Temporary Program Director

About Lifemoves

LifeMoves is the largest and most effective provider of housing and services for neighbors experiencing homelessness in Silicon Valley since 1987. Our Mission is to end homelessness by providing interim housing, supportive services, and building collaborative partnerships. With 40 programs, LifeMoves gives our neighbors experiencing homelessness a temporary place to call home while providing intensive, customized case management through site-based programs and community outreach.

Position Purpose

SHIFT – This is a flexible, full‑time leadership role supporting a site. The schedule will vary based on program needs and includes availability for evenings and holidays to ensure consistent program oversight. Additional hours or shifts may be required as operational and staffing needs demand.

Program Overview

LifeMoves | MVP Santa Clara County provides interim supportive housing in San Jose to 97 families. During their stay, clients participate in holistic services tailored to each household’s unique needs and goals. Clients receive support to build self‑sufficiency and return to housing stability, including but not limited to accommodations, meals, laundry, case management, and therapy. The team supports clients with housing, employment, benefits, physical and behavioral health through case management, workshops, and connection to specialized resources.

Program Director Overview

The Interim MVP Program Director reports to the Director of Interim Supportive Housing and provides oversight, support and resources to staff across all shifts operating within the program site. This management position plays a key role in supporting daily operations, safety, and overall program success. They model the agency’s values by treating everyone with respect and care, creating a culture where clients and staff feel welcomed, empowered, and supported.

The Interim Program Director focuses on building strong team relationships, inspiring professional growth, and maintaining a healthy, positive program culture. They provide trauma‑informed supervision and coaching to staff, partner with leadership to identify training needs, strengthen communication, and ensure consistent delivery of high‑quality, client‑centered services and accurate data input. Additionally, this role helps keep the program safe and supportive by working with staff and clients to identify concerns, provide education, and develop solutions. They maintain positive relationships with community partners and funders, ensure contract compliance, and lead with curiosity, creativity, and collaboration to move the program forward.

Essential Job Responsibilities

• Ensure program services are safe, trauma‑informed, welcoming, and effective.
• Partner with leadership to manage budgets, data, and other needs that support program goals.
• Support high‑quality client services by modeling trauma‑informed, strengths‑based engagement and maintaining a small caseload as needed.
• Ensure staff documentation and service delivery meet accuracy and compliance standards.
• Ensure compliance with agency, funding, and regulatory requirements (e.g., HUD, Fair Housing).
• Support data collection, audits, and continuous improvement efforts.

Leadership and Supervision

• Provide supervision and coaching to staff using trauma‑informed and strengths‑based practices.
• Lead meetings, manage hiring, scheduling, and evaluations to maintain clear communication and a positive, professional program culture.

Community and Stakeholder Partnerships

• Build and maintain strong relationships with community partners, businesses, and agencies.
• Represent LifeMoves professionally and help educate partners about programs and services.

General Agency Responsibilities

• Participate in agency‑wide meetings, initiatives, and training programs as needed or directed including but not limited to partner meetings, board meetings and fundraising events.
• Fully participate in all required trainings. This includes completing trainings by assigned deadlines, actively engaging during sessions, and applying what you learn to your daily work.
• Attend continuing education opportunities to grow expertise and uphold agency standards.
• Be available to work occasional evenings and weekends as needed or as schedule describes.
• Perform other duties as assigned to meet program and organizational needs.

Program Operations, Compliance, and Quality (Site Care)

• Ensure sites remain clean, safe, welcoming, and well‑maintained for all.
• Provide onsite guidance to team members, ensuring coordination of services and smooth implementation of program activities.
• Support staff in developing and facilitating groups, workshops, and activities for clients.

