Transitional Housing Program Development Consultant

Field Institute•Bakersfield, CA

About The Position

The Transitional Housing Program Development Consultant will serve as an independent contractor responsible for designing, establishing, and supporting the launch of FIELD’s transitional housing program for young adults at the South Union campus, consisting of 16 dorm units. This engagement is project-based and time-limited, focused on developing program infrastructure, policies, compliance systems, and implementation plans necessary to move the program into full operational readiness. The Consultant will work closely with President/CEO on developing creating and providing subject matter expertise to ensure program models meet regulatory standards, align with grant and contract obligations, and follow best practices for service delivery and client outcomes. This role does not include direct supervision of staff or responsibility for daily program operations once the startup phase is complete. All work is deliverable-driven and outcome-focused to leave FIELD with fully developed, staff-ready systems.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree required.
Minimum 5 years of leadership or consulting experience in program development, organizational operations, or nonprofit management.
At least 3 years of direct service experience with low-income or at-risk populations, including homeless or transitional-age youth populations.
Demonstrated history of successfully launching or scaling social service or housing programs.
Proven knowledge of federal, state, and foundation housing compliance and reporting requirements.
Experience developing case management systems, outcome measurement frameworks, and performance reporting tools.
Ability to design life skills, employment readiness, and therapeutic group program models.
Fluent English required.

Nice To Haves

Master’s Degree in Social Work, Psychology, Counseling, or related field preferred; licensure (MFT, LCSW) a plus.
Familiarity with transitional housing property management standards preferred.

Responsibilities

Design and develop the full program framework, including operational policies, procedures, manuals, and housing program workflows.
Create standardized administrative tools including intake forms, case management templates, compliance checklists, safety protocols, and reporting instruments.
Develop staffing workflow models, training curricula, and onboarding guides for future in-house program staff.
Provide technical guidance on operational startup planning, facility readiness coordination, and compliance readiness.
Support FIELD leadership with fundraising and grant-writing narratives related to transitional housing program development.
Review executed awards and contracts and translate compliance requirements into operational procedures and monitoring systems.
Develop budget tracking templates and compliance monitoring frameworks.
Design outcome measurement systems and reporting protocols aligned with funder requirements.
Draft and submit outcome summary reports to FIELD leadership during the consulting engagement period.
Provide technical support for the preparation of Annual Performance Reports (APRs) and other contract deliverables.
Participate in community or governmental meetings when requested as a program development representative.
Develop a trauma-informed case management service model including assessment tools, Individual Service Plan (ISP) templates, referral systems, and documentation standards.
Design life skills, workforce readiness, and therapeutic group program curricula for use by program staff.
Identify and establish frameworks for community partnerships to enhance resident services (housing navigation, behavioral health, healthcare, education, etc.).
Develop volunteer screening criteria, guidelines, and engagement protocols.
Ensure all services align with evidence-based housing stabilization practices for young adult populations.
Create resident accountability systems and documentation including incident reporting policies, progressive discipline standards, appeals processes, and termination procedures.
Draft special conditions contract templates for residents requiring behavioral intervention plans.
Provide training modules and coaching guidance for future staff working with clients experiencing complex needs or crisis situations.
Design resident application and eligibility processes.
Establish tenant file documentation standards compliant with funder and regulatory expectations.
Develop residence inspection, safety audit, maintenance tracking, and room-readiness protocols.
Provide advisory coordination with FIELD leadership on facility readiness and preventive maintenance planning.
Provide recommendations for continuous quality improvement (CQI) frameworks and evaluation tools.
Develop comprehensive startup plans including timelines, implementation milestones, staffing recommendations, and sustainability strategies.
Deliver final program startup manuals, training toolkits, and operational templates upon contract completion.
Perform related technical assistance tasks mutually agreed upon within the scope of the contract.