Program Director – Residential Treatment Center (RTC)
Job Type: Full-Time
Position Summary
We are seeking an experienced and highly organized Program Director to provide leadership and oversight of the day-to-day administration, operations, and management of our Residential Treatment Center serving children and adolescents with behavioral, emotional, and treatment needs.
The Program Director will be responsible for ensuring that program operations are organized, properly staffed, compliant, and aligned with Texas HHSC Minimum Standards, DFPS/T3C requirements, applicable contracts, organizational policies, and the facility's Evidence-Informed Treatment Model.
This individual will work closely with facility leadership, the Treatment Director, case management staff, LSOTP staff, nursing and medical staff, therapists, direct-care staff, families, caseworkers, and other members of each resident's treatment team.
Required Qualifications
Candidates should meet at least one of the following qualification pathways:
- Bachelor's degree or higher; OR
- At least five years of experience working in a residential childcare setting, which may substitute for the education requirement.
Candidates must also:
- Demonstrate strong leadership, organizational, communication, and problem-solving abilities.
- Be capable of overseeing multiple program functions and coordinating across administrative, case management, clinical, residential, and support teams.
- Be able to successfully complete all required background checks, screenings, training, and other employment requirements applicable to a Texas residential child-care operation.
Primary Responsibilities
- Provide overall leadership for the administration, operations, and management of facility services.
- Ensure program operations are consistent with Texas HHSC Minimum Standards, DFPS/T3C requirements, applicable contracts, organizational policies, and the facility's Evidence-Informed Treatment Model.
- Provide operational oversight and coordination of case management services.
- Oversee and support intake and admissions processes to ensure residents can be appropriately served by the facility.
- Work closely with the Treatment Director and case management staff to ensure the needs of residents are identified, coordinated, and addressed.
- Support staff training, workforce development, and continued professional development.
- Participate in staff recruitment, onboarding, performance management, and retention efforts.
- Promote strong communication and accountability among program, clinical, case management, nursing, direct-care, and administrative staff.
- Ensure employees are trained in and remain current with the facility's Evidence-Informed Treatment Model.
- Monitor program documentation for accuracy, timeliness, and compliance with facility, contractual, and regulatory requirements.
- Participate in the facility's Continuous Quality Assurance and Improvement Program and assist with identifying trends, deficiencies, corrective actions, and opportunities for program improvement.
- Support the collection, tracking, and evaluation of resident outcomes related to safety, permanency, treatment progress, and well-being.
- Collaborate with case management and other program staff to coordinate residents' educational, medical, dental, behavioral health, and other service needs.
- Maintain working knowledge of STAR Health services and help ensure eligible residents maximize available benefits and services based on eligibility and medical necessity.
- Coordinate and maintain professional relationships with DFPS/SSCC representatives, caseworkers, families, guardians, schools, medical providers, behavioral health providers, and community partners.
- Support appropriate coordination of billing, cost reporting, claims administration, and other administrative functions in collaboration with designated staff.
- Assist with preparation for HHSC inspections, monitoring visits, audits, contract reviews, and other regulatory or quality-assurance activities.
- Ensure identified compliance concerns or operational deficiencies are addressed promptly and appropriately.
- Support admissions and placement operations and ensure appropriate staff availability for facility needs.
- Collaborate with the Treatment Director to ensure residential operations support each resident's individualized treatment and service plan.
- Support appropriate discharge, transition, and aftercare planning in collaboration with treatment and case management staff.
- Maintain an organized, safe, structured, trauma-informed, and treatment-focused residential environment.
- Perform additional program-management duties necessary to support the safe and effective operation of the facility.
Preferred Qualifications
- Bachelor's or master's degree in social work, psychology, counseling, behavioral science, human services, healthcare administration, business administration, child development, or a related field.
- Previous experience as a Program Director, Assistant Program Director, Residential Director, Operations Director, Child Care Administrator, or similar leadership position.
- Previous leadership experience in a Residential Treatment Center, General Residential Operation, behavioral-health program, foster-care program, or residential child-care setting.
- Experience working with children and adolescents with emotional, behavioral, or specialized treatment needs.
- Experience working with Texas HHSC Child Care Regulation, DFPS, SSCCs, or T3C requirements.
- Familiarity with Texas Minimum Standards applicable to residential child-care operations.
- Knowledge of trauma-informed care and residential treatment practices.
- Experience supervising multidisciplinary teams.
- Experience with case management, intake and admissions, staffing, quality assurance, regulatory compliance, and program operations.
- Knowledge of STAR Health and services available to children in foster care.
- Strong leadership, communication, documentation, organization, and decision-making skills.
Ideal Candidate
The ideal candidate is a hands-on operational leader who understands that a successful Residential Treatment Center requires strong coordination between administration, clinical services, case management, nursing, direct-care staff, families, schools, and community providers.
We are looking for someone who can maintain structure and accountability, support staff, identify and resolve operational issues, maintain regulatory compliance, and help ensure residents receive safe, consistent, and high-quality care.
The Program Director should be comfortable balancing the day-to-day needs of the facility with long-term program development, quality improvement, staff development, and regulatory expectations.
Applicants should clearly identify their highest level of education and the number of years of experience they have working in a residential childcare, RTC, GRO, behavioral-health, or similar setting.
Pay: $55,000.00 - $60,000.00 per year
Work Location: In person