Essential Functions

• Administration: Ensure the delivery of services in a professional, ethical and effective manner; ensure maintenance of a clean, safe, and supportive environment for clients and staff. Meet program operations while maintaining program within budget. Participate in administration and coordination of agency activities and programs via Program Director meetings. Understand and implement all LifeMoves policies and procedures. Be available on call for site emergencies.
• Staff Supervision: Hire, train, supervise, evaluate, and schedule staff; provide on‑going leadership, guidance, and supervision regarding program and client issues; assess staff development and arrange for training. Plan and ensure facilitation of staff meetings.
• Case Management: Supervise case management and management staff and, at times, provide direct services to clients. Responsibilities include coordination of intakes, use of information and referral networks, and crisis management as needed. Ensure development and facilitation of workshops, and support groups as needed. Hear client appeals/grievances.
• Program Development: Develop and implement annual program plan in collaboration with staff and the Associate VP of Programs & Services. Develop appropriate program procedures, policies, and forms and ensure their implementation. Develop and monitor an annual program budget. Coordinate program development in the following areas: job development, follow‑up program, donations, food services, volunteers and internship program, recreational activities for clients, and other areas as needed.
• Community Relations: Develop and maintain strong relationships with area service providers, businesses, and community groups. Train other social service agencies in our eligibility criteria and referral process. Represent program to government, business, religious, civic, and community groups. Educate the community about homelessness and the work of the program. Develop and act as staff liaison to programs Support Committee. Effectively interact with Board, volunteers, donors, and the surrounding community. Collaborate with community groups to provide optimal services to clients.
• Record Keeping: Supervise the collection, compilation, and submission of all program statistics. Submit monthly, quarterly, and annual reports to Administration. Ensure that all required program reports are submitted in a timely fashion and that the program remains in compliance with all funding and legal requirements. Maintain petty cash fund.
• General Duties: Participate in Directors Team meetings. Attend Board Meetings as requested. Participate in All‑Staff Meetings, program open houses, fundraising events, other agency‑wide functions, and other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Strong written and oral communication, personnel management, conflict resolution, and clinical supervision skills are necessary.
• Strong knowledge of substance abuse and relapse prevention, mental health issues, and domestic violence is required.
• Lived experience in the LGBTQ+ community preferred.
• Multicultural competency helpful.
• Bilingual Spanish speaking a plus.
• Educational Requirements: Bachelor's Degree in related field required; or an Associate's Degree with 3‑5 years of progressively responsible experience in related field. Related fields may include direct involvement in peer advocacy, community outreach, housing services or roles within the homelessness services field.
• Technology: Comfortable using technology, including phone and messaging systems, email, Microsoft and Google Suites, and databases to complete administrative tasks, case management, reporting, and tracking outcomes, and performance management software.
• Direct Service Experience: Minimum of three years in a leadership role within human or social services, supporting vulnerable populations.
• Physical Activity Requirements: Ability to lift/support at least 30 lbs. as needed; ability to sit, stand, stoop and bend frequently; ability to sit and keyboard as needed.
• Service Level Qualifications: Demonstrates empathy, professionalism, and respect for all individuals; stays calm and supportive in stressful situations and uses de‑escalation skills; open to feedback and training in trauma‑informed, harm‑reduction, and client‑centered care; works well independently and collaboratively; maintains clear documentation and organization; is organized, detail‑oriented, and proactive.
• Care Team Level Qualifications: Advocates effectively across systems to secure client benefits and resources; identifies and connects clients to housing, employment, health, and social supports; builds collaborative relationships with partners and providers to strengthen client outcomes.
• Program Management Level Qualifications: Delegation: distributes tasks effectively to balance workload and ensure team accountability; crisis response: responds calmly and effectively to crises using trauma‑informed and de‑escalation strategies to support staff and clients; maintains and models healthy, professional boundaries; supports staff in coaching, reflection, and strengths‑based feedback; helps staff recognize signs of boundary‑crossing and develop strategies for maintaining personal and professional limits; best practices: maintains familiarity with harm reduction, Mental Health First Aid, and other relevant best‑practice approaches; program model and philosophy: consistently models agency values, program philosophy, and mission‑aligned behaviors; group facilitation skills: confident leading group discussions or workshops; public speaking: comfortable presenting to internal and external audiences; facility & safety lens: consistently maintains a safe, clean, and well‑functioning facility while identifying and addressing safety or maintenance needs; supervision experience: minimum of two years of supervisory experience supporting staff or volunteers in a human services or related setting; budgeting: demonstrates basic knowledge of budgeting processes and resource allocation to support program operations; contract deliverables: understands and can monitor basic contract requirements to help ensure program activities meet funder expectations; forward thinking: anticipates program needs and future changes to improve efficiency and service delivery.
• Competencies: Executive Disposition; Workforce Planning and Succession; Championing the Vision; Financial Management; Conflict Resolution and Risk Management; Leading Organizational Culture.

Supervisory Responsibilities

This role provides supervision to Case Managers, Specialists (housing, employment, benefit, children service coordinators, licensed vocational nurses) and supervision of Residential Service Coordinators, Resident Managers, and Program Aides (as applicable) who are responsible for performing site operation duties.

Travel Requirements

• A valid State driver's license and reliable transportation are required.
• Must be able to travel throughout the Bay Area as part of regular duties.
• Mileage reimbursement is provided in accordance with agency policy.
• Occasional evening or weekend travel may be required to attend community events or support client services.
• Must maintain vehicle insurance as required by law and agency policy.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here represent those that an employee must meet to perform the essential functions of this position successfully. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions. While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to talk, hear, and communicate with others in the workplace. The employee must frequently use hands or fingers and handle or feel objects, tools, or controls. The employee must frequently stand, walk, sit, and reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities this position requires include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus.

Compensation And Benefits

This rewarding role offers a competitive annual base salary and an opportunity to participate in the LifeMoves benefits package.

Equal Opportunity Employer

LifeMoves is an equal opportunity employer (EOE) committed to building a culturally diverse staff representing the communities we serve. We provide equal employment opportunities to all individuals without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, marital status, physical or mental disability (non‑disqualifying), sexual orientation, membership or non‑membership in an employee organization, personal favoritism, lived experiences or any other non‑merit‑based factor. Candidates who are bilingual/bi‑cultural, of color, Native/Indigenous, with disabilities, who identify as LGBTQIA+, or who are members of other marginalized groups are strongly encouraged to apply. We aim to create and sustain inclusive, equitable, and welcoming environments where everyone can thrive.

Other Information

This job description is not intended to be a complete list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required for the job and is subject to review and change at any time, with or without notice, in accordance with the needs of LifeMoves. Since no job description can detail all the duties and responsibilities that may be required from time to time in the performance of a job, duties, and responsibilities that may be inherent in a job, reasonably required for its performance, or required due to the changing nature of the job shall also be considered part of the job holder’s responsibility. If you require a disability accommodation during the application process, please contact the Human Resources Department at (650) 685‑5880.

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