Assistant Director Residential Foster Home
St. Petersburg, FL - USA
Job Summary
We are a purposefully disruptive nonprofit serving youth impacted by foster care economic instability and systemic inequity through residential care private education workforce development and international sailing expeditions.
Our residential model is built around relationships consistency accountability and meaningful experiences. We believe young people thrive when they are surrounded by adults who show up hold high expectations and create opportunities for them to experience success.
The Assistant Program Director (APD) is a hands-on residential leader responsible for the culture consistency and quality of care within one of SailFutures family-style foster homes serving six teenage boys.
The APD leads a team of Residential Youth Counselors and works closely with mental health education and program leadership to create a stable engaging home environment where youth can build relationships develop independence and make meaningful progress toward their goals.
This is not a traditional administrative leadership position. The APD is deeply involved in the daily life of the home: sharing meals navigating challenges celebrating milestones supporting school and employment goals leading adventures and helping young people develop the skills necessary for adulthood.
SailFutures residential program extends well beyond the home. Youth participate in year-round education career development and extended international sailing expeditions. The APD helps connect these experiences into a consistent individualized approach for each young person.
Working hours: 12-8pm Monday - Friday
Commit to a 2 week on 1 week off rotation on international sailing expeditions twice per year (8 weeks total annually)
Share weekend on-call rotation with RPD PD and LMHC
Build strong consistent and meaningful relationships with each youth in the home
Create a home culture grounded in belonging accountability respect and high expectations
Serve as a mentor and role model while helping youth navigate challenges relationships school employment and the transition to adulthood
Coordinate services and daily expectations around each youths individualized treatment and case plan
Participate in treatment plan meetings and ensure goals are translated into meaningful daily practices within the home
Encourage and facilitate participation in extracurricular activities employment sailing recreation and other positive community experiences
Lead program visits and interviews with youth considering placement in the home
Ensure a welcoming organized and thoughtful intake process for new youth
Coordinate successful transitions and ensure required discharge documentation is completed
Develop and manage the weekly schedule for youth and residential staff
Coordinate appointments transportation school activities employment schedules and extracurricular commitments
Coordinate weekly grocery shopping household supplies and meal planning
Manage youth allowances BusyKid accounts incentives and related systems
Plan and coordinate weekly traditions recreational activities and adventures that contribute to a strong home culture
Share responsibility for the residential on-call schedule with program leadership
Maintain accurate youth profiles schedules records and other program information within organizational systems
Ensure incident reports and other required documentation are completed accurately and on time
Maintain effective communication across shifts and departments to ensure continuity of care
Collaborate closely with mental health education case management and residential teams to ensure consistency across each youths treatment and case plans
Ensure medications are administered and documented according to policy and that medication records are accurate and submitted on time
Ensure monthly treatment plan reviews and required case management documentation are completed on schedule
Coordinate documentation related to independent living and life-skills development
Maintain complete accurate and organized client records
Support annual licensing re-licensing monitoring visits and program audits
Ensure residential practices consistently meet licensing requirements organizational policies and standards of care
Provide day-to-day leadership coaching and accountability for Residential Youth Counselors
Create clear expectations and ensure consistency across staff schedules and shifts
Coordinate staff scheduling and time-off requests while maintaining appropriate coverage
Conduct regular supervision feedback and performance conversations with residential staff
Complete formal employee performance reviews in partnership with the Program Director
Assist with recruiting interviewing onboarding and training new team members
Model strong communication sound judgment professionalism and a youth-centered approach
Address staff or program concerns proactively and partner with the Program Director on solutions
Comply with AmeriCorps requirements for supervision
Maintain a clean safe organized and welcoming family-style home
Ensure youth bedrooms and shared living spaces meet expectations for cleanliness and safety
Coordinate routine maintenance landscaping repairs and facility needs
Ensure appliances equipment vehicles pool systems and other household assets remain operational and in good condition
Maintain appropriate security throughout the home including electronic locks and restricted storage areas
Complete routine facility and safety checks and promptly address identified concerns
Work with program leadership captains educators and other team members to prepare youth and staff for extended sailing expeditions
Participate in domestic and international sailing expeditions as part of the experiential residential model
Provide residential leadership youth supervision and program continuity while underway
Help youth translate the challenges and accomplishments of expedition life into greater confidence independence teamwork and resilience at home
Demonstrated experience working with teenagers preferably youth impacted by foster care trauma juvenile justice involvement or other significant life challenges
Experience leading or supervising staff in a residential educational behavioral health youth development or similar environment
Strong relationship-building skills with the ability to balance empathy accountability and clear boundaries
Highly organized and capable of managing staff schedules documentation appointments and competing priorities
Excellent communicator and practical problem solver who remains composed in challenging situations
Willingness to be deeply involved in the everyday responsibilities of running a home and supporting six teenagers
Collaborative team player committed to working across disciplines in the best interest of youth
Comfortable with travel adventure and nontraditional learning environments
Sailing experience is a plus but not required
Annual Salary: $60000 Impact Compensation
Housing and meals provided year-round
Domestic and international sailing travel
Up to $250 per month toward health insurance
401(k) with up to 6% employer match
15 days of paid time off
Work cell phone provided
About Company
Based in St. Petersburg FL SailFuture serves 200 children and families a year through innovative programs ranging from international sailing expeditions to an entrepreneurship high school.