Senior Clinical Program Manager - Crisis Solutions Center

Shift: Office Day

Days Off: Saturday, Sunday

Insurance Benefits: Medical, Dental, Life, Long-term Disability

Other Benefits: Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Flexible Spending Account (FSA), ORCA card subsidy, Paid Time Off (34 days per year), Retirement Plan

About DESC:

DESC (Downtown Emergency Service Center) is a nonprofit organization working to help people with the complex needs of homelessness, substance use disorders, and serious mental illness achieve their highest potential for health and well-being through comprehensive services, treatment, and housing. Our vision is a community where no person is abandoned, ignored, or experiencing homelessness.

As the region's leading provider of services to multiply disabled adults who have experienced chronic homelessness, DESC serves almost 3,000 people each day. Our integrated service model is designed to help people secure and maintain appropriate, safe and affordable housing. DESC is recognized nationally and regionally as an innovator in developing solutions to homelessness.

JOB DEFINITION

DESC is seeking an experienced Senior Program Manager who is interested in strengthening systems, supporting a team of program leaders, and contributing to high-quality crisis and diversion services for some of our community’s most vulnerable residents. This role provides senior leadership for facility-based crisis and diversion services within DESC’s Mobile Response Department.

In this role, you will oversee a multidisciplinary crisis stabilization program that provides essential mental health, substance use, and healthcare services to those experiencing an acute crisis and a diversion funds program that provides targeted financial assistance to help individuals connect to stable housing or reunite with family. Program scope may expand as services evolve.

You will lead and support program managers and coordinators, helping ensure services are delivered safely, equitably, and in alignment with DESC’s mission and values. The role balances operational leadership, staff development, funder partnership, and system coordination in a fast-paced, 24/7 crisis environment.

You will also play a key role in shaping and operationalizing program vision—translating strategy into practical systems, workflows, and leadership practices that support high-quality, responsive services. In partnership with DESC’s other agency leaders, this role supports program alignment with applicable healthcare regulations and contract requirements.

This position reports to the Director of Mobile Response Division and is a member of DESC’s senior management team.

JOB DUTIES

Program Leadership & Operations

• Provide overall leadership and oversight for assigned crisis and diversion programs, ensuring effective and coordinated service delivery.
• Support and develop program managers and coordinators as an integrated leadership team.
• Translate program vision into clear, workable systems and day-to-day operational practices.
• Provide on-call leadership coverage as part of a rotating schedule to support 24/7 operations.
• With support from Human Resources and agency leadership, oversee program operations in alignment with DESC personnel policies, applicable Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs), and employment practices.

Staff Supervision & Workforce Support

• Provide direct supervision to program leadership staff and coordinators.
• Maintain flexibility in supervisory assignments, including temporarily providing supervision to supervisory or direct service staff when needed to ensure continuity, safety, and staff support.
• Partner with Human Resources to support recruitment, onboarding, performance management, and retention.
• Promote staff well-being, equity, and sustainability in high-acuity work environments.
• Support and encourage the development of internship, student, or trainee opportunities when operationally feasible.

Clinical, Medical & System Collaboration

• Work in close partnership with senior medical, clinical, and operational leaders to support integrated, client-centered services.
• Partner with the program’s Medical Director to ensure program operations reflect the needs and responsibilities of prescribing providers and medical staff.
• Support coordination across crisis response programs and community partners to promote continuity of care.

External Partnerships, Funders & Contracts

• Build and maintain strong relationships with external partners, including healthcare providers, community organizations, funders, and contract administrators.
• Serve as a programmatic liaison with funders, participating in meetings, site visits, and contract discussions.
• Communicate program outcomes, challenges, and capacity needs in a transparent and collaborative manner.
• Work in partnership with DESC’s contracts, finance, and grants teams to support funding alignment, renewals, and reporting expectations.

Accountability & Continuous Improvement

• With guidance from DESC’s compliance and quality teams, support program compliance with applicable healthcare regulations and funding requirements.
• Partner with finance, quality, and data teams to support accurate reporting, monitoring, and audit readiness.
• Use data, staff feedback, and operational experience to identify risks, improve services, and strengthen program sustainability.
• Support program readiness for licensing requirements applicable to facility-based crisis services as programs evolve.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

•   Eligible for a Licensed AAC credential or any other superseding credential that meets RCW 71.05.020 requirements to act as a Mental Health Professional whose scope of practice includes independently conducting mental health assessments and making mental health diagnoses.
• Master’s degree in Social Work, Counseling, Psychology, Nursing, Public Health, or a related field.
• Two or more years' experience in community based behavioral health services.
• One or more years' supervisory experience.
• One or more years' of project or program management experience.
• Experience working with adults experiencing homelessness, mental illness and/or substance use disorders.
• Experience leading teams in complex or fast-paced environments.
• Commitment to harm reduction, trauma-informed care, recovery-oriented practice, and equity.
• Demonstrated strong communication, leadership, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work flexible hours, including on-call coverage, as needed.
• Ability to pass a Washington State criminal background check

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience supervising managers or senior staff.
• Experience working with public funding, contracts, or funders.
• Experience supporting workforce development or training initiatives.
• Bilingual or bicultural background.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee will be required to sit for long periods of time, walk when completing rounds several times a day, move quickly during de-escalations, communicate with other persons by talking and hearing, and lift and carry items weighing up to 25 pounds and to operate computer hardware systems. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER:

DESC is committed to diversity in the workplace and promotes equal employment opportunities for all staff members and applicants. The Agency will not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of race, creed, color, sex, gender, sexual orientation, age, national origin, caste, marital status, or the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability in any employment practice, unless based on a bona fide occupational qualification. Minorities and veterans are encouraged to apply.