About Upbring 

At Upbring, we are servants on a mission to break the cycle of child abuse. We are warriors, brave as the thousands of Texas Children and families we serve. We stand up for those who can’t speak for themselves. We are a family who values innovation, empathy, patience, understanding and trustworthiness.

About our Children's Shelters

Many children begin life in the face of serious challenges. Instead of playing pretend and imagining grand adventures, unaccompanied children face perilous conditions alone as they travel to unfamiliar countries, leaving home and loved ones behind to escape war and violence. Our children’s centers, operated through a grant from the Office of Refugee and Resettlement (ORR), provide safety, stability and wraparound services. We help children grow into adults who have received love and kindness, instead of only violence and chaos.

What You'll Do

The Senior Program Director is responsible for establishing and directing all aspects of daily program activities and services to meet the social, emotional, physical, psychological, and mental health well-being of the Unaccompanied Children (UC) for the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR). The Senior Program Director is responsible for regularly exercising discretion and sound judgment when directing, supervising, and overseeing the social service activities in accordance with Agency and state licensing standards and other federal, state, and local regulatory requirements.

Our Upbring staff members are servant-leaders in the pursuit of breaking the cycle of child abuse and empowering others to do the same through example while embodying our core values: We are Warriors. We are Servants. We are Family.

We Are Warriors | We Set the Standards for Child Welfare

Work Standards 

• Provide daily oversight and leadership of all program services and activities required to meet Agency, state, state licensing standards, funding source (ORR) requirements, CARF Accreditation, and other regulatory policies
• Ensure staff adheres to procedures and practices to maintain resident confidentiality
• Regularly review the well-being and safety of the residents, responsible for review and reporting of the nature, severity, and frequency of risks
• Monitor, review, and make recommendations for program activity improvements to ensure individual and group activities are developed and implemented to meet resident needs determined by their Individual Service Plan (ISP)
• Provide support and intervention in crisis situations using established Agency policies and resident care philosophy
• Maintain an active presence throughout the facility to ensure Agency policies, resident needs, ORR and state licensing standards are being met
• Monitor service delivery and make recommendations for improvement
• Ensures all policies, procedures, and practices follow established ORR regulations and state licensing standards
• Maintain an appropriate staffing level to ensure the needs of the youth, ratio standards, and ensure that program goals are met
• Other duties as assigned
• Travel required

Communication  

• Ensure regular and ongoing communication is delivered to staff related to program goals, services, and issues related to treatment, including but not limited to changes and updates
• Oversee the accurate and timely completion of incident reports, facilitate regular and ongoing incident review meetings on a program level and participate in program-wide(facility-wide) safety review committee
• Oversee and monitor case records and files and other forms of documentation to ensure all internal and external reporting standards and requirements are met; ensure all program staff is aware and adheres to the proper documentation procedures for case records and files and other forms of documentation

• Complete weekly, monthly, quarterly, and year-end reports to meet both internal and external program requirements in a timely manner
• Create the “administrator on-call” (AOC) rotation schedule

Fiscal Management

• Oversee program costs and expenditures and ensure they are in alignment with budget allowances
• Using statistical data provide monthly, quarterly, and yearly reports relating to program operations and service delivery costs and the return on investment in terms of the UC preparedness and emotional, mental, and physical well-being

We Are Servants | We Help Others

Adaptability

• Provide support and intervention in crisis situations using established Agency policies and resident care philosophy
• Actively participate in the safe and orderly evacuation of UC and staff during an emergency drill and mandated disaster; serve as a member of the management team assisting with evacuation of UC and staff
• Create and actively participate in the on-call rotation schedule; perform duties to meet ratio requirements

Teamwork

• Work closely with the Associate Executive Director in developing and enforcing policies and procedures in accordance with Agency and licensing standards and contract and funding requirements
• Work in collaboration with interdisciplinary and treatment teams to develop, implement, and evaluate UC behavior and treatment plans

• Assist in the preparation of program audits, assuring adherence to Agency and licensing standards and contractual and funding agreements
• Assist with the collaborative efforts and activities with the interdisciplinary and treatment teams to ensure all UC are receiving the quality of services needed to meet their individual treatment and behavior plans

• Build and maintain cooperative working relationships with management, program staff, inter-disciplinary teams, volunteers, and service providers to ensure the needs of the UC and program goals and services are being met at the highest quality

