Program Specialist Pittsburgh

Title: Program SpecialistService Line / Department: ResidentialReports To: Associate Director ResidentialStatus: ExemptMission AlignmentThe Program Specialist advances the mission of Barber National Institute (BNI) by ensuring individuals receiving residential supports experience safe consistent person-centered care that promotes belonging independence and quality of life. Through strong care coordination regulatory compliance and team alignment this role helps make dreams come true by strengthening daily practices that supporteach individualsgoals and community / General DescriptionThe Program Specialist (PS) provides oversight of individual programming documentation regulatory compliance and team processes across residential Community Homes. This exempt role isgenerally scheduledMonday through Friday withweekendand on-call responsibilities as needed. The PS serves as an internal lead for care coordinationprogrammatic health behavioral and socialensuring services align witheach individualsIndividual Support Plan (ISP)Chapter 6400 and6100regulations. The PS partners with Residential Supervisors Lead Direct Support Professionals and Associate Directors to promote consistent person-centered practices documentation quality and regulatory Functions / Key ResponsibilitiesServe as the internal lead for individual care coordinationprogrammatic health social and behavioralensuring continuity of supports and clear communication with staff families and externalpartners.*Develop implement andmonitorindividualized supports aligned toeach individualsISP to strengthen independence belonging and meaningful communityengagement.*Ensure individual needs preferences and outcomes are implementedin accordance withthe ISP; verify staffdemonstratecompetency in individual-specific supports andprotocols.*Coordinate and complete assessments and ISP responsibilities under Chapter 6400 including plan lead responsibilities implementation monitoring documentation of progress and communication with Supports Coordinators and plan teammembers.*Review daily documentation for narrative quality timeliness and accuracy; provide corrective feedback and follow-up to improve consistency and regulatoryreadiness.*Review and sign required monthly documentation of progress toward ISP outcomes; ensure updates are shared with the Supports Coordinator and plan team members perrequirements.*Oversee health and safety follow-up including medical appointments transportation coordination medication administration oversight adaptive equipment monitoring and risk escalation perpolicy.*Maintainaccuratetimely and regulation-compliant documentation including assessments quarterly reports service notes MARs health records behavioral documentation and electronic health systemsentries.*Conduct in-person visits to each Community Home at minimum twice weekly at varied times tomonitorservice quality documentation accuracy and staff implementation ofplans.*Prepare for licensing inspections and contractual reviews; ensure program components documentation and physical sites meet regulatorystandards.*Enter critical events into the Enterprise Incident Management system andimmediatelyreport suspected abuse to ensure individual safety and regulatorycompliance.*Support internal audits and complete plans of correction asrequired; ensure completion of Health Risk Screening tools inventories Self-Inspection packets and fire safetymonitoring.*Coordinate intake admission discharge and annual meetings; support Every Day Lives principles by promoting community integration communication and meaningfulengagement.*Manage individual benefits in collaboration with the Benefit Specialist including spend-down processes documentation of safeguarded funds and verification of financial transactions to ensure regulatory compliance and protection of individualassets.*Ensuretimelyandaccuratecompletion of Health Risk Screening toolsrequiredinventories and Self-Inspection packets; review for completeness andinitiatecorrective action when deficiencies areidentified.*Foster a culture of learning and development by supporting onboarding and reinforcing individual-specific care standards and ISPrequirements.*Collaborate with Residential Supervisors Lead Direct Support Professionals and Associate Directors to promote consistent care practices and teamalignment.*Maintain professional working relationships with inter-agency partners to support continuity of care in committee work and cross-functional initiatives that strengthen residential quality consistency and regulatory in weekend on-call rotation andmaintainavailability during weekdays to stabilize services and respond to emerging programneeds.*Translate organizational and service-line priorities into clear program-level goals team expectations and measurable outcomes to ensure consistent execution and collaborative working relationships with internal departments and community partners to support coordinated responsive services for individuals and operational trends local challenges and regulatory updates thatimpactthe program; communicate relevant observations to leadership to support continuous a culture of psychological safety continuous learning and accountability by encouraging open dialogue shared problem-solving and professional growth within the in personal leadership development by engaging in Learning and Development opportunities seeking feedback and modeling the Core Commitments in daily leader-level responsibilities including supervision coaching scheduling performance feedback and operational oversight; delegate appropriately and limit routine frontline coverage to emergent mission-centered communication confidentiality and professional conduct to ensure alignment with organizational values and a respectful inclusive team a safe supportive environment by modeling and reinforcing safety practices ensuring staffparticipatein required safety learning and escalating risks promptly to protect individuals families and teammembers.