Assistant Program Director - Clover Hall

Lantern Community Services Inc • New York, NY

1d • $75,000 - $85,000 • Onsite

About The Position

Lantern Community Services is seeking a dynamic and engaging Assistant Program Director (APD) to partner with the Program Director in overall program management. This role requires experience in mental health service delivery with formerly homeless individuals and/or clients impacted by chronic medical conditions, substance use, and criminal justice involvement. The APD will provide direct supervision to the case management team, ensure services meet regulatory and agency standards through supervision, reporting, and chart review, and leverage strong administrative, communication, and system-navigation skills to ensure high-quality program operations. This role also helps build a high-performing, learning-focused team and leads the integration of diversity, equity, belonging, inclusion, and justice into program culture. In the absence of the Program Director, this position may require availability outside of the standard workday, and as such must be ready and available at times to direct and support staff either by phone or in person if needed during the evenings, weekends, and holidays.

Requirements

• MSW or MHC from an accredited school is required (license is required within one year of employment); LMSW/LMHC is preferred.
• Minimum of one year of supervisory experience in a social services.
• Minimum three years of post-Master’s experience working in the field of social service, housing or emergency shelter.
• Supervisory, administrative, and/or management experience.
• Must possess strong clinical and interpersonal skills; be able to work effectively as part of a team and have the ability to make sound assessments of tenants’ strengths and needs.
• Comfort working within a harm reduction model with individuals actively struggling with ongoing substance use.
• Must have initiative, exercise good judgement, able to manage competing priorities, and able to work independently with high standards of integrity, as well as demonstrated competence in working collaboratively with others.
• Experience utilizing database to document and report work with clients and staff.
• Strong writing, communication, and organizational skills.
• Experience integrating values of diversity, equity, belonging, inclusion, and justice as part of program culture.

Nice To Haves

• Knowledge of HIV/AIDS, mental health, substance use or the chronically homeless population.
• LMSW, LCSW or LMHC is preferred
• Experience working with DOHMH, HASA, OMH, DHS contract managers and knowledge of funders’ regulations, scopes of services, and standards.
• Experience working with evidence-based models such as Motivational Interviewing is preferred.
• Supervisory, administrative, and/or management experience specifically in a social service, supportive housing, and/or shelter setting.

Responsibilities

• Provide clinical supervision and coaching to the case management staff.
• Promote strategies that support learning and professional development.
• Review and approve documentation completed by the case management team and ensure high standards of care and high quality service delivery.
• Conduct internal chart reviews in collaboration with the Program Director.
• Review dashboards and monthly reports with staff to track outcomes.
• Participate in interviews with prospective clients and assess clients’ needs for safe transition to a supportive housing setting.
• Provide clinical supervision in the development of treatment plans and in assessing for safety planning with Case Managers.
• Identify community resources, facilitate referrals, and serve as a liaison with various care coordination agencies, health and mental health providers, substance use programs and employment providers to secure services.
• Develop supervision plans and accountability systems that manage reporting requirements and service standards.
• Ensure staff utilize a harm reduction approach to support residents around issues of substance use.
• Support staff in actively engaging residents through regular apartment visits, community outings, and escorts to appointments as needed.
• Develop and implement groups and programming that are appropriate for the residents’ needs and fosters a supportive and inclusive community.
• Collaborate with the Leasing and Compliance team to ensure housing stability; Assist in financial planning and budgeting to assist clients in meeting their financial needs and rental obligations.
• Assists the Program Director with hiring and training new staff, as well as managing the progressive disciplinary process in collaboration with Human Resources.
• Actively participates in staff meetings, clinical meetings, and community meetings with clients.
• Support staff in developing safety plans for residents, respond to and de-escalate crises as needed.
• Prepare, review, and manage follow-up of incident reports, as well as appropriate incident reporting to funders.
• Provide overall day to day program management in collaboration with, and in the absence of, the Program Director.
• Complete required reports as assigned.

Benefits

• Lantern staff may be asked to change work schedule and hours depending on the operational needs of the site and the agency.
• Lantern was also recognized as a Top 2025 Workplace by City & State New York—a great place to do meaningful work with people who care!

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level