Director of Drop-in Services

ABOUT THE COMPANY

Our Mission: Since 1981 the Orangewood Foundation has passionately advocated for young people facing foster care homelessness and trafficking. Our mission is to empower these individuals by supporting the futures they envision providing dedicated one-on-one support to help them achieve their dreams and goals.

Our Programs & Services: We provide programs and services in four essential areas: Basic Needs & Support Education Life Skills & Employment and Transitional Housing & Support.

Our Vision: A community where every young person thrives. This is our long-term goal for young people in Orange County. We embody this goal every time we talk to a young person a volunteer a community member and to each other.

Our Commitment: Equal Opportunity Employer Flexible Scheduling Powerful Teamwork Personal Fulfillment Thriving Community Professional Development Mental & Physical Wellness Competitive Compensation

Our Values: At Orangewood recently ranked #27 in Best Places to Work 2025 we take pride in fostering a positive and supportive workplace culture. We ask all staff to uphold the following core values: Trust Respect Empathy Inclusion and Advocacy

JOB DESCRIPTION

Position Title: Director Drop-in Center Services

Employment Classification: Full Time Exempt

Reports to: Chief Program Officer

Department: Programs

Program Summary:

Orangewood Foundations Drop-In Center and Emergency Housing Assistance services provide safety stabilization and support to youth and young adults experiencing crisis. These programs include:

• Project CHOICE Serves youth ages 1121 who are at-risk currently experiencing or survivors of sex trafficking. Services include crisis intervention survivor-centered advocacy safety planning intensive care coordination life skills and connections to behavioral health and supportive services.
• Orangewood Resource Center (ORC) A low-barrier drop-in center for young people ages 1824 experiencing homelessness housing instability or other crises. The ORC provides access to basic needs housing navigation behavioral health support education and employment resources and intensive care coordination in a safe and trauma-informed environment.
• Emergency Housing Services Provides rapid housing support and financial assistance to prevent or resolve homelessness among youth and young adults. Services include rental assistance motel stays move-in support emergency financial resources and housing-focused care coordination.

Together these services offer a holistic and youth-centered continuum of care that empowers young people to build safety stability and self-sufficiency.

Position Summary:

The Program Director provides strategic and operational leadership for Orangewood Foundations Drop-In Center and Emergency Housing Assistance services. This role oversees program implementation team performance service quality and community partnerships to ensure youth receive coordinated trauma-informed support.

The Program Director leads a multidisciplinary team delivering crisis response intensive case management housing support and wraparound services rooted in trauma-informed care harm reduction cultural responsiveness and youth empowerment. This role collaborates closely with government agencies behavioral health systems social services and community partners to strengthen service coordination for vulnerable youth.

As a key member of the Leadership Team the Program Director contributes to organizational strategy program development and system-level advocacy to advance Orangewood Foundations mission. The role includes direct oversight and reflective supervision to support staff working in high-intensity environments and ensure adherence to ethical practice service quality and youth safety.

When considering this job opportunity please be aware that the role may involve high stress levels due to mitigating participant crises and potential exposure to vicarious trauma. It is essential to prioritize self-care and seek appropriate support when needed.

Major Areas of Responsibility:

Staff Supervision:

• Collaborate to recruit hire and retain a team of staff who are knowledgeable of issues affecting Transitional Age Youth (TAY) and can support young people who have experienced foster care homelessness mental health exploitation trafficking or are at-risk of being exploited.
• Supervises the Manager of Drop-in Center Services.
• Lead effective team meetings and weekly individual check-ins with direct report.
• Provide feedback and coaching to staff including goal setting and performance reviews.
• Provides coaching and guidance to staff in crisis situations and ensures staff and program participants safety are maintained throughout services.

Planning and Evaluation:

• Proposes plans implements maintains and evaluates Orangewood Foundations Drop-in Center programs and related service strategies.
• Accountable for the fulfilment of contract outcomes for the Drop-in Center programs.
• Meets regularly with funders and reports on contracted outcomes and deliverables.
• Ensures data accuracy in adherence to guidelines for reporting.
• Use evaluation findings to make improvements to the programs.
• Work with the Chief Program Officer to plan new program initiatives and expansion.
• Assist in the identification of new partnerships and resources for programming and support.
• Support fundraising and marketing efforts to grow the program resources.

