Assistant Director

We are seeking an enthusiastic, mission-driven, and dedicated Assistant Program Director to join our dynamic Michigan team. The Assistant Program Director will play a pivotal leadership role in supporting statewide program operations, staff development, participant engagement, and service delivery within a youth-focused juvenile justice program. This position is ideal for a professional who possesses strong leadership abilities, exceptional organizational and case coordination skills, and a passion for improving outcomes for at-risk youth and families.

The Assistant Program Director will collaborate closely with Intensive Family Coordinators, advocates, community partners, referral sources, and program leadership to ensure high-quality, strength-based, and trauma-informed services are delivered consistently across Michigan, including rural communities and the Upper Peninsula. The role involves direct engagement with youth involved in the juvenile justice system, their families, and community-based resources to support stabilization, rehabilitation, and successful community integration. This position also supports strategic planning, program development, compliance monitoring, staff supervision, and grant performance expectations to align with organizational and statewide program goals.

Status: Full-Time Salary

FLSA Classification: Exempt

Summary of Position: The Assistant Director is responsible for supporting the Program Director with hiring, onboarding, training, coaching, motivating, and supervising staff while communicating weekly program performance and operational updates. The Assistant Director will work directly with Intensive Family Coordinators and advocates to coordinate and monitor participant service hours, ensuring grant expectations and service delivery requirements are consistently met.

Responsibilities

This role requires active collaboration with youth involved in the juvenile justice system, their families, referral agencies, and community resources to promote individualized care planning, family engagement, crisis stabilization, and positive youth development. Additional responsibilities include:

• Conducting participant intakes, assessments, and staffing coordination
• Managing and monitoring participant service hours to ensure maximum and appropriate levels of weekly services
• Ensuring compliance with all YAP, grant, contractual, and referring authority requirements
• Supporting staff development, performance management, and accountability measures
• Collaborating with community stakeholders, courts, schools, behavioral health providers, and juvenile justice partners
• Assisting with data tracking, documentation oversight, and quality assurance initiatives
• Utilizing strength-based, trauma-informed, culturally competent, and unconditional care approaches in all service delivery
• Supporting crisis intervention, case coordination, and family-centered service planning
• Assisting in statewide implementation and expansion efforts

The grant program supported by this position provides services throughout the entire state of Michigan, including underserved rural regions and the Upper Peninsula. The position requires extensive statewide travel, including trips up to 250 miles each way, to support staff, participants, and community partnerships across multiple service regions.

Knowledge of behavioral health practices, juvenile justice systems, case management, youth advocacy, family systems, community-based programming, and budgetary concepts is highly preferred.

Creativity, flexibility, leadership initiative, and proactive problem-solving are essential to success in this role.

Qualifications/Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree generally preferred.
• Three to five years related experience/training in youth services, juvenile justice, community programs, or program development.
• At least one-year related experience/training in management/supervision.
• Familiar with community resources
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Proficient in Microsoft Office; experience using an Electronic Health Record (EHR) is a plus.
• Reliable transportation, valid driver's license, and current auto insurance coverage is required.
• Bilingual (Spanish) is a plus.

Benefits Available

• Medical/Prescription
• Dental
• Vision
• Short Term Disability
• UNUM Supplemental Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Pet Insurance
• Paid time off.
• Paid Holidays
• 403(b) Retirement Savings Plan.
• State Sick Leave
• Direct Deposit
• Weekly Pay

Youth Advocate Programs, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment based on individual merit, skills, and qualifications, without regard to race, age, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, sex, military or veteran status, or disability or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where YAP operates. YAP will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics.