What are the responsibilities and job description for the Unit Supervisor position at Career Opportunities?
Come join our life-changing team building hope, resilience and well-being as a Unit Supervisor in a Youth Residential Treatment Facility!
Shift Details: Full-time – 40 hours/week
Schedule: general business hours with flexibility required for a 24 hour facility, some evening and weekend hours to be expected
Compensation: $55,000-$60,000 annual salary
Bonus: $1,500 retention bonus paid in increments over 1 year: $500 at 90 days, $500 at 6 months, and $500 at 1 year.
Location: Avanti - 10300 Flanders St NE, Blaine, MN 55449
Primary Duty:
Oversee unit operations to ensure high-quality, therapeutic, youth‑centered care. Provide coaching, supervision, and support that builds staff capability and wellbeing to advance program outcomes, service impact, and a safe, accountable, and professional, work culture.
Essential Role Functions:
Youth‑Centered Therapeutic Environment
• Model and maintain a therapeutic, healing‑focused environment that supports safety and positive youth development through trauma‑informed, whole‑person practices.
• Lead and coach residential counselors to consistently apply relationship‑based, dignifying approaches.
• Provide real‑time guidance during crises and daily routines.
• Coach and support staff in safe, approved intervention strategies emphasizing prevention, de‑escalation, and post‑incident learning.
• Mediate conflicts using restorative, therapeutic approaches; escalate significant matters appropriately and document resolutions.
Staff Leadership, Supervision, and Development:
• Supervise staff through 1:1s, coaching, corrective action, and performance reviews delivered with clarity, compassion, and accountability.
• Invest in staff development plans and professional growth; recognize and reinforce strong performance.
• Lead or participate in team meetings and collaborative problem solving; promote cross‑disciplinary teamwork to maximize service impact.
• Collaborate with the Program Manager to maintain accurate staffing files and schedules.
• Partner with HR on payroll and personnel matters with integrity, confidentiality, and discretion.
Unit Operations, Safety, and Environment:
• Ensure an orderly, clean, and safe living environment; complete routine walkthroughs, safety searches, and room changes while upholding youth dignity and minimizing disruption.
• Manage unit supplies and inventory; follow up on maintenance requests to support safe and functional operations.
• Participate in drills and continuous quality improvement to sustain licensure and accreditation.
• Conduct planned/random camera checks for quality assurance and incident review in alignment with policy and privacy expectations.
Documentation, Compliance, and Quality Assurance:
• Review milieu documentation to ensure timely, accurate, and compliant records.
• Uphold HIPAA, confidentiality standards, ethical conduct, and professional boundaries in all interactions.
• Participate in quality improvement activities and assist in implementing corrective actions to maintain regulatory and accreditation standards.
Decision‑Making, Problem Solving, and Program Improvement:
• Recommend updates to policies and procedures, and communicate changes as directed by leadership.
• Contribute to short‑ and long‑term program planning; identify risks and propose mitigation strategies to protect youth, staff, and program outcomes.
• Investigate and resolve matters impacting unit operations or youth wellbeing within scope and in consultation with leadership as needed.
• Lead or participate in collaborative problem‑solving efforts to address unit‑wide challenges and improve service delivery.
Other Duties:
• Perform other duties as assigned.
Decision-Making Authority / Self‑Initiative:
• Contribute to short‑ and long‑term program planning; identify risks and propose mitigation strategies to protect youth, staff, and program outcomes.
• Investigate and resolve matters impacting unit operations or youth wellbeing within scope and in consultation with leadership as needed.
Oversee unit operations to ensure high-quality, therapeutic, youth‑centered care. Provide coaching, supervision, and support that builds staff capability and wellbeing to advance program outcomes, service impact, and a safe, accountable, and professional, work culture.
Essential Role Functions:
Youth‑Centered Therapeutic Environment
• Model and maintain a therapeutic, healing‑focused environment that supports safety and positive youth development through trauma‑informed, whole‑person practices.
