Assistant Director, Programs, Safe Options Support (SOS), The Rockaways

Breaking Ground•Queens, NY

About The Position

The Assistant Director, Programs, Safe Options Support (SOS), oversees the SOS contract serving The Rockaways. Using Critical Time Intervention (CTI), Harm Reduction, Recovery Orientation, Motivational Interviewing, and Peer Support, the Assistant Director leads a time-limited street-homelessness intervention program that supports clients moving from homelessness to housing. The role supervises Clinical Coordinators and a Community Health Specialist, manages daily outreach activities and operations, and partners with a registered nurse, Street to Home programs, external outreach providers, city agencies, and community stakeholders. The Assistant Director supports Harm Reduction, Housing First, and other best-practice clinical interventions; informs program decisions; implements policies and procedures; and facilitates effective communication. The position works primarily during business hours, Monday through Friday, with availability outside those hours for emergencies or special projects and initiatives. It oversees 24/7 operations and requires flexibility in the work schedule as needed.

Requirements

NYS Licensed Masters Social Worker (LMSW).
At least 2 years of supervisory experience.
Thorough clinical understanding of relevant service delivery concepts and structures, including Housing First, client-centered Motivational Interviewing, Harm Reduction models, and behavioral and medical health systems.
Ability to access and negotiate the full range of services for recipients.
Experience with crisis intervention, including risk assessments and incident management.
Ability to work successfully with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders.
Demonstrated success working in a fast-paced environment with multiple priorities.
Ability to delegate and motivate staff to achieve deliverables.
Ability to communicate verbally and in writing with diverse populations and stakeholders.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office programs, including Word, Excel, Outlook, and Microsoft Teams.
Familiarity with Access-based databases and ability to learn new programs.

Nice To Haves

Valid NY, NJ, CT, or PA driver’s license with a good driving record, as defined by Breaking Ground.
Bilingual Spanish/English.

Responsibilities

Manage daily SOS program components, including outreach and housing placement activities, special operations, and joint initiatives with city agencies and other stakeholders.
Use outreach and engagement strategies to identify where people are staying on the street, especially around transit hubs, and provide services to support them.
Supervise Clinical Coordinators and the Community Health Specialist.
Provide regular, structured supervision meetings.
Support best-practice interventions and high-quality service delivery for people experiencing street homelessness, collaborating with the on-site psychiatric and street medicine team and providing crisis intervention, including 958 removals and risk assessments.
Promote effective outreach, case management, and client placement strategies using Housing First, Harm Reduction, CTI, Motivational Interviewing, and trauma-informed care models.
Guide frontline staff in managing difficult situations and de-escalating conflict.
Guide incident management, crisis interventions, and risk assessments, and ensure documentation is submitted to appropriate oversight entities in a timely manner.
With direction from the Director, engage external partners—including service partners, government representatives, community stakeholders, hospital personnel, and other agencies—to support responsive service planning and program operations.
Perform other duties as assigned.