cross-referrals, outreach, education, and community engagement.
• Maintains professional and productive relationships with grant partners and stakeholders.

Grant Compliance and Performance Management

• Maintains thorough knowledge of SSG Fox SPGP requirements and ensures ongoing compliance with applicable grant requirements.
• Ensures services, expenditures, staffing, documentation, and program activities remain within the approved scope of the grant.
• Monitors program goals, objectives, deliverables, performance measures, and participant outcomes.
• Ensures required program data is collected accurately, completely, and within established timelines.
• Reviews program records, participant files, reports, and other documentation for accuracy, completeness, and compliance.
• Coordinates preparation and submission of required grant reports, performance reports, program narratives, data reports, and other requested information.
• Maintains documentation necessary to demonstrate program performance and compliance during monitoring, audits, site visits, and grant reviews.
• Participates in VA technical assistance, monitoring activities, site visits, conference calls, trainings, and other grant-related activities.
• Develops and implements corrective action plans when programmatic or compliance deficiencies are identified.
• Communicates significant grant compliance concerns promptly to appropriate organizational leadership.
• Maintains awareness of changes to applicable SSG Fox SPGP guidance, regulations, reporting requirements, and program expectations.

Budget and Fiscal Oversight

• Works collaboratively with organizational leadership and fiscal staff to develop, monitor, and manage the approved program budget.
• Monitors program expenditures to ensure appropriate and allowable use of grant funds.
• Reviews program spending and identifies budget variances or concerns requiring corrective action.
• Ensures purchases, participant assistance, program expenses, and other expenditures comply with applicable grant and organizational requirements.
• Assists with budget modifications, projections, and financial reporting as required.
• Ensures appropriate stewardship and accountability for federal grant resources.
• Maintains sufficient documentation to support program expenditures and grant-funded activities.

Quality Improvement and Documentation

• Participates in and promotes ongoing Quality Improvement activities.
• Conducts or coordinates regular reviews of participant records and program documentation.
• Ensures documentation is timely, accurate, complete, professional, and consistent with applicable program requirements.
• Uses program data, participant outcomes, performance measures, and quality findings to identify opportunities for improvement.
• Develops and implements improvement strategies when performance goals are not being achieved.
• Ensures identified deficiencies are addressed promptly and appropriately.
• Collaborates with Quality Assurance, Compliance, Human Resources, Finance, and organizational leadership as necessary.
• Supports preparation for internal and external audits, reviews, monitoring visits, and program evaluations.

General Responsibilities

• Maintains confidentiality of participant, employee, and organizational information in accordance with applicable requirements.
• Demonstrates sound judgment and maintains professional and ethical standards in all interactions.
• Maintains awareness of community resources available to Veterans and their families.
• Assists other WestCare staff and programs as needed to promote organizational cooperation and effective service delivery.

• Must Embrace and embody the mission, vision, guiding principles, clinical vision, and goals of WestCare Foundation; and
• Perform all other duties as assigned.

ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the duties and responsibilities satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

Experience and Competencies:

• Ability to understand and implement complex grant, regulatory, contractual, and organizational requirements.
• Ability to analyze program data, identify trends, and develop appropriate corrective or improvement strategies.
• Strong leadership and staff-development skills.
• Ability to effectively supervise and manage a multidisciplinary team.
• Strong organizational and project-management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to prepare professional reports, presentations, grant documentation, and correspondence.
• Strong relationship-building and community-engagement skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively with VA representatives, community organizations, healthcare providers, government agencies, and other stakeholders.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment when responding to sensitive, complex, or urgent situations.
• Knowledge of confidentiality, professional ethics, and appropriate boundaries.
• Ability to maintain accurate records and use electronic data-management and reporting systems.
• Ability to use standard office technology, including computers, electronic records systems, Microsoft Office applications, and virtual communication platforms.
• Adherence to the highest standards of professional and ethical conduct required.
• Professional appearance and demeanor.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a criminal history background check.
• CPR Certification, First Aid Certification, and an annual Tuberculosis test.
• Valid driver’s license and the ability to obtain and maintain eligibility for WestCare’s Vehicle Insurance.
• During your tenure with WestCare there may be new requirements, including, but not limited to vaccinations that are issued by local, State, Federal, and/or Funders that WestCare may have to comply with. Should this occur Human Resources or appropriate personnel will inform you.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:

• Minimum three (3) years of progressively responsible experience in behavioral health, social services, Veteran services, suicide prevention, community-based services, public health, or a related field required.
• Previous supervisory, management, or program leadership experience required.
• Experience managing a federal, state, local, or foundation-funded grant program preferred.
• Experience working with Veterans, Service Members, military families, or Veteran-serving organizations strongly preferred.
• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in Social Work, Psychology, Counseling, Human Services, Public Health, Healthcare Administration, Business Administration, Criminal Justice, or a related field preferred. A combination of relevant education and progressively responsible professional experience may be considered in lieu of the Bachelor's degree.

LICENSURE/CERTIFICATION:

• Relevant professional certification or licensure related to behavioral health, social services, public health, Veteran services, or program administration preferred.
• Suicide prevention, suicide risk identification, Mental Health First Aid, or related training preferred and/or may be required following hire.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Work is primarily performed in an office and community-based environment.
• Regular travel throughout the assigned Wisconsin service area is required to support outreach, community partnerships, participant services, meetings, and program activities.
• Travel between WestCare facilities, VA facilities, community partner locations, and outreach sites may be required.
• Position requires regular interaction with Veterans and individuals who may be experiencing behavioral health concerns, emotional distress, significant psychosocial stressors, or suicide risk.
• Some evening or weekend work may be required to support outreach events, community activities, or program needs.