Location: Michigan (Statewide)
Starting Salary: $51,584 annually
Are you a driven leader with a passion for helping children and families thrive? Join our team as the Program Manager of Recruitment & Retention (Foster Homes) and play a critical role in ensuring every child has access to a safe, stable, and supportive home.
In this leadership role, you will guide statewide foster home recruitment efforts, strengthen community partnerships, and build innovative strategies to attract and retain a diverse network of foster families across Michigan.
The Program Manager of Recruitment & Retention provides leadership, coordination, and oversight of foster home recruitment and community engagement efforts. You will lead strategy, supervise staff, manage the recruitment pipeline, and use data-driven insights to continuously improve outcomes.
Your work will directly impact the availability of foster homes—and ultimately, the futures of children in care.
Leadership & Supervision
- Provide direct supervision, coaching, and performance management for recruitment and community engagement staff
- Set clear expectations, prioritize work, and support ongoing professional development
- Ensure consistent implementation of recruitment processes, workflows, and documentation standards
Recruitment Strategy & Community Engagement
- Develop and execute comprehensive statewide recruitment and retention strategies aligned with placement needs
- Lead targeted outreach for priority populations, including sibling groups, older youth, and youth with specialized needs
- Build and maintain partnerships with community organizations, faith-based groups, schools, and local stakeholders
- Represent the organization at community events, forums, and informational sessions (including evenings/weekends as needed)
- Collaborate with marketing and communications teams to strengthen outreach campaigns and messaging
Inquiry Management & Recruitment Pipeline
- Oversee and improve inquiry response processes to ensure timely engagement and high conversion rates
- Partner closely with licensing teams to streamline the journey from inquiry to licensure
- Identify and remove barriers within the recruitment pipeline
- Promote a high-quality, responsive experience for prospective foster families
Data, Quality & Continuous Improvement
- Track, analyze, and report recruitment and retention metrics
- Use data to guide decisions, improve processes, and drive measurable outcomes
- Identify trends and implement quality improvement strategies
- Ensure compliance with policy, regulatory standards, and program expectations
Success in this role will be measured by:
- Growth in licensed and active foster homes
- Strong recruitment pipeline conversion rates
- Timely and high-quality inquiry follow-up
- Increased diversity of foster families aligned with child needs
- Staff performance and team impact
- Build meaningful relationships with prospective foster families and community partners
- Collaborate cross-functionally with foster care leadership, licensing, case management, marketing, compliance, and operations teams
Education
- Bachelor’s degree in Human Services, Psychology, or a related field (required)
- Master’s degree in Social Work or related field (preferred)
Experience
- Background in child welfare, foster care, family services, recruitment, outreach, or community engagement (required)
- Previous supervisory or team leadership experience preferred
Skills & Knowledge
- Strong leadership, coaching, and team development abilities
- Strategic thinking with experience in recruitment planning and execution
- Excellent communication, public speaking, and relationship-building skills
- Data-driven mindset with a focus on continuous improvement
- Understanding of foster care systems and trauma-informed, culturally responsive practices
- Strong organizational skills and attention to follow-through
- Combination of office-based and community-based work across Michigan
- Frequent travel required; valid driver’s license and acceptable driving record needed
- Flexible schedule, including evenings and weekends for recruitment events
- Regular presentations and community engagement activities
Make a direct, lasting impact on children and families
Lead innovative, statewide recruitment initiatives
Work in a collaborative, mission-driven environment
Grow your leadership and strategic influence
If you're ready to lead with purpose and help ensure every child has the opportunity for a safe and supportive home, we encourage you to apply.
Together, we can build brighter futures.
#socialwork #humanservices #fostercare #michiganjobs #childwelfare
