Assistant Program Director

Position Purpose

The Assistant Program Director supports the Program Director and serves as a secondary liaison with the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) for the FSA Journey to Home LTFC Program. The position assists in the day-to-day management of programmatic, administrative, and operational functions and ensures continuity of leadership and ORR communication in the Program Director’s absence. This is a key personnel position requiring ORR prior credential approval.

Organization Overview

Family Services of America (FSA) is a CARF-accredited behavioral health and child welfare organization headquartered in Fayetteville, NC, with 14 years of experience in trauma-informed care, licensed foster care, and evidence-based programs (TFTC, SPARCS, TF-CBT). The FSA Journey to Home – Long-Term Foster Care (LTFC) Program is an ORR-funded program providing foster care placement and wraparound services for children in care. All positions operate within FSA’s compliance framework and the ORR UACB Policy Guide, 45 CFR Part 410 (Foundational Rule), 45 CFR Part 411 (Prevention of Sexual Abuse), CARF accreditation standards, and NC DHHS residential licensing.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Operational Support: Support the Program Director in managing the daily programmatic, administrative, and operational systems of the LTFC program and ensure operational readiness across all shifts.

• Secondary ORR Liaison: Serve as secondary liaison with the ORR Project Officer, supporting timely reporting, significant incident reporting, and program communication.

• Staffing & Ratio Monitoring: Monitor staffing levels and coverage against ORR and NC licensing ratios; coordinate holiday, weekend, and overtime workforce plans.

• Compliance Coordination: Assist in maintaining compliance with the Cooperative Agreement, UACB Policy Guide, CARF standards, 45 CFR Parts 410 and 411, and NC DHHS licensing requirements.

• Quality Assurance: Participate in ongoing quality assurance reviews of children’s case files and personnel records to identify areas for improvement.

• Leadership Continuity: Assume the duties and authority of the Program Director during planned and unplanned absences to ensure uninterrupted program leadership.

Minimum Qualifications (Required)

• Bachelor’s degree in education, psychology, sociology, or other relevant behavioral science

• Five (5) years of progressive employment experience with a social services or childcare agency or organization

• Must be at least 21 years of age

• Must pass ORR-required background investigations and provide proof of required immunizations

• ORR prior credential approval required before assuming the position

Preferred Qualifications

• ORR LTFC or unaccompanied children’s residential program experience (preferred keyword)

• Bilingual (English/Spanish)

• CARF and NC DHHS licensing familiarity

• Supervisory experience in a trauma-informed residential setting

Language: Bilingual English/Spanish is preferred for this role. Consistent with the Cooperative Agreement, the majority of staff responsible for direct service delivery must be bilingual in English and Spanish or other languages based on the demographics of children served.

Essential Functions (ADA)

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Cooperative Agreement requirement that each job description include an Essential Functions section, the essential functions of this position include:

• Ability to communicate effectively in spoken and written English (and Spanish where required by role).

• Ability to read, interpret, and apply program policies, ORR requirements, and licensing standards.

• Ability to operate standard office technology, electronic health records, and the ORR UC Portal as applicable to the role.

• Ability to sit, stand, and move about the facility for extended periods to perform assigned duties.

• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position, consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Background Investigation & Conditions of Employment

• Must be at least 21 years of age and exhibit integrity and good moral character to provide appropriate care to unaccompanied children.

• Must complete and pass all ORR-required background investigations prior to hire and before gaining access to children, including FBI national criminal history fingerprint check, State repository check, child abuse and neglect record checks (for all jurisdictions lived in for the past 5 years), and a DOJ National Sex Offender Public Website check.

• Must show proof of immunity to vaccine-preventable diseases transmitted by the respiratory route if working directly with children (including varicella and others per ORR and State licensing).

• Must complete all required pre-service and ongoing training per the Cooperative Agreement Section E (Training).

• Must not be excluded from participation in any federal or state program (OIG, SAM).

• FSA will maintain a complete personnel file per UACB Policy Guide requirements, including resume, job description, references, educational records, licensure (if applicable), I-9, immunization records, mandated-reporter agreement, and background check results.

Confidentiality and Records

All employees must sign and abide by FSA’s Confidentiality Agreement and complete required training during orientation and annually thereafter. Staff will have access to confidential information regarding children in care and, where applicable, Protected Health Information (PHI). Unauthorized use or disclosure of confidential information or PHI is grounds for immediate termination and may carry civil and criminal penalties under applicable federal and North Carolina law.

Compensation

• Salary: $57,800–$68,000 annually, based on experience and qualifications (salary capped at the approved budget for this ORR LTFC position)
• Employment Type: Full-time (1.0 FTE)
• Pay Schedule: Bi-monthly (24 pay periods per year)
• FLSA Status: Exempt – Professional/Administrative (29 C.F.R. §541)
• Employment Status: At-will employment, subject to the Family Services of America Employee Handbook and progressive discipline policy

Benefits

• Group health insurance (coverage begins after the eligibility period)
• Dental and vision insurance (coverage begins after the eligibility period)
• Employer-paid basic life insurance
• Paid Time Off (PTO) accrued from the date of hire, including vacation, sick leave, and personal leave in accordance with FSA policy
• Paid federal holidays
• Continuing education and professional development opportunities related to ORR LTFC services
• Workers' compensation coverage in accordance with North Carolina law
• Mileage reimbursement at the current GSA standard rate for approved work-related travel