About Didi Hirsch

Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services has been a national leader in whole-person mental health, crisis care, and substance use services since 1942 and is home to the nation's first Suicide Prevention Center. We are a nonprofit organization providing care to nearly 200,000 people annually across our programs. Didi Hirsch has deep roots in community-based mental health and a commitment to providing culturally responsive services that are just and equitable.

As an organization, we value equity, diversity, and inclusion. More than 1,000 dedicated employees and volunteers make Didi Hirsch's work possible. We intentionally recruit and retain a workforce that is reflective of the communities we serve and strive to cultivate a sense of belonging for them. We embrace employees and candidates from all backgrounds who want to help make this vision a reality.

Summary

Under the general supervision of the Program Director, the Assistant Program Director will be responsible for supporting the Director in developing, implementing, and leading the Alternative Crisis Response programs, and in serving as the primary partnership and community liaison for those programs.

Primary Duties

Program Leadership

• Support the Program Director as the operations manager for the SPC Alternative Crisis Response programs, including 911 diversion and mobile response dispatch.
• Develop realistic and measurable objectives for one or more programs.
• Provide leadership to program staff ensuring that the client services meet or exceed contractual performance goals; ensure delivery of services in accordance with contracted guidelines and Didi Hirsch philosophies.
• Build, sustain and steward relationships geared towards fulfilling the agency mission with community members, officials, public and private organizations.
• Work with the Program Director to create and expand community service provider collaborations through partnerships and networking events, and lead collaborative initiatives.
• Provide guidance to Crisis Line program staff ensuring that the client services meet or exceed contractual performance goals; ensures delivery of services in accordance with contracted guidelines and Didi Hirsch philosophies.
• Attend, participate, lead and/or facilitates routinely scheduled meetings as requested or required.
• Interface with related community agencies, including but not limited to, the Los Angeles Suicide Prevention Network, LA County Department of Mental Health and LA County Department of Public Health.
• Provide support to SPC and agency executive leadership on special projects and grants, including oversight and responsibility of program and grant-related reports, invoice management, and meeting grant deliverables.

Management Duties

• Use human resource best practices to select and retain the department's consistent and high performing team members. This includes evidenced based interviewing and assessment techniques to select team members; using flexible and supportive feedback and management styles that foster open communications.
• Coach staff in the development of their work plans, assigned duties, responsibilities, and scope of authority.
• Complete management related documentation such as timekeeping records and performance evaluations, in a timely manner.
• Effectively hold staff accountable for meeting contractual requirements through frequent and regular feedback during administrative supervision sessions held on at least a monthly basis.
• Perform managerial duties to include interviewing applicants for employment; assigning and reviewing progress of assignments; conducting performance appraisals; recommending salary increases; and developing staff expertise.
• Identify staff training needs and ensure development and implementation of programs that address needs.

Program Quality, Compliance and Reporting

• Measure progress against plans and stated goals as it applies to program documentation.
• Review reports prepared by program staff to ensure all legal, contractual, and revenue-generating reports meet or exceed required agency and applicable regulatory agencies' standards.
• Ensure all administrative documentation, including data submission, is accurate and submitted within the established timeframe, and analyze information and prepare routine reports including those used to assess performance.

Financial Duties

• Efficiently utilizes financial resources while maintaining commitment to quality service when requesting and purchasing quality assurance program supplies.
• Assist Program Director in the development of program budget and ensures expenditures comply with approved budgets.

Position Requirements

• Bachelor's degree, or higher, in Psychology, Criminal Justice, Public Health, Social Work, Communications or a related field.
• 10 or more years professional experience in program management, non-profit, public health or technical assistance settings, with a minimum of 3 years of direct management experience.
• Experience leading and participating in task forces, committees, workgroups and advisory panels related to behavioral health policy and program development and implementation.
• Background and expertise in behavioral health, social work, the criminal justice system, and/or multi-system involved work.
• Knowledge of federal and state funding and reporting systems.
• Demonstrated ability to build and steward positive relationship with diverse community groups including communities of color, immigrant groups, the disability community, and other traditionally marginalized and non-dominant culture groups.
• Knowledge of established research and emerging trends in suicide prevention and crisis intervention work.
• Demonstrated project management skills including planning, developing timelines and implementation of projects.
• Outstanding communication skills with the ability to present ideas, information, and viewpoints clearly, both verbally and in writing, and to engage any individual regardless of background.
• Exceptional at multi-tasking and time management, able to drive multiple pieces of work forward simultaneously while meeting all deadlines.
• Goal-oriented team player with strong experience working in large and complex systems.
• Current California driver's license and a driving record acceptable to the Agency's insurance carrier.
• A commitment to team objectives and Didi Hirsch philosophies.
• These requirements are typically met by a combination of experience and education.