Job Title: Assistant Director
Company: Youth Advocate Programs (YAP), Inc.
Location: Midland, Michigan
Position Type: Full-Time
Compensation: $59,000 per year
Travel Required: Yes – Travel required throughout the State of Michigan.
FLSA Classification: Exempt
Summary of Position
We are seeking an enthusiastic, mission-driven, and dedicated Assistant Program Director to join our dynamic Michigan team.
The Assistant Program Director will play a pivotal leadership role in supporting statewide program operations, staff development, participant engagement, and service delivery within a youth-focused juvenile justice program. This position is ideal for a professional who possesses strong leadership abilities, exceptional organizational and case coordination skills, and a passion for improving outcomes for at-risk youth and families.
The Assistant Program Director will collaborate closely with Intensive Family Coordinators, advocates, community partners, referral sources, and program leadership to ensure high-quality, strength-based, and trauma-informed services are delivered consistently across Michigan, including rural communities and the Upper Peninsula.
The role involves direct engagement with youth involved in the juvenile justice system, their families, and community-based resources to support stabilization, rehabilitation, and successful community integration. This position also supports strategic planning, program development, compliance monitoring, staff supervision, and grant performance expectations to align with organizational and statewide program goals.
The Assistant Director is responsible for supporting the Program Director with hiring, onboarding, training, coaching, motivating, and supervising staff while communicating weekly program performance and operational updates. The Assistant Director will work directly with Intensive Family Coordinators and advocates to coordinate and monitor participant service hours, ensuring grant expectations and service delivery requirements are consistently met.
This role requires active collaboration with youth involved in the juvenile justice system, their families, referral agencies, and community resources to promote individualized care planning, family engagement, crisis stabilization, and positive youth development.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
- Conduct participant intakes, assessments, and staffing coordination.
- Manage and monitor participant service hours to ensure maximum and appropriate levels of weekly services.
- Ensure compliance with all YAP, grant, contractual, and referring authority requirements.
- Support staff development, performance management, and accountability measures.
- Collaborate with community stakeholders, courts, schools, behavioral health providers, and juvenile justice partners.
- Assist with data tracking, documentation oversight, and quality assurance initiatives.
- Utilize strength-based, trauma-informed, culturally competent, and unconditional care approaches in all service delivery.
- Support crisis intervention, case coordination, and family-centered service planning.
- Assist in statewide implementation and expansion efforts.
The grant program supported by this position provides services throughout the entire state of Michigan, including underserved rural regions and the Upper Peninsula. The position requires extensive statewide travel, including trips up to 250 miles each way, to support staff, participants, and community partnerships across multiple service regions.
Knowledge of behavioral health practices, juvenile justice systems, case management, youth advocacy, family systems, community-based programming, and budgetary concepts is highly preferred.
Creativity, flexibility, leadership initiative, and proactive problem-solving are essential to success in this role.
Qualifications and Requirements
- Bachelor's Degree generally preferred.
- Three to five years of related experience/training in youth services, juvenile justice, community programs, or program development.
- At least one year of related experience/training in management or supervision.
- Familiar with community resources.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills.
- Proficient in Microsoft Office.
- Experience using an Electronic Health Record (EHR) is a plus.
- Reliable transportation required.
- Valid driver's license required.
- Current automobile insurance coverage required.
- Bilingual (Spanish) is a plus.
Preferred Skills
- Basic Computer Skills
- Strong Communication Skills
Preferred Behaviors
- Leader: Inspires teammates to follow them.
- Detail Oriented: Capable of carrying out a given task with all details necessary to get the task done well.
- Dedicated: Devoted to a task or purpose with loyalty or integrity.
Preferred Motivation
- Ability to Make an Impact: Inspired to perform well by the ability to contribute to the success of a project or the organization.
Benefits Available
- Medical/Prescription Insurance
- Dental Insurance
- Vision Insurance
- Short-Term Disability
- UNUM Supplemental Insurance
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
- Pet Insurance
- Paid Time Off
- Paid Holidays
- 403(b) Retirement Savings Plan
- State Sick Leave
- Direct Deposit
- Weekly Pay
Equal Opportunity Employer
Youth Advocate Programs, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment based on individual merit, skills, and qualifications, without regard to race, age, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, sex, military or veteran status, disability, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where YAP operates. YAP will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics.
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.
