Assistant Director of School Services in East Syracuse, New York at CONTACT COMMUNITY SERVICES INC

Exempt Status: Minimum of 35-40 hours per week.

Position Summary
The Assistant Director provides senior-level leadership and oversight across multiple programs and departments within the division, reporting directly to the Division Director. This position is responsible for supervising and developing a team of managers and program staff, establishing clear performance expectations, and fostering a high-performing, inclusive workplace culture. The Assistant Director plays a key role in workforce planning, hiring, onboarding, and professional development, ensuring staff at all levels are equipped to deliver high-quality, outcome-driven services.

The Assistant Director contributes to strategic planning, policy development, and program sustainability while using data to drive continuous improvement and ensure compliance with all funder, agency, and regulatory requirements. This position builds and maintains relationships with school districts, community partners, and stakeholders to advance the division's mission, and maintains proficiency in key practice areas including behavioral health, substance use disorders, suicide prevention, and crisis intervention.

Program Oversight
1. Support program managers and coordinators in sustaining a high-performing, collaborative work environment across school and community settings.
2. Monitor program fidelity to ensure services are delivered consistently with model requirements and funder expectations.
3. Review and approve program plans and reports submitted by managers to ensure alignment with division goals and priorities.
4. Identify and address barriers to service delivery, escalating issues to division leadership as appropriate.
5. Ensure programs maintain adequate resources, including staffing, materials, and space, to meet service demands.
6. Maintain training and proficiency in key practice areas, including behavioral health, substance use disorders, suicide prevention, and crisis intervention.
Data and Compliance
1. Support division leadership in accreditation processes, audit reviews, site visits, and internal quality assurance and CQI reviews.
2. Regularly review program metrics and ensure all required compliance reports are completed accurately and submitted on time to maintain accountability and meet funder and agency requirements.
3. Participate in annual needs assessments to identify community-specific risk and protective factors and inform program planning.
4. Analyze and apply data to monitor outcomes, drive continuous program improvement, and develop tracking systems that support compliance and accountability.
5. Ensure all data and records are maintained in accordance with privacy and confidentiality requirements.

Supervision and Hiring
1. Lead, supervise, and coach direct reports to ensure high-quality service delivery and program outcomes.
2. Establish clear performance expectations and accountability standards for managers, conducting regular one-on-ones to monitor progress and address challenges.
3. Identify and develop high-potential staff to build a leadership pipeline and support long-term workforce planning across programs.
4. Support and hold managers accountable for effectively supervising their own teams and adhering to agency policies, stepping in to provide interim leadership when a manager position is vacant.
5. Support managers in addressing personnel issues, conflicts, and disputes, escalating to HR as appropriate.
6. Partner with HR to recruit, screen, and hire qualified candidates, ensuring hiring practices are equitable, inclusive, and compliant with agency and legal standards.
7. Support managers in onboarding and training new staff to foster a positive understanding of organizational policies and objectives.
8. Foster cross-departmental collaboration, resolve conflicts, and champion a positive, inclusive workplace culture that promotes staff engagement and retention.

Education Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology, Social Work or related field, master’s preferred. Significant experience may substitute for educational requirement.
Fiscal Management
1. Assist Division leadership in budget development, planning and monitoring of financial resources.

Collaboration and External Relationships
1. Build and maintain collaborative relationships with school districts, administrators, and community partners to support division and program goals.
2. Represent and promote the organization at coalition meetings, school events, and professional forums to advance the division's mission and visibility.
3. Facilitate professional development workshops and training sessions to strengthen the skills and capacity of managers and program staff.

Strategic Development and Innovation
1. Contribute to organizational policy development and strategic planning to advance division goals and priorities.
2. Stay current on research, best practices, and emerging trends to inform and strengthen division programming.
3. Identify and support opportunities for program sustainability, including grant writing, partnerships, and resource development.
4. Participate in agency meetings and events to support organizational alignment and collaboration.
5. Perform other duties as required.