Program Manager

Community Living Program Manager

Job Summary

The Program Manager (PM) is a frontline leader within Behavioral Health Allies Community Living division and serves as the primary executor and implementer of services within assigned residential homes. Program Managers are directly accountable for the quality of care, staff performance, compliance, safety, and culture within the homes they oversee.

Responsibilities

The Program Manager is embedded in the homes and responsible for day-to-day execution. PMs lead through presence, accountability, and follow-through. The Program Manager is the direct leader of DSPs and Shift Supervisors and is responsible for building stable, well-trained, high-performing teams.

Key Responsibilities

• Dignity First
• Ensures all individuals are treated with dignity, respect, and compassion at all times
• Holds staff accountable for professional, respectful interactions with individuals served
• Immediately addresses any behavior by staff that compromises physical or emotional safety
• Models trauma-informed, respectful leadership in all interactions
• Person-Centered Outcomes
• Ensures daily routines, supports, and activities reflect individual preferences, goals, and needs
• Verifies that Behavior Support Plans (BSPs) and individual plans are implemented with fidelity
• Coaches DSPs on person-centered language, choice, and autonomy
• Partners with clinical teams to adjust supports based on individual progress and needs
• Ensures BSPs and clinical programming are implemented using ABA principles and evidence-based interventions
• Monitors behavioral and skill-acquisition data to ensure supports are effective and implemented with fidelity
• Connected Community
• Promotes meaningful community involvement and inclusion for individuals served
• Ensures DSPs actively engage individuals in relationships, routines, and activities
• Builds and maintains positive relationships with families, guardians, and stakeholders
• Fosters a home culture where individuals feel safe, valued, and connected
• Whole Person Support
• Oversees delivery of comprehensive supports addressing behavioral, emotional, physical, and social needs
• Ensures medical appointments, medication administration, and health-related documentation are accurate and compliant
• Monitors individual well-being and escalates concerns promptly
• Collaborates with clinical, medical, and support teams to ensure continuity of care
• Ensures operational routines, staffing, and environments support clinical intent and behavioral goals
• Empowerment Through Daily Life
• Ensures individuals are supported to build independence and life skills through daily routines
• Coaches staff to use daily activities as opportunities for growth and success
• Monitors staff engagement and ensures individuals are meaningfully occupied
• Celebrates progress and reinforces positive outcomes for individuals and staff
• Ensures DSPs embed ABA-based teaching, reinforcement, and skill development into daily routines
• Reinforces the use of structured routines, predictable expectations, and positive reinforcement
• Integrity In Action
• Maintains full compliance with DMH, Medicaid, and BHA standards
• Ensures all documentation is accurate, timely, and audit-ready at all times
• Conducts routine internal audits, fidelity checks, and corrective actions
• Addresses compliance gaps immediately and documents follow-through
• Leads with transparency and accountability in decision-making
• Conducts fidelity checks of BSP and programming implementation and addresses drift through coaching and corrective action
• Collaborative Teamwork
• Directly leads, trains, and supervises DSPs and Shift Supervisors
• Personally participates in onboarding and in-home training of new staff
• Provides ongoing coaching, feedback, and performance management
• Identifies training needs and partners with the Operations Manager and HR
• Supports staff retention through engagement, clarity, and accountability
• Serves as a day-to-day champion of ABA principles within the home, reinforcing expectations with DSPs and Shift Supervisors
• Models belief in evidence-based behavioral practices and aligns ABA principles with BHAs mission, values, and Standards of Excellence
• Consistency and Compassion
• Ensures staffing ratios are met and fills shifts as needed to maintain continuity of care
• Maintains predictable routines, schedules, and expectations within the home
• Responds calmly and effectively during crises or high-stress situations
• Leads and assists with crisis response using approved PCM techniques
• Ensures incidents are documented, reviewed, and used for continuous improvement
• Ensure employees follow all BHA standards
• Home Operations, Safety & Environment
• Maintains clean, safe, and sanitary homes at all times
• Conducts regular safety and environmental walkthroughs
• Oversees maintenance, repairs, vehicles, and equipment
• Ensures emergency preparedness and adherence to safety protocols
• Compliance, Risk & Quality Assurance
• Ensure all homes remain audit-ready at all times
• Monitor compliance with DMH, HCBS, Medicaid, and internal standards
• Financial & Resource Management
• Manages assigned homes in alignment with approved budgets and financial targets
• Reviews and approves staff timecards accurately and timely; monitors overtime and staffing efficiency
• Monitors client-specific budgets and identifies variances or concerns proactively
• Audits client funds, spending logs, and receipts to ensure accuracy, compliance, and ethical use
• Ensures all client purchases and expenditures align with person-centered plans and funding requirements
• Partners with Operations Manager and Business Office on budget variance explanations and corrective actions
• Identifies cost-saving opportunities without compromising quality of care or safety
• Ensures proper use, tracking, and safeguarding of company and client resources
• On-Call & 24/7 Leadership
• Serves as an on-call leader, including nights, weekends, and holidays as scheduled or required
• Responds promptly and professionally to staffing, safety, and operational issues outside of standard business hours
• Actively works to fill open shifts by contacting available staff and coordinating coverage
• Is expected to report to the home and work shifts personally when staffing cannot be secured and ratios must be maintained
• Ensures staffing ratios and coverage requirements are met at all times
• Makes real-time decisions to protect client safety, service continuity, and compliance
• Communicates escalations and resolutions clearly and timely to the Operations Manager
• Models ownership and accountability during high-stress or urgent situations

Accountability & Impact

Program Managers are directly accountable for:

• Quality of care and safety of individuals served
• Staff performance, training, and retention
• Compliance and audit outcomes
• Home operations and service stability
• High-fidelity implementation of ABA-based behavior supports and clinical programming within assigned homes

Additional Requirements

• Employees must maintain sufficient physical stamina, balance, coordination, and emotional regulation to lead effectively in both residential and office-based environments.
• The role requires the ability to transition between administrative office work and active field-based leadership in residential homes, sometimes within the same workday.
• Must be able to implement and sustain trained crisis intervention and de-escalation procedures (PCMA) in accordance with policy.
• Must demonstrate the ability to remain calm, alert, and physically capable during high-stress or physically demanding situations involving persons served with challenging behaviors.
• Must possess the fine motor, gross motor, and sensory abilities necessary to operate computers, assistive technology, and classroom equipment safely and effectively.

Working Conditions

• The working conditions described below represent those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of the Community Living Program Manager role.
• This position is primarily home-based and includes active, in-person leadership within 24/7 residential environments, with additional administrative and meeting responsibilities performed at BHA administrative offices or other work locations as required.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made, in accordance with applicable law, to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform these functions safely and effectively.
• However, employees must be able to perform the essential duties in a manner that ensures the safety and supervision of persons served at all times.

Training and Development

• Required company trainings
• Trainings deemed necessary by supervisor

Starting Pay

• Our compensation is competitive within the market.
• The starting rate for this position begins at $60,000 annually, with your final offer based on a combination of your education, relevant experience, and overall qualifications.