Memory Care Program Director

Brookdale Ithaca is seeking a Memory Care Program Director

As a Memory Care Program Director you will oversee the quality of life for residents and family engagement. You will be responsible to create the monthly calendar programs for our memory care residents, ensuring that the dementia care program standards and engagement team standards are met.

We seek the following qualifications:

• 3-5 years experience with residents with Alzheimer''s & Dementia in a residential setting.

• Experience in programming & event planning for older adults with Alzheimer''s and/or Dementia.

• Supervisory & management experience; including interviewing, hiring, disciplining & terminating staff.

Recognized by Newsweek in 2024 and 2025 as one of America''s Greatest Workplaces for Diversity

Make Lives Better Including Your Own. If you want to work in an environment where you can become your best possible self, join us! You'll earn more than a paycheck; you can find opportunities to grow your career through professional development, as well as ongoing programs catered to your overall health and wellness. Full suite of health insurance, life insurance and retirement plans are available and vary by employment status.

Part and Full Time Benefits Eligibility

• Medical, Dental, Vision insurance
• 401(k)
• Associate assistance program
• Employee discounts
• Referral program
• Early access to earned wages for hourly associates (outside of CA)
• Optional voluntary benefits including ID theft protection and pet insurance

Full Time Only Benefits Eligibility

• Paid Time Off
• Paid holidays
• Company provided life insurance
• Adoption benefit
• Disability (short and long term)
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Health Savings Account
• Optional life and dependent life insurance
• Optional voluntary benefits including accident, critical illness and hospital indemnity Insurance, and legal plan
• Tuition reimbursement

Base pay in range will be determined by applicant's skills and experience. Full-time associates in role are eligible for an annual bonus incentive and sales referral bonuses. Temporary associates are not benefits eligible but may participate in the company's 401(k) program.

Veterans, transitioning active duty military personnel, and military spouses are encouraged to apply. To support our associates in their journey to become a U.S. citizen, Brookdale offers to advance fees for naturalization (Form N-400) application costs, up to $725, less applicable taxes and withholding, for qualified associates who have been with us for at least a year.

The application window is anticipated to close within 30 days of the date of the posting.

Brookdale is a Great Place to Be:

• Gracious hospitality and neighborliness for our residents and families.
• Home-like feel and all-around comfort for residents and visiting family members.
• Entertaining events and gatherings so our residents can find connections in groups and 1:1 settings.
• Industry leader in clinical care.
• Nationwide company with 589 communities as of November 30, 2025, offering many opportunities to grow and learn as a sales professional.
• Extensive corporate support including a robust training program.

Education and Experience

Bachelor's degree (B.A. or B.S.) such as gerontology, therapeutic recreation, health education or related field with three or more years of direct programming experience with older adults required. Three to five years' experience with residents with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias in a residential setting preferred. Experience in program and event planning for older adults with Alzheimer's and other dementias required; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Certifications, Licenses, and other Special Requirements

Must possess a valid driver's license and a current 3 year driving abstract with no more than one moving violation as a condition of employment. Requirements for California communities: At least one year experience in supervising associates and in training volunteers. Other required state-specific training/qualifications must also be completed. State required CDL certification is required if necessary for bus driving.

Physical Demands and Working Conditions

• Standing
• Walking
• Sitting
• Use hands and fingers to handle or feel
• Reach with hands and arms
• Stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl
• Talk or hear
• Ability to lift: Up to 25 pounds
• Vision
• Requires interaction with co-workers, residents or vendors
• Occasional weekend, evening or night work if needed to ensure shift coverage
• On-Call on an as needed basis
• Possible exposure to communicable diseases and infections
• Potential injury from transferring, repositioning, or lifting residents
• Exposure to latex
• Possible exposure to blood-borne pathogens
• Possible exposure to various drugs, chemical, infections, or biological hazards
• Requires Travel: occasionally

Management/Decision Making

Applies existing guidelines and procedures to make varied decisions within a department. Uses sound judgment and experience to solve moderately complex problems based on precedent, example, reasonableness or a combination of these.

Knowledge and Skills

Possesses extensive knowledge of a distinct skill or function and a thorough understanding of the organization and work environment. Has working knowledge of a functional discipline. Basic typing and computer skills are essential preferably in a Microsoft Windows environment.

Brookdale is an equal opportunity employer and a drug-free workplace.

Job Summary

Responsibility and authority to oversee the quality of life for Resident and Family Engagement as outlined in Brookdale mission and cornerstones, the Engagement team standards and culture, as well as the Dementia Care Program Standards. Serves as a part of the management team to ensure policies and procedures are understood, trained, and implemented. Hires, trains, and supervises two full time or more associates to ensure all program expectations are in place and plays a critical role in resident quality of life and resident and family satisfaction. Provides coaching and leadership of Coordinators, Managers and Assistants within the community.

