Lenox Hill Neighborhood House, widely recognized as one of New York’s premier human services providers, is a settlement house founded in 1894 that provides an extensive array of effective and integrated services—social, educational, health, housing, mental health, nutritional and fitness—which significantly improve the lives of 16,000 people in need each year, ages 3 to 103, on the East Side of Manhattan. Our clients include older adults, homeless and formerly homeless adults, children and families, recent immigrants, disabled persons, adult learners and more. For more information on Lenox Hill Neighborhood House, please visit lenoxhill.org and check us out on Facebook or Instagram. 

Located on the Upper East Side of Manhattan in the historic mixed-used Park Avenue Armory, Lenox Hill Neighborhood House’s Women’s Mental Health Shelter is a 24-hour program that addresses the critical issues facing 80 homeless women, age 45 and over, who have histories of mental illness. Through a comprehensive continuum of care and programming that includes social work services, medical, nursing and psychiatric care, specialized peer support, housing placement, benefits assistance, arts and recreation and food and nutrition programs, our talented, multi-disciplinary team which includes social workers, mental health clinicians, nurses, psychiatric providers, peer advocates and program assistants, help clients to transition from homelessness to permanent housing.

Reporting to the Deputy Director, the Director of Social Services is responsible for executing and implementing our highly individualized and holistic mental health model to assist our clients obtain long-term mental health stability and secure housing. Candidates must have a focus on community-based human services with a social justice lens and be dedicated to supporting our clients as they optimize their wellness. The Director of Social Services will have primary responsibility for supervising all comprehensive social services and housing services in a person-centered and trauma-informed way at our Women’s Mental Health Shelter.

The Director of Social Services will: 

• Lead our multi-disciplinary social services and housing team and supervise the provision of all services designed to stabilize clients and move them from homelessness to housing
• Supervise a team of staff, including peer advocates, graduate student interns, and other program staff
• Liaise effectively and serve as point person with governmental partners, community-based landlords and other housing providers to track, monitor and implement successful housing outcomes for our clients
• Manage entire housing process and life cycle of clients from intake to stabilization to placement, including the completion of 2010E applications, voucher eligibility forms, housing applications, and successful housing interview participation
• Assist with treatment planning and implementation, case conferences, and weekly clinical and housing staff meetings in addition to collaborating effectively with on-site psychiatric and medical providers
• Assist with the creation of innovative programming, support groups and community building events
• Provide direct services to clients including assessment, counseling, case management and referral to resources
• Conduct chart reviews, ensure quality assurance and compliance with clinical best practices and all relevant government requirements
• On a rotating basis with other shelter leaders, provide 24-hour on-call support for non-clinical staff
• Maintain and ensure the timely management of client records, data collection, and project completion
• Collaborate with Lenox Hill Neighborhood House’s staff from multiple departments and disciplines as well as other community-based partners to maximize support and program offerings
• Complete all other responsibilities and duties as assigned by Supervisor

Qualifications: The successful Director of Social Services possesses a minimum of five years clinical experience working directly with clients in relevant fields, including homelessness, chronic mental illness, substance abuse, trauma, and/or residential services; will have demonstrated supervisory and management experience; and excellent oral and written communication and organizational skills. The ideal candidate possesses excellent leadership, engagement, interpersonal, emotional intelligence, and clinical skills to effectively collaborate with a range of key stakeholders and community providers. Master’s in social work, mental health counseling or related field required along with applicable licensure (LMSW, LCSW, LMHC, SIFI Certification etc.) required. Spanish fluency is ideal.

The Director of Social Services will be a compassionate, energetic, organized and self-motivated leader. Given our 24/7 operating schedule and the expansive needs of our clients, the Director of Social Services must be willing to work a full-time, Sunday through Thursday 11am-7pm schedule with rotating on-call requirements. Competitive salary with a comprehensive benefits package available.

Applicants should submit a redacted client synopsis along with their application materials, which is representative of their clinical expertise and experience working with our client population. Please include this as an attachment and limit your submission to 2 pages.

Salary: $90,000 annually

What We Offer

• Comprehensive health insurance choices for staff and their families 
• Extensive paid time off – 25 days’ vacation and discretionary time; 13 holidays; and substantial sick time
• Retirement savings plans with 5% match up
• Wonderful paid parental leave policy for all staff
• Professional Development Opportunities – conferences, trainings, lectures and more
• Free Life Insurance – 3x annual salary
• Pre-tax Flexible Spending Accounts for Medical, Dependent Care and Parking/Mass Transit
• Supplemental Insurance Coverage (Accident, Hospital and Critical Illness) 
• We like to have fun! Monthly Film and Dinner nights, bowling parties, Mets and Yankee games, cruises, food trucks, holiday parties, parties on our two Green Roofs, chocolate event for Valentine’s Day and ice cream socials, and much more.
• State-of-the Art Fitness Center, Gym and Swimming Pool
• Staff yoga and boot camp classes (six a week), swimming lessons and lap swim for staff 
• PSLF (Public Service Loan Forgiveness) Eligible Employer
• The best colleagues in New York!

Lenox Hill Neighborhood House is a client-facing and essential community-serving organization. To keep our clients and our colleagues safe, and to comply with various governmental contractual requirements, all new employees must be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 (except where valid medical exemptions apply) and will be required to submit proof prior to the time of onboarding.

At Lenox Hill Neighborhood House we value respect, diversity and integrity. We are an equal opportunity employer. Lenox Hill Neighborhood House prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type and affords equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law. Lenox Hill Neighborhood House conforms to the spirit as well as to the letter of all applicable laws and regulations. The policy of equal employment opportunity (EEO) and anti-discrimination applies to all aspects of the relationship between Lenox Hill Neighborhood House and its colleagues.