Director of VA Services in Santa Fe, New Mexico at Santa Fe Recovery Center

The Director of VA Services is responsible for the operational and programmatic success of Santa Fe Recovery Center’s Veteran Services, including the Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) Program. This position provides strategic leadership and oversight to ensure services are effectively designed and delivered to prevent homelessness, rapidly re-house Veterans and Veteran families experiencing homelessness, and promote long-term housing stability and self-sufficiency.

The Director is responsible for ensuring successful implementation of all VA-funded program requirements, grant objectives, performance measures, and deliverables. This role oversees program operations, staff performance, fiscal stewardship, data quality, compliance, community partnerships, and continuous quality improvement to ensure Veterans and their families receive timely, coordinated, and Veteran-centered services.

The Director works collaboratively with organizational leadership, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), community partners, housing providers, and other service systems to strengthen the continuum of care available to Veterans, including Veterans living in rural and underserved communities.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide strategic leadership and oversight of VA Services and ensure program operations align with SSVF grant requirements, organizational goals, and the mission of Santa Fe Recovery Center.
• Develop and implement strategies that support the prevention and reduction of homelessness among Veterans and Veteran families.
• Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with the Department of Veterans Affairs, grant representatives, community partners, Continuums of Care, housing providers, landlords, Veteran-serving organizations, and other stakeholders.
• Identify opportunities to expand access to services for Veterans in rural and underserved communities.
• Develop partnerships and service strategies that increase access to safe and stable housing and reduce barriers to housing placement and retention.
• Represent Santa Fe Recovery Center and VA Services in community meetings, collaborative initiatives, advisory groups, and other Veteran-focused planning efforts.
• Work closely with organizational leadership to ensure Veteran Services are integrated and coordinated with behavioral health, substance use treatment, peer support, case management, and other appropriate services.
• Work closely with Finance to ensure appropriate utilization of grant funds and alignment of program expenditures with approved grant budgets and requirements.
• Maintain regular communication with VA representatives and other funders as required.
• Oversee grant implementation, reporting, monitoring, renewal activities, and preparation for continued funding opportunities.
• Monitor grant utilization and program enrollment to support responsible stewardship of grant funding and continued program sustainability.
• Participate as an active member of the agency leadership team.
• Provide leadership, supervision, coaching, and professional development to VA Services staff.
• Develop and implement systems to evaluate staff skills, performance, training needs, and professional development opportunities.
• Establish clear performance expectations aligned with SSVF requirements, program outcomes, organizational standards, and Veteran-centered service delivery.
• Work with staff to develop objective performance measures that support accountability, high-quality service delivery, and achievement of grant objectives.
• Ensure staff understand eligibility requirements, documentation standards, housing-focused case management practices, allowable services, and grant expectations.
• Monitor staff productivity, caseloads, service delivery, documentation, and program outcomes.
• Promote a culture of accountability, collaboration, responsiveness, and continuous quality improvement.
• Ensure staff receive appropriate training and technical assistance related to Veteran homelessness, housing stability, SSVF requirements, trauma-informed care, and other evidence-based or best practices applicable to the population served.
• Oversee the daily operation and implementation of the SSVF Program and other assigned VA-funded services.
• Ensure services are delivered in accordance with VA requirements, grant agreements, organizational policies, and applicable federal requirements.
• Develop and maintain a service delivery model focused on rapidly resolving housing crises and helping Veterans and their families achieve and maintain permanent housing.
• Ensure eligible Veterans and Veteran families receive timely assessment, enrollment, housing-focused case management, referrals, supportive services, and other approved assistance.
• Ensure homelessness prevention services appropriately address Veterans and Veteran families who are at imminent risk of losing housing.
• Ensure rapid rehousing services support Veterans and Veteran families experiencing homelessness in obtaining permanent housing as quickly as possible.
• Develop and monitor strategies to improve Veteran outreach, engagement, enrollment, housing placement, housing retention, and successful program exits.
• Ensure rural Veterans and Veterans experiencing barriers to accessing services are identified and connected with appropriate resources.
• Develop and maintain strong referral pathways with VA programs, housing providers, landlords, shelters, healthcare providers, behavioral health programs, employment services, benefits programs, and other community resources.
• Monitor program enrollment and grant utilization to ensure available resources are effectively used to meet community need and grant expectations.
• Work collaboratively with Finance to monitor program expenditures, financial assistance, grant utilization, budget performance, and other fiscal requirements.
• Ensure appropriate internal controls are maintained for financial assistance and other grant-funded expenditures.
• Ensure accuracy, completeness, and timeliness of program documentation, data collection, data entry, and required reporting.
• Monitor program outcomes and performance measures and use data to identify trends, service gaps, and opportunities for improvement.
• Develop and implement corrective action and quality improvement strategies when program performance does not meet established expectations.
• Ensure timely completion and submission of VA reports, grant deliverables, program evaluations, renewal materials, Letters of Intent, applications, and other required documentation.
• Maintain systems and documentation necessary to demonstrate compliance during VA monitoring, audits, site visits, accreditation reviews, and other external reviews.
• Coordinate with organizational leadership to maintain applicable accreditation standards and ensure VA Services remain prepared for accreditation and compliance reviews.
• Develop written procedures, workflows, and program standards that clearly define the Veteran’s service experience from referral and eligibility determination through enrollment, housing stabilization, and program exit.
• Maintain confidentiality and ensure compliance with applicable organizational, federal, VA, and grant requirements.
• Perform other duties as assigned in support of Veteran Services and organizational objectives.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Skills/Knowledge/Abilities:

1. Demonstrated ability to provide leadership and operational oversight for complex grant-funded programs.
2. Knowledge of homelessness prevention, rapid rehousing, housing stabilization, case management, and services for Veterans and their families.
3. Demonstrated ability to interpret and operationalize grant requirements, performance measures, policies, and program standards.
4. Demonstrated experience using data to measure program outcomes, monitor operational performance, and drive continuous quality improvement.
5. Strong fiscal management skills, including experience monitoring grant expenditures, utilization, budgets, and program resources.
6. Demonstrated leadership and ability to influence, develop, and hold teams accountable for achieving program and organizational objectives.
7. Ability to develop and maintain effective relationships with government agencies, funders, community organizations, housing providers, and other stakeholders.
8. Strong project management, organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
9. Strong verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to prepare professional reports and communicate effectively with funders and community partners.
10. Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a complex and changing environment.
11. Knowledge of trauma-informed, person-centered, and culturally responsive approaches to serving Veterans and families.
12. Adaptable, flexible, collaborative, and solution-focused.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

1. Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Social Work, Human Services, Public Administration, Behavioral Health, or a related field preferred. Relevant leadership and program management experience may be considered in accordance with organizational requirements.
2. At least five years of progressively responsible experience in human services, behavioral health, housing, homelessness services, Veteran services, grant-funded programming, or a related field.
3. Supervisory or management experience with demonstrated responsibility for staff development, program operations, and performance management preferred.
4. Experience managing federal, state, or other publicly funded grants preferred.
5. Experience with housing-focused programs, homelessness prevention, rapid rehousing, or Veteran-serving programs strongly preferred.
6. Demonstrated project management experience with responsibility for complex initiatives resulting in measurable program outcomes.
7. Strong data analysis and computer skills, including the ability to monitor program performance and prepare required reports.
8. Strong verbal, written, and professional presentation skills.
9. Ability to work collaboratively across departments and with external community and government partners.