Program Leadership:

• Provide on-call after-hours response to emergency situations.
• Develop update and implement Program policies and procedure ensuring all Program staff are knowledgeable of processes and expectations and the fidelity of organizational policies.
• Responsible for utilizing youth input on program practices to maintain services that are current relevant and consistent with the needs of young people.
• Solve daily problems by analyzing situations determining next steps and implementation.
• Demonstrate a solid understanding of child welfare issues to include trauma-informed care best practices and its implementation as well as cultural competency.
• Comprehensive understanding and experience in providing direct care and coordinated services to individuals who have experienced traumatic events.

Organizational Leadership:

• Ensure a safe friendly and supportive environment for program participants and staff.
• Establish open communication and positive relationships with staff across programs and departments.
• Participate in leadership meetings program events and staff retreats.
• Represent Orangewood Foundation and those we serve at relevant community meetings.

Knowledge Skill and Experience Requirements:

• Graduate of an Accredited Masters Program in Social Work Psychology Counseling or related field.
• Ability to assist Manager Supervisors and direct service staff with their skills development.
• Minimum of 2-3 years of experience in organizations servicing transitional age youth.
• Minimum of 3-5 years of leadership experience including supervision of multiple teams.
• Have an understanding of systemic issues which impact TAY such as issues with social services law enforcement criminal and civil legal systems.
• Experience in the development of new programs and enhancement of existing ones.
• Makes sound and timely decisions under pressure. Recognizes what is most suitable in particular situations. Effectively makes decisions in non-standard situations. Exhibits independence decisiveness and responsibility.
• Ability to work under pressure manage and meet deadlines.
• Strong written and oral communication skills and comfortable speaking in public or to large groups.
• Maintain a flexible schedule to be available as needed by the Programs.
• Ability to use Microsoft Office Outlook and develop presentations using Power Point or other applications.
• Possess a valid California drivers license and proof of automobile insurance. Position requires DMV clearance.
• Pre-employment screenings include criminal background check FBI/DOJ fingerprinting TB test drug screen and previous employment verification.
• A assessment is a required part of the application process and your application will be reviewed after assessment submission. Visit this link to learn more Qualities:
  • Understanding of and passion for the Foundations mission vision and values.
  • Enjoys working directly with young people volunteers community partners etc.
  • Flexibility with a value for teamwork and ability to be a positive role model.
  • Ability to multi-task with the capacity to learn quickly and integrate efficiently.

  
  

  Working Environment/Physical Requirements:

  • This position is not remote
  • Weekend and evening hours are required as needed to fulfill contractual requirements and support team.
  • Position may require use of personal vehicle.
  • Physical requirements include standing sitting typing bending and lifting up to approximately 25lbs. (i.e. tables chairs food water etc.).
  • Modification to work schedule may be made based on needs of the Foundation.

  
  

  EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

  Benefits:

  • Medical Blue Shield HMO & PPO HRA
  • Delta Dental
  • Vision (EyeMed Network)
  • FSA Healthcare & Dependent Care
  • Mental Health through Headspace (virtual & in person therapy included)
  • EAP through Umum & Headspace
  • Life/Disability/Accident/Critical Illness
  • Pet Insurance
  • 403b with company match
  • Cell Phone Stipend

  Time-off Benefits:

  • 5 Sick Days per year
  • Up to 3 Floating Holidays per year
  • Year one - 15 Days of PTO accrued at 5 hours per pay period
  • 13 Company Paid Holidays

  
  

  Orangewood Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race (including hair texture and protective hair styles such as braids locks and twists) religious creed (including religious dress and grooming practices) color national origin ancestry physical disability mental disability medical condition genetic information marital status sex (including pregnancy childbirth breastfeeding and/or related medical conditions) gender gender identity (including individuals who are transgender and/or transitioning) gender expression age sexual orientation reproductive health decision-making military and veteran status or any other protected group in accordance with all applicable federal or State laws.