Program Manager – Behavioral Residential Services

BrightPath • Apple Valley, MN

4d • Onsite

About The Position

BrightPath is hiring a Program Manager for a two-person high-acuity residential home in Apple Valley supporting an adolescent and an adult with complex behavioral and mental health needs. This is a single-site role where you will lead one house, one team, and the support for two people. This is not a standard 245D Program Manager role. The individuals at this site have documented behavior support plans, trauma histories, and emotional regulation needs that require structured intervention and real clinical oversight. The support structure is designed to reflect this, with clinical infrastructure and a leadership team that solves problems together. The home is a split-entry home in a quiet neighborhood, licensed for two female individuals (ages 14+ and 18+). It features two living rooms, a full bath on the main floor, a ¾ bath in the basement, and a staff/direct care office on the main floor. The atmosphere is lively with music, dancing, and engagement, supported by structured routines for predictability and emotional stability. The individuals supported present with mental health needs, behavioral challenges, emotional regulation difficulties, and trauma-related responses, including verbal escalation, physical agitation, difficulty with transitions, self-injurious behavior, and physical aggression. Staffing is 1:1 or 2:1 depending on supervision requirements and behavior support plans. The team is trained in mental health support, trauma-informed care, behavioral intervention and de-escalation, person-centered planning, and crisis prevention. The role focuses on protecting the positive aspects of the home environment and ensuring safety during challenging times.

Requirements

• Must meet one of the 245D Designated Coordinator qualification pathways under MN Stat. § 245D.081 Subd. 2: Bachelor's degree in a human services field + 1 year of direct care experience with persons with disabilities or persons age 65+, OR Associate's degree in a human services field + 2 years of direct care experience, OR Diploma in a human services field from an accredited postsecondary institution + 3 years of direct care experience, OR A minimum of 50 hours of education and training related to human services and disabilities, plus relevant direct care experience, OR 4 years of direct care experience working with persons with disabilities or persons age 65+ under the supervision of a staff person who meets the qualifications above
• Demonstrated ability to implement and adjust behavior support plans authored or signed off by a Clinical Director
• Trauma-informed practice and de-escalation skill you can teach, not just perform
• Strong written and oral communication; comfortable with county case managers, guardians, families, and external providers
• Demonstrated ability to coach Behavior Technicians through high-acuity behavioral situations in the moment
• Financial literacy: reads site scorecards, understands utilization, and can manage labor ratio at the site level
• Passion for the BrightPath mission and the values we represent

Nice To Haves

• Strong candidates without a four-year degree are encouraged to apply if they meet one of the statutory pathways and can demonstrate documented experience implementing behavior support plans, supervising staff in a residential setting, and managing 245D documentation.
• Bachelor's or Master's in Social Work, Psychology, Behavioral Science, Special Education, or related field
• Progress toward BCBA, BCaBA, LSW, or LICSW credentialing
• 5+ years of progressive supervisory experience in 245D-licensed services
• Experience supporting adolescents and young adults in a residential setting, including work with school districts and guardians
• Experience supporting persons served with co-occurring mental health diagnoses, trauma histories, and significant emotional dysregulation
• Experience with county lead agencies and DD/CADI case management coordination
• Working knowledge of MN DHS 245D regulations, the Positive Support Rule, and behavior support plan documentation standards

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day operations — staffing, scheduling, person-served supports, household operations
• Maintain the site staffing schedule; approve overtime in coordination with the Residential Operations Manager and centralized scheduling support
• Conduct daily walk-throughs; respond to person-served and staff issues in real time
• Hold the evening block, which is when transitions, escalations, and community outings concentrate
• Maintain on-call availability for after-hours incidents and emergencies
• Implement behavior support plans
• Track interfering behaviors and intervention outcomes; provide data and recommendations to the Clinical Director for plan updates
• Train Behavior Technicians on plan implementation, including elopement and transition protocols
• Identify training gaps and emerging assessed needs and raise them to Operations for resource development
• Document staff competency assessments per 245D.09
• Serve as the 245D Designated Coordinator for the site
• Oversee implementation of person-centered support plans and outcomes
• Ensure direct observation of service delivery sufficient to assess staff competency
• Evaluate the effectiveness of service delivery, methodologies, and progress on outcomes for each person served
• Coordinate supports that meet the distinct needs of a minor and an adult living in the same home, including differences in schooling, guardianship, programming, and community access
• Partner with school teams, guardians, and county case managers on the adolescent side
• Support planning for child-to-adult service transitions, in coordination with Operations
• Maintain documentation supporting funding and rate exception applications or renewals where applicable
• Track length of stay and service outcomes for each person served
• Maintain communication with county case managers and lead agencies
• Ensure all site-level documentation meets DHS 245D and Positive Support Rule standards
• Lead site-level preparation for DHS and county licensing reviews and internal audits, supported by the Compliance function
• Review incident reports and related documentation (EUMR forms, BIRF, CPS/MAARC reports, Ombudsman) within 24 hours; escalate per BrightPath protocol
• Maintain records for each person served per 245D documentation requirements
• Recruit, onboard, and develop Behavior Technicians supported by HR and centralized recruiting
• Conduct regular 1:1s and Quarterly Conversations with direct reports per BrightPath leadership rhythm
• Build site-level retention and development pathways
• Participate in residential leadership team meetings (weekly EOS Level 10 / IDS rhythm)
• Collaborate with the Crisis Program Manager on transitions of persons served moving from crisis stabilization to long-term residential
• Maintain communication with families, guardians, case managers, and external providers

Benefits

• Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangement (ICHRA) for healthcare. Some ICHRA-compatible plans allow for HSA and/or FSA contributions
• Dental and vision insurance through Mutual of Omaha
• 401(k) with 3.5% company match
• Paid time off
• Employee Assistance Program
• Ongoing professional development opportunities
• Employee recognition programs
• Team-building events
• Paid holidays
• Flexible scheduling options (when possible)

What This Job Offers

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