Summary

This position provides programmatic leadership and operational oversight and partnership representation for YouthLink, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) serving young people and their families in partnership with agencies and community stakeholders across Adams County. In collaboration with the Executive Director, drives organizational mission, vision, and strategy.

Description

OVERVIEW
YouthLink – Resource and Assessment Center is a newly established nonprofit 501(c)(3)serving Adams County, CO, dedicated to strengthening families and supporting youth through early intervention, assessment, and coordinated access to community resources. YouthLink accepts referrals from law enforcement when concerning behavior is identified and provides timely assessment, trauma-informed care coordination, and connections to culturally responsive supports aligned with each young person’s strengths and family context. Serving youth ages 12–17, YouthLink delivers early, preventative support before challenges escalate into school suspension, court involvement, or emergency response.

Our work includes:
Preventing and diverting youth from the child welfare and justice systems Identifying underlying issues contributing to behavior or conflict. Partnering with young people and their families to connect them with individualized, culturally responsive supports.

DEFINITION
This position provides programmatic leadership and operational oversight and partnership representation for YouthLink, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) serving young people and their families in partnership with agencies and community stakeholders across Adams County. In collaboration with the Executive Director, drives organizational mission, vision, and strategy.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED
The Program Director works closely with the Executive Director to advance YouthLink’s mission and priorities. This position supervises and supports the program team, interns, and volunteers.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES
1. Program Operations and Service Quality

Ensure consistent, high-quality delivery of assessment, screening, care coordination, referral pathways, and youth and family supports in alignment with YouthLink’s mission and program model.

Translate organizational strategy into daily operational workflows, protocols, staffing plans, and performance expectations.

Support the development and implementation of program policies, procedures, safety standards, and documentation practices with the Executive Director.

Monitor caseload distribution, service timeliness, and fidelity to trauma-informed and culturally responsive practices.

Identify operational gaps, troubleshoot service barriers, and implement process improvements.

2. Staff Leadership and Development

Hire, onboard, train, supervise, and evaluate program staff, interns, and volunteers.

Establish clear performance expectations, professional development plans, and accountability systems.

Provide regular supervision, coaching, and feedback to strengthen staff effectiveness, retention, and well-being.

Promote a culture of collaboration, learning, equity, and continuous improvement.

Support workforce scheduling, coverage planning, and workload management.

3. Community Partnerships and Referral System Management

Maintain strong operational relationships with law enforcement agencies, school districts, behavioral health providers, county departments, and community-based partners.

Support implementation and compliance with intergovernmental agreements, memoranda of understanding (MOUs), referral protocols, and data-sharing agreements.

Align referral pathways, intake processes, and partner communications to ensure a timely, coordinated response.

Lead program and operational partner meetings, case coordination forums, and community workgroups.

Address operational escalations, service barriers, and system coordination challenges in collaboration with the Executive Director.

4. Performance Management, Data, and Compliance

Own program performance metrics, dashboards, and continuous improvement cycles to drive quality, efficiency, and outcomes.

Ensure accurate data entry, documentation standards, reporting, and evaluation practices across all program activities.

Monitor outcomes, trends, and service utilization to inform program improvements, staffing models, and resource planning.

Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local laws; grant and contract requirements; licensing standards; data privacy; and risk management protocols.

Oversee funder reporting in partnership with the administrative team and the Executive Director.

Foster and sustain a trauma-informed, youth-centered organizational culture grounded in equity, accountability, learning, and team well-being.

5. Strategic Execution and Organizational Alignment

Partner with the Executive Director to operationalize strategic priorities, pilots, and growth initiatives.

Contribute program insights, data, and recommendations to organizational planning and decision-making.

Support sustainability planning through efficient operations, staffing models, and service optimization.

Participate in leadership team meetings, cross-functional projects, and organizational initiatives.

Oversee and maintain agreements with partners, including law enforcement, school districts, county departments, behavioral health providers, state agencies, funders, and community-based partners.

Monitor emerging trends, community needs, policy changes, and funding shifts; advise the Board on strategic opportunities and risks.

6. Finance and Revenue Development

Inform the programmatic budget, forecasting, and annual financial planning with the Executive Director.

Support strong financial controls, accounting systems, risk management practices, and compliance with audit and reporting requirements with the Executive Director.

Work with the Treasurer and Finance Committee to review monthly financials, track performance, and recommend adjustments.

Participate in the implementation of the revenue strategy through public funding, grants, municipal and county appropriations, philanthropic contributions, and corporate partnerships.

QUALIFICATIONS

Knowledge of:
Trauma-informed, culturally responsive youth services, positive youth development, and juvenile assessments and school-based intervention programs.
Knowledge of youth needs, community assets, governance structures, and local systems in Adams County, CO, and the surrounding metro area. (strongly preferred).
Grant funding systems and reporting requirements.
Program monitoring, data accountability, and continuous improvement.
Community-based partnership development.

Ability to:
Lead, motivate, and