Essential Functions

• Hires, trains, and supervises at least 2 full-time associates in accordance with Company policies. Is responsible for recruiting and hiring high quality and engaged associates and ensuring they are appropriately trained and developed to meet the needs of residents. Makes decisions related to associate development, discipline, and termination, in partnership with Executive Director. Directly supervises Engagement/Program associates as needed to optimize a culture of engagement reaching all areas of the campus, where applicable. May directly supervise Direct Care Associates as assigned. Responsible for staffing and scheduling of direct reports, as assigned. May act in supervisory capacity as manager on duty or in the absence of the Executive Director, as assigned.
• Provides subject matter expertise to the management team regarding associates' and residents' engagement dementia programming and care. Participates in annual Family and Resident Engagement survey initiatives and addresses resident complaints and grievances.
• Negotiates and manages community contracts in significant matters such as staffing, vendors and entertainers, in partnership with Executive Director
• Participates in the review of individual residents' Personal service plans and regularly documents progress as required per Programming standards, participates in discharge planning with other members of the management team.
• Responds appropriately to resident emergencies, using independent judgment for "in the moment" decisions, calling or contacting appropriate internal and external parties according to the established protocol. May also assist with disaster management efforts and activities during evacuations, (i.e. hurricanes, etc.)
• Responsible for meeting the Dementia Care Program Standards and Engagement team standards and ensures daily, weekly and monthly calendar of events requirements are met.
• Through independent judgment and discretion, manages a volunteer program, including recruitment, training, and supervising volunteers.
• Maintains community environment (including engagement areas, equipment and supplies) to support domains of well-being and the culture of resident engagement.
• Coordinates the transportation of weekly resident outings into the greater community, which may include driving a community motor vehicle.
• Maintains and adheres to department monthly budget and expense control, equipment and supplies.
• Ensures department is in compliance with the Brookdale Excellence Standards Tool (BEST) and creates plan of correction for out of compliance areas in the engagement/programming and dementia care sections of the BEST and Divisional Dementia Care Manager site visits.
• Oversees social media content to ensure alignment with Brookdale's culture, brand, and social media guidance and Brookdale standard

This job description represents an overview of the responsibilities for the above referenced position. It is not intended to represent a comprehensive list of responsibilities. An associate should perform all duties as assigned by his/ her supervisor.

Job Summary

Responsibility and authority to oversee the quality of life for Resident and Family Engagement as outlined in Brookdale mission and cornerstones, the Engagement team standards and culture, as well as the Dementia Care Program Standards. Serves as a part of the management team to ensure policies and procedures are understood, trained, and implemented. Hires, trains, and supervises two full time or more associates to ensure all program expectations are in place and plays a critical role in resident quality of life and resident and family satisfaction. Provides coaching and leadership of Coordinators, Managers and Assistants within the community.

Essential Functions

• Hires, trains, and supervises at least 2 full-time associates in accordance with Company policies. Is responsible for recruiting and hiring high quality and engaged associates and ensuring they are appropriately trained and developed to meet the needs of residents. Makes decisions related to associate development, discipline, and termination, in partnership with Executive Director. Directly supervises Engagement/Program associates as needed to optimize a culture of engagement reaching all areas of the campus, where applicable. May directly supervise Direct Care Associates as assigned. Responsible for staffing and scheduling of direct reports, as assigned. May act in supervisory capacity as manager on duty or in the absence of the Executive Director, as assigned.
• Provides subject matter expertise to the management team regarding associates' and residents' engagement dementia programming and care. Participates in annual Family and Resident Engagement survey initiatives and addresses resident complaints and grievances.
• Negotiates and manages community contracts in significant matters such as staffing, vendors and entertainers, in partnership with Executive Director
• Participates in the review of individual residents' Personal service plans and regularly documents progress as required per Programming standards, participates in discharge planning with other members of the management team.
• Responds appropriately to resident emergencies, using independent judgment for "in the moment" decisions, calling or contacting appropriate internal and external parties according to the established protocol. May also assist with disaster management efforts and activities during evacuations, (i.e. hurricanes, etc.)
• Responsible for meeting the Dementia Care Program Standards and Engagement team standards and ensures daily, weekly and monthly calendar of events requirements are met.
• Through independent judgment and discretion, manages a volunteer program, including recruitment, training, and supervising volunteers.
• Maintains community environment (including engagement areas, equipment and supplies) to support domains of well-being and the culture of resident engagement.
• Coordinates the transportation of weekly resident outings into the greater community, which may include driving a community motor vehicle.
• Maintains and adheres to department monthly budget and expense control, equipment and supplies.
• Ensures department is in compliance with the Brookdale Excellence Standards Tool (BEST) and creates plan of correction for out of compliance areas in the engagement/programming and dementia care sections of the BEST and Divisional Dementia Care Manager site visits.
• Oversees social media content to ensure alignment with Brookdale's culture, brand, and social media guidance and Brookdale standard

This job description represents an overview of the responsibilities for the above referenced position. It is not intended to represent a comprehensive list of responsibilities. An associate should perform all duties as assigned by his/ her supervisor.