Director of Transitional Care

Organization

Palmer Home for Children provides superior care for children while introducing the love of God through our service to each individual child.

Position Summary

Reporting to the Senior Director of Children's Programs, the Director of Transitional Care provides strategic and operational leadership for Palmer Home's Transitional Care Program serving young adults transitioning to independence.

The Director is responsible for leading and strengthening the existing Transitional Care program while designing and implementing the future model of care for young adults in alignment with Palmer Home's strategic plan. This includes developing a structured program that establishes clear expectations, milestones, and accountability for young adults participating in Transitional Care; expanding virtual and community-based services; and exploring sustainable housing solutions that support increasing independence.

This position requires a leader who can effectively manage current services while also building what comes next—turning strategic direction and needs into practical programs, partnerships, and measurable outcomes.

Key Areas of Responsibility

Program & Team Leadership

- Provide overall leadership and accountability for the day-to-day operation, quality, and continued development of Palmer Home’s Transitional Care program.

- Recruit, develop, and supervise Transitional Care staff, establishing clear expectations and fostering a culture of ownership, communication, collaboration, learning, and accountability.

- Ensure staff are appropriately trained and equipped to provide individualized, trauma-informed, relationship-based support that promotes stability and progress toward independence.

- Establish and maintain effective program policies, procedures, documentation, service standards, and departmental reporting.

- Oversee program budgets, expenditures, staffing, resources, and departmental planning.

- Ensure compliance with applicable laws, regulations, accreditation standards, Palmer Home policies, and established best practices.

- Identify operational or service gaps and develop solutions in partnership with the Senior Director of Children’s Programs.

- Work with Children’s Programs leaders to ensure smooth progression from Campus Care to Transitional Care.

- Partner cross-functionally with Operations, Compliance, HR, Development, Finance, and other departments as programs, services, and housing initiatives are developed.

- Build and maintain relationships with educational institutions, employers, housing partners, community organizations, service providers, and other resources that support young adults.

Strategic Program Development & Growth

- Lead the continued development and growth of Transitional Care in partnership with the Senior Director of Children’s Programs.

- Identify emerging needs and design, pilot, and evaluate new service models, including virtual and community-based approaches.

- Develop implementation plans for new initiatives, including staffing, budgets, partnerships, policies, and success measures.

- Research and apply relevant best practices while ensuring alignment with Palmer Home’s mission and strategic priorities.

Transitional Care Program & Curriculum

- Develop and continuously improve a structured, trauma-informed program that prepares young adults for successful independence.

- Establish clear expectations, individualized goals, milestones, participation requirements, and eligibility standards.

- Provide programming focused on education, employment, financial literacy, housing, well-being, community, and spirituality.

- Establish appropriate support, reassessment, and discharge processes when participants are not progressing or meeting program expectations.

Housing & Independent Living Strategy

- Develop safe, sustainable housing pathways that support progression toward independent living.

- Evaluate housing models and partnerships based on participant needs, cost, risk, sustainability, and expected outcomes.

- Build community partnerships that expand housing opportunities and resources.

- Establish increasing levels of participant responsibility, structure, and accountability as young adults move toward independence.

Outcomes, Quality & Continuous Improvement

- Integrate Whole Child principles and applicable COA standards into program delivery and improvement.

- Monitor participant outcomes and program effectiveness, using data and feedback to guide improvements.

- Report key outcomes, trends, challenges, and opportunities to the Senior Director of Children’s Programs.

Qualifications

- Bachelor’s degree in social services, nonprofit leadership, education, program administration, or a related field required; master’s degree preferred.

- Five or more years of progressive leadership, program management, or program development experience.

- Demonstrated experience developing, implementing, or expanding programs from concept through execution.

- Experience serving young adults, transitional-age youth, or individuals moving toward independent living strongly preferred.

- Strong competency in staff leadership, project management, budgeting, partnership development, and program evaluation.

- Strong communication, problem-solving, and relationship-building skills, with the ability to balance strategic development and day-to-day operations.

- Must demonstrate a strong commitment to Christ and a Christian lifestyle consistent with the mission of Palmer Home.

Leadership Profile

- The successful Director of Transitional Care will be a builder, program developer, and strong people leader who is energized by creating structure and developing solutions where they do not yet exist.

- This individual must be comfortable operating in both the present and the future—providing excellent leadership to today's Transitional Care program while developing a stronger pathway toward independence for young adults and building Palmer Home's next generation of services.

- The Director will demonstrate initiative, sound judgment, accountability, creativity, and the ability to turn broad strategic direction into clear expectations, practical programs, and measurable results.

Location: North Mississippi, with travel and community engagement as needed.

The above statements describe the general nature and level of work performed and are not intended to represent a comprehensive listing of all duties, responsibilities, or qualifications required of the position.

Palmer Home for Children is committed to maintaining a workplace and culture that reflects dignity, respect, belonging, and compassion for all people. Job descriptions and employment practices will use inclusive language and demonstrate our commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion, aligned with our mission, values, and Whole Child Initiative approach. We strive to ensure language is trauma-informed and sensitive to the cultural, socioeconomic, and lived experiences of the children, families, and communities we serve. Through a relationship-centered model of care, we seek to create environments where children, families, and staff feel safe, valued, and supported. To support continued alignment with best practices, organizational needs, and accreditation standards, job descriptions will be reviewed and updated regularly.