*Partner with core administrative teamsincluding Governance Risk and Compliance; Human Resources; Information Technology; Finance; and Strategic Communicationsto meet requirements uphold policies support recruitment and staff development ensure technology and data security practices are followed align to budget processes and strengthen timely mission-centered communication across the organization.*Model BNIs Core Commitments collaboration transparent communication problem-solving adaptability and ethical judgment andmaintainconfidentiality of sensitive informationin accordance withpolicy and applicablelaws.*Performs other related duties consistent with the scope and intent of the role to support program operations regulatory compliance and quality of care. Understands that responsibilities may evolve based on program needs regulatory changes or organizational priorities. Recognizes thatadditionalwork or extended hours including evenings or weekends may berequiredto meet program demands. Completes all required annual in-service hours andadditionalLearning and Development activities in compliance with applicable regulations and agencystandards.**Essential function of the job as designated by Barber National Institute for ADA purposes (used to support ADA compliance and the interactive process).Core Commitments (Leader)Core Commitments define how the work is done. Team members in this roledemonstratecollaboration transparent communication problem-solving adaptability confidentiality and ethical Driver: Sets SMART goals monitorsprogress andholds team members accountable for results and Decision Maker: Gathers and interprets data evaluates risks and considers multiple perspectives when making Solver: Breaks down issuesidentifiesroot causes applies structured solutions and engages staff in Influencer: Builds trust responds with empathy addresses conflict fairly and creates an inclusive team Cultivator: Develops team strengthscoachesperformance supports learning and builds bench Navigator: Explains the why behind change supports staff through transitions and reinforces Communicator: Provides clear expectationstimelyfeedback and open communication; avoids gossip and :Manages resources responsibly uses data to inform decisions and balances service quality with operational :Masters degree with one year working directly with individuals with intellectual disabilities or autism; OR bachelors degree with two years working directly with individuals with intellectual disabilities or autism; OR associates degree or 60 credit hours with four years working directly with individuals with intellectual disabilities or :Demonstratedexperience supporting person-centered planning documentation quality and regulatory compliance in residential or community-based services strongly :Equivalent combinations of education and substantial residential services experience may be considered when the candidatedemonstratescapability in ISP/Chapter 6400 responsibilities documentation accuracy risk escalation and coordination of individual Administration certificationandCPR and First Aidcertificationsupon hire. Valid drivers license and ongoing compliance with all agency and insurer driving eligibility requirements arerequiredfor any role-related Skills and AbilitiesMaintainsaccuratetimely and regulation-compliant documentation across health behavioral and programmatic communicationand collaboration skills with families staff and interdisciplinary person-centered planning principles to ensure individualized holistic onboarding and ongoing Learning and Development efforts to strengthen service effectively to incidents and emergencies with sound judgment and in electronic documentation and incident management & Environmental RequirementsWork occurs primarily within residential Community Homes and community-based environments including indoor and outdoorsettings.*Frequent standing walking bending kneeling reaching andassistingindividuals with mobility and daily living activities as required by supportneeds.*Ability to lift transfer reposition orassistindividuals weighing up to 50 lbs. independently and up to 100 lbs. withassistanceor adaptive equipment consistent with safe liftingpractices.*Ability to safelyassistindividuals with ambulation wheelchair mobility transfers and positioning including the use of lifts or other assistive equipment whereapplicable.*Ability to respond quickly to behavioral or medical emergencies including the physical capability to implement approved safety or behavioral support interventions whennecessary.*Ability to perform repetitive physical tasks associated with daily living support household activities and community participation (e.g. meal preparation cleaning shopping and transporting individuals).*Ability to enter and exit vehicles drive agency vehicles andassistindividuals entering and exiting vehicles for community activities andappointments.*Ability to navigate community environments including uneven surfaces stairs curbs and public spaces while supporting individualssafely.*Ability to remain alert and responsive during shifts including overnight or extended shifts if applicable to programneeds.*Exposure to typical household environments including cleaning agents cooking equipment varying noise levels and pets may occur in residentialsettings.*ADA: Barber National Institute provides reasonable accommodation to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the StatementThis position requires successful completion of all regulatory and agency-mandated clearances including criminal background checks child abuse clearances and fingerprinting as applicable. Ongoing compliance with all required clearances professional development and certification requirements outlined in applicable laws regulations and agency policies staff mustmaintainconfidentiality and uphold Barber National Institutes mission values and ethical standards.