Area Director of Family Services

Upbring•McAllen, TX

13d

About The Position

The Area Director provides management and oversight of a branch office within Upbring’s Foster in Texas (FIT) program. This experienced leader manages staff directly and indirectly and provides strategic leadership, operational oversight, and compliance management. The Area Director ensures high standards of child wellbeing by supervising staff, maintaining regulatory compliance, fostering positive stakeholder relationships, and driving continuous improvement in service delivery. The role oversees placement and family recruitment processes, licensing, quality assurance, reporting, budget management, and program development. It also provides leadership and development support to staff, builds relationships with foster families and community partners, and represents Upbring in community settings. The position may require travel up to 10%, home visits, emergency and on-call services, and maintaining a caseload as needed. The position involves extended periods sitting and using a computer, constant exposure to children, and frequent standing and walking. It may require lifting, pushing, pulling, or moving up to 25 pounds. Essential functions may be performed with or without reasonable accommodation.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Counseling, Psychology, or a closely related field.
Child Placement Management Staff (CPMS).
Three years of relevant experience in foster care, child welfare, or adoption.
Two years of supervisory or management experience.
Valid Texas driver’s license and auto insurance coverage.
At least 21 years of age.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in Social Work, Counseling, Psychology, or a closely related field.
LCPAA, LMSW, LCSW, LMFT, or LPC credential.
Three years of supervisory or management experience.
Bilingual English and Spanish, based on the service area and service population.

Responsibilities

Monitor and evaluate program services and quality of care to ensure compliance with licensing standards and regulatory requirements.
Oversee placement processes, including intake and eligibility, verification, assessment, and referral services.
Oversee recruitment and verification of in-process families.
Ensure foster care homes meet full licensing requirements.
Oversee quality audits, case reviews, and quality assurance initiatives.
Provide servant leadership, direction, and support to branch office staff.
Improve operational efficiency by implementing best practices and streamlining meetings and workflows.
Prepare monthly program service and activity reports and submit required reporting on time.
Review, approve, and sign monthly and annual status reports, discharge summaries, and incident reports.
Manage the budget within established limits and constraints.
Identify funding opportunities, grants, and partnerships to support program growth.
Advocate for program services and recommend improvements to meet the needs of foster children and their families.
Maintain a caseload as needed.
Travel as needed to conduct home visits and ensure licensing standards and children’s wellbeing and safety.
Provide emergency and on-call services when needed.
Lead collaboration among interdisciplinary and treatment teams, staff, and medical and non-medical providers to ensure children receive services aligned with individual treatment and behavior plans.
Build and maintain relationships with foster families, child wellbeing agencies, and community partners.
Represent Upbring at meetings, conferences, and community events.
Foster a positive and collaborative work environment aligned with Upbring’s mission and values.
Coach and support staff with tools and resources to optimize performance, meet program goals, and achieve operational excellence.
Hold periodic one-on-one meetings with direct reports.
Organize and deliver regular staff meetings to share current, ongoing, and future updates about information, projects, and initiatives.
Work with the management team to interview, hire, and onboard employees who are strong cultural fits for Upbring.
Collaborate with leadership and the People and Culture Team to arrange training and coordinate or provide in-service staff training as needed.
Review employee performance, goals, and progress and provide developmental feedback using agency development tools.
Draft and issue 90-day and annual evaluations with supporting documentation, and work with staff to set goals during evaluation periods.