• Lead and coach residential counselors to consistently apply relationship‑based, dignifying approaches.
• Provide real‑time guidance during crises and daily routines.
• Coach and support staff in safe, approved intervention strategies emphasizing prevention, de‑escalation, and post‑incident learning.
• Mediate conflicts using restorative, therapeutic approaches; escalate significant matters appropriately and document resolutions.
Staff Leadership, Supervision, and Development:
• Supervise staff through 1:1s, coaching, corrective action, and performance reviews delivered with clarity, compassion, and accountability.
• Invest in staff development plans and professional growth; recognize and reinforce strong performance.
• Lead or participate in team meetings and collaborative problem solving; promote cross‑disciplinary teamwork to maximize service impact.
• Collaborate with the Program Manager to maintain accurate staffing files and schedules.
• Partner with HR on payroll and personnel matters with integrity, confidentiality, and discretion.
Unit Operations, Safety, and Environment:
• Ensure an orderly, clean, and safe living environment; complete routine walkthroughs, safety searches, and room changes while upholding youth dignity and minimizing disruption.
• Manage unit supplies and inventory; follow up on maintenance requests to support safe and functional operations.
• Participate in drills and continuous quality improvement to sustain licensure and accreditation.
• Conduct planned/random camera checks for quality assurance and incident review in alignment with policy and privacy expectations.
Documentation, Compliance, and Quality Assurance:
• Review milieu documentation to ensure timely, accurate, and compliant records.
• Uphold HIPAA, confidentiality standards, ethical conduct, and professional boundaries in all interactions.
• Participate in quality improvement activities and assist in implementing corrective actions to maintain regulatory and accreditation standards.
Decision‑Making, Problem Solving, and Program Improvement:
• Recommend updates to policies and procedures, and communicate changes as directed by leadership.
• Contribute to short‑ and long‑term program planning; identify risks and propose mitigation strategies to protect youth, staff, and program outcomes.
• Investigate and resolve matters impacting unit operations or youth wellbeing within scope and in consultation with leadership as needed.
• Lead or participate in collaborative problem‑solving efforts to address unit‑wide challenges and improve service delivery.
Other Duties:
• Perform other duties as assigned.
Decision-Making Authority / Self‑Initiative:
• Contribute to short‑ and long‑term program planning; identify risks and propose mitigation strategies to protect youth, staff, and program outcomes.
• Investigate and resolve matters impacting unit operations or youth wellbeing within scope and in consultation with leadership as needed.
Job Highlights:
- Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance
- 403(b) Retirement Plan
- HSA & FSA Programs
- Employer Paid Life Insurance and Long-Term Disability
- Paid Time Off (Vacation, Holiday & Sick Days)
- Leadership Development Opportunities
Required Qualifications:
- BA/BS or equivalent experience.
- MN Statute 245I Mental Health Practitioner qualification.
- At least 1 year of successful leadership experience demonstrated in the mental health field
- 3 years of experience in direct care with children/adolescents experiencing emotional disturbance and/or serious mental health concerns.
- Must be 21 year of age or older with a current and valid Driver’s license with an acceptable driving record
- Leadership skills: critical thinking, creative problem solving, self-initiation, organization, professionalism, and excellent communication
About Us:
Volunteers of America Minnesota is a nonprofit health and human services organization that annually serves more than 25,000 children, adolescents and their families, older adults, students, persons with disabilities and special needs, and adults completing incarceration. Since 1896, we have helped people gain self-reliance, dignity, and hope.
Take pride in helping others and join us today!
At VOA, we celebrate sharing, encouraging and embracing diversity. Equal employment opportunities are available to all without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, age, physical and mental disability, marital status, parental status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, military and veteran status, and any other characteristic protected by applicable law. We believe that blending individual strengths and unique personal differences nurtures and supports our organizations’ shared commitment to our mission and creates an inclusive and diverse environment where everyone feels valued and has the opportunity to do their personal best.