• Serve as a member of the “administrator on-call” (AOC) team

We Are Family | We Are Passionate & Compassionate

Building Relationships

• Assist with the collaborative efforts and activities with the interdisciplinary and treatment teams to ensure all UC are receiving the quality of services needed to meet their individual treatment and behavior plans
• Build and maintain cooperative working relationships with management, program staff, inter-disciplinary teams, volunteers, and service providers to ensure the needs of the UC and program goals and services are being met at the highest quality
• Work as a team player and exhibit professional behavior and a positive attitude with both internal and external clients that reflects positively on the Agency and is consistent with Agency policies and procedures
• Actively participate in exhibiting cultural awareness and sensitivity when interacting with children, parent(s)/guardian(s), staff, and the community

Developing and Encouraging Others

• Coach and support staff to ensure they have the necessary tools and resources needed to optimize performance, ensure established program goals, and achieve operational excellence.
• Communicate with direct reports in periodic one-on-one meetings
• Organize and deliver regularly scheduled staff meetings to communicate present, on-going, and future updates of pertinent information, projects, and initiatives
• Work closely with management team to interview, hire, and onboard new employees who are strong cultural fits for Upbring
• Work in collaboration with leadership and the Organizational Development and Culture Team to arrange training; when needed, coordinate and/or provide in-service training for staff development
• Regularly review employee performance, including goals and progress, to provide developmental feedback: use applicable agency development tools to facilitate growth and development in staff
• Draft and issue the 30-day, 60-day, 90-day, and annual evaluations, along with supporting documentation, as per established procedures; work in collaboration with staff to set goals during evaluation periods

Minimum Qualifications

• Must be 21 years of age or older per licensing requirements
• Bilingual (Spanish preferred due to service area and service population)
• Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Counseling, Psychology, or closely related field
• Possess the Licensed Child Care Administrator (LCCA) license, or be eligible to obtain within six (6) months of hire
• 2 years’ experience of full-time childcare or related work experience
• 3 years’ experience in program development and management including implementing the operation’s program(s)
• 2 years’ supervisory or management experience in a residential childcare setting
• Strong leadership and management skills with the ability to engage, motivate, and empower staff and promote a positive working environment
• Strong people and interpersonal skills with the ability to work with very diverse groups of people
• Strong organizational and time management skills with the ability to manage multiple tasks, and requests simultaneously
• Demonstrated ability to clearly write case notes without grammatical errors, strong writing skills
• Strong verbal communication skills with the effective use of tone and chose of words
• Ability to de-escalate situations with calmness, professionalism, sensitivity, and within ethical boundaries always
• Demonstrated ability to establish trust and a positive rapport with service population
• Proficient use of Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Social Work, Counseling, Psychology, or closely related field
• LCSW, LMSW, LPC, or LMFT
• 5 years’ experience in program development and management
• Advanced knowledge of minimum standards of Office of Refugee and Resettlement

Perks at Upbring

• Competitive PTO & paid holidays 
• Health, dental, vision insurance & more! 
• 403(b) Plan
• Employee Assistance Program
• 24/7 access to telemedicine and counseling services 
• Discounted Gym Memberships 

Physical Demands & Work Conditions

• This position requires sitting and looking and using a computer for long periods of time
• Position works in a child facility and has constant exposure to children
• Lift, push, pull, move up to 25

The physical requirements for this position with or without reasonable accommodation are representative of those that must be met by an employee to perform the essential functions of this position successfully. While performing this position the employee with or without reasonable accommodation should have the ability to walk, stand, sit, kneel, speak, and hear with aid, see, read, reach with arms and hands, lift and/or move up to specified weight, and use equipment that is essential to performing the job, such as a computer, copier, fax machine, telephone, and automobile, if applicable. Specific vision requirements of this position may include color vision, seeing things close up, and the ability to adjust focus.

Diversity. Equity. Inclusion. Belonging 

We are a diverse and inclusive Organization that recognizes our strength is in the efforts of our selfless warriors. Honoring and recognizing the value and dignity of all individuals is the cornerstone of our agency. The more diverse the individuals, thought processes and lived experiences, the greater the opportunity is to combine unique perspectives to make a greater impact. Our trust, respect, and appreciation for one another is demonstrated through our communication, celebration of progress and relentless effort to be at our best TO FULLFILL OUR MISSION OF BREAKING THE CYCLE OF CHILD ABUSE.

Upbring is an Equal Employment Opportunity/AA Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ancestry, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender expression, gender identity, pregnancy, marital status, national origin, genetic information, physical or mental disability, military or veteran status.