Sr. Manager, Transportation, PAL & LPS

DePelchin Children’s Center•Houston, TX

12d•Onsite

About The Position

The Sr. Manager of Transportation, Preparation for Adult Living (PAL), and Local Permanency Services (LPS) provides strategic leadership and operational oversight through a hope-centered, strengths-based approach that promotes safety, belonging, stability, and permanency for children, youth, young adults, and families. The position supervises program leadership and ensures services are delivered safely, timely, consistently, and in compliance with agency policies, contractual requirements, and applicable state and federal regulations while supporting resilience and meaningful connections within the SSCC network. The role oversees Transportation, PAL, and LPS program operations and staff; monitors service quality, outcomes, compliance, staffing, workloads, and resource needs; and provides management-level consultation on complex cases and escalations. It also builds partnerships with families, caregivers, providers, DFPS, courts, schools, medical professionals, community organizations, and other child-welfare partners. The position participates in program planning, contract monitoring, budget and resource planning, reporting, and continuous improvement. The position is office-based in Regions 6a and/or 6b, with specific work locations to be assigned. The schedule is Monday through Friday during standard business hours, and frequent travel is required. Reliable transportation is required.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required; relevant experience may be considered in lieu of the education requirement.
At least five years of experience in the child welfare field, including PAL, LPS, foster care, conservatorship, or Family-Based Services.
At least three years of supervisory or management experience leading staff, overseeing case workers, or managing supervisory units.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to work with diverse individuals.
Strong organizational, planning, prioritization, and attention-to-detail skills, with the ability to manage multiple programs, responsibilities, and deadlines.
Strong critical-thinking, assessment, and problem-solving skills.
Ability to work independently while fostering collaboration across departments.
Proficiency with Microsoft Windows, web-based applications, case management systems, and online research and search tools.
Ability to maintain strict confidentiality and appropriately safeguard client and agency information.
Strong leadership, coaching, and team-building skills, including the ability to foster hope-centered practices, recognize strengths, and guide staff toward practical pathways to improved outcomes.
Reliable transportation required.
Frequent travel is required.

Responsibilities

Provide leadership, direction, and oversight for Transportation, Preparation for Adult Living (PAL), and Local Permanency Services (LPS), including supervision and development of program staff.
Plan, direct, and evaluate program operations to meet service-delivery expectations, performance measures, contractual obligations, and organizational goals.
Establish and maintain procedures, workflows, performance expectations, and accountability measures across assigned programs.
Monitor staffing, workloads, service demands, and resource needs, including transportation and visitation assignments, PAL services, and out-of-region placement responsibilities.
Select, develop, coach, and evaluate staff through supervision, performance management, case consultation, data review, and corrective action as appropriate.
Evaluate program quality and effectiveness through case reviews, documentation audits, operational reports, performance data, stakeholder feedback, and observation of service delivery.
Ensure Transportation services provide safe, timely, and appropriate transportation for children, youth, young adults, and families to authorized appointments, placements, visits, and activities.
Oversee PAL implementation so eligible youth and young adults receive developmentally appropriate guidance, life-skills development, transitional support, and opportunities that prepare them for adulthood.
Monitor PAL service delivery and contractual requirements and partner with contract-management staff to address provider performance, service needs, and compliance concerns.
Oversee follow-up and support services for eligible youth and young adults transitioning from foster care and support regional and statewide youth conferences, experiential learning opportunities, and other PAL activities.
Ensure LPS services meet requirements for children and youth placed outside their region of legal jurisdiction, including required monthly visits and assessment of placement safety, stability, and well-being.
Ensure LPS staff respond appropriately to placement concerns and crises and collaborate with primary conservatorship caseworkers and other partners to support permanency, healing, placement stability, and lifelong connections.
Provide consultation and direction on complex cases, safety concerns, placement issues, service barriers, program escalations, and other matters requiring management-level intervention.
Interpret, implement, and communicate applicable policies, procedures, standards, contractual requirements, and program expectations to staff and stakeholders.
Develop and maintain partnerships with children, youth, young adults, families, caregivers, providers, contractors, DFPS, courts, schools, medical professionals, community organizations, and other child-welfare partners.
Analyze program data and outcomes to identify trends, compliance concerns, service gaps, risks, and resource needs, and develop or oversee corrective and continuous-improvement strategies.
Prepare and present program reports, performance updates, recommendations, and other information to organizational leadership and internal and external stakeholders.
Participate in budget planning, resource allocation, contract monitoring, program development, and strategic planning for assigned service areas.
Lead and participate in multidisciplinary meetings, program reviews, staff meetings, stakeholder discussions, and organizational initiatives to strengthen coordination and outcomes for children, youth, young adults, and families.