Position Overview:

Program Coordinator – Adult Day Habilitation Program
New Jersey | Full-Time | On-Site
$27.00 per hour + benefits
Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM–4:30 PM | Occasional evenings and weekends
Make a Meaningful Impact Every Day
We are seeking a Program Coordinator to support an Adult Day Habilitation Program serving adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), including individuals with complex support needs.
This is a hands-on leadership role where you will work directly with participants and Direct Support Professionals (DSPs), help coordinate daily program operations, support staff, and help ensure services are safe, ethical, person-centered, engaging, and compliant with applicable requirements.
The ideal candidate is organized, dependable, detail-oriented, and committed to maintaining the highest standards of professionalism, ethical conduct, confidentiality, and professional boundaries while supporting individuals with autism.
What You’ll Do
Program Operations & Participant Engagement
- Support the Program Manager and Lead DSP in developing and maintaining a structured, meaningful daily schedule.
- Work directly with participants and actively participate in daily activities.
- Ensure participants are appropriately engaged, supported, and supervised.
- Help implement person-centered activities that promote independence, socialization, communication, community integration, and life skills.
- Support individuals with varying ability levels and complex behavioral or support needs.
- Identify participant interests and incorporate them into programming.
- Plan and coordinate recreational activities, community outings, and enrichment opportunities.
- Coordinate community-based recreational trips.
- Identify and develop volunteer and community service opportunities.
- Assist with developing and implementing program curricula and activity plans.
Mandated Reporting & Incident Management
This is a critical, non-negotiable responsibility of the position.
- Understand and fulfill all responsibilities associated with mandated reporting requirements.
- Recognize and appropriately report suspected abuse, neglect, exploitation, or other reportable concerns in accordance with applicable requirements and organizational procedures.
- Complete required incident reports accurately, promptly, and thoroughly.
- Follow up on incidents to ensure appropriate actions are taken and documented.
- Maintain consistent follow-up and follow-through on incident-related concerns until they are appropriately addressed and resolved.
- Communicate incidents and concerns to the appropriate leadership and parties in accordance with established procedures.
- Maintain accurate and confidential documentation related to incidents and mandated reports.
Compliance & Quality Assurance
- Promote ethical, compliant, and person-centered service delivery.
- Help ensure program activities and services align with NJ Division of Developmental Disabilities (NJ DDD) requirements, individual service plans, organizational policies, and applicable regulations.
- Assist with state surveys, audits, inspections, and regulatory reviews.
- Maintain accurate and organized documentation and records.
- Identify documentation gaps and help ensure corrective actions are completed.
- Monitor participant rights, health, safety, dignity, and choice.
- Maintain confidentiality in accordance with applicable laws and organizational policies.
- Maintain appropriate professional and ethical boundaries in all interactions with participants, families/guardians, staff, and other professionals.
Documentation & Billing Support
- Monitor DSP completion of daily documentation and session notes.
- Ensure required documentation is entered accurately and on a daily basis.
- Review documentation for completeness, accuracy, timeliness, and consistency.
- Provide administrative support for billing and service documentation.
- Identify and help resolve issues that may affect billing or compliance.
- Work with the Program Manager and administrative staff to maintain accurate records.
Staff Support & Supervision
- Provide day-to-day guidance and support to DSPs.
- Assist the Program Manager and Lead DSP with staff assignments and daily scheduling.
- Help ensure DSPs understand and follow participant support plans, documentation requirements, safety procedures, and workplace expectations.
- Lead by example and contribute to a professional, respectful, and collaborative environment.
- Communicate participant, staff, safety, and compliance concerns to the Program Manager.
- Assist with onboarding, training, coaching, and mentoring as assigned.
Safety & Emergency Preparedness
- Help maintain a safe environment for participants and staff.
- Respond appropriately to behavioral, medical, and safety needs within training and agency procedures.
- Participate in required emergency and safety training.
- Complete and maintain Handle with Care training.
- Maintain current CPR/AED certification.
- Follow emergency response, incident reporting, and safety protocols.
What We’re Looking For
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Special Education, Human Services, Psychology, Behavioral Analysis, or a closely related field.
- Minimum 2 years of supervisory experience.
- Minimum 2 years of experience working with adults with autism spectrum disorder, preferably with individuals who have complex support needs.
- Experience in a group home, adult day habilitation, community-based residential, or similar human services setting serving individuals with autism.
- Strong understanding of person-centered services and autism support.
- Strong understanding of mandated reporting responsibilities and incident reporting requirements.
- Demonstrated ability to appropriately identify, report, document, and follow through on incidents and reportable concerns.
- Strong commitment to ethical conduct, professional boundaries, participant rights, confidentiality, and regulatory compliance.
- Ability and willingness to provide direct support to participants regularly.
- Strong attention to detail and commitment to accurate documentation.
- Strong organizational, communication, problem-solving, and time-management skills.
- Ability to collaborate with DSPs, supervisors, families/guardians, care teams, and other professionals.
- Ability to manage multiple responsibilities accurately and professionally.
- Willingness to complete Handle with Care training.
- Current CPR/AED certification.
Preferred Qualifications
Experience with:
- NJ DDD-funded or regulated programs.
- NJ DDD documentation, service delivery, audits, or state surveys.
- Electronic documentation and billing systems.
- Developing and implementing curricula or structured activity programming.
- Individuals with significant behavioral, communication, medical, or complex support needs.
- Community integration, volunteer, recreational, or vocational activities.
What Success Looks Like
In this role, success means being someone the team can rely on to:
- Take mandated reporting and incident responsibilities seriously and follow through consistently.
- Maintain strong ethical and professional boundaries.
- Lead with accountability and professionalism.
- Put participants at the center of decision-making.
- Maintain high standards for compliance and documentation.
- Build positive and professional relationships with participants and staff.
- Communicate clearly and address concerns promptly.
- Stay organized while managing multiple priorities.
- Follow through on responsibilities from beginning to resolution.
- Adapt to changing participant and program needs.
- Help create engaging opportunities that promote independence and community participation.
Physical & Work Requirements
This is an active, hands-on position involving direct work with adults with autism spectrum disorder. The role may require:
- Prolonged standing and walking.
- Participating in activities and community outings.
- Assisting with activities of daily living, as applicable.
- Responding to behavioral or safety situations within approved training and procedures.
Schedule
The position primarily follows program operating hours:
Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM–4:30 PM
Occasional evenings and weekends may be required for meetings, training, community activities, audits, surveys, or other program-related activities.
Position Details
Position Type: Full-Time
Work Arrangement: On-Site
Program: Adult Day Habilitation Program
Location: New Jersey
Pay: $27.00 per hour + benefits
Reports To: Program Manager
Ready to Make a Difference?
If you are an organized, ethical, and dependable professional who is passionate about supporting adults with autism and committed to maintaining high standards of safety, compliance, and professional conduct, we encourage you to apply.
Pay Range:
USD $27.00 - USD $27.00 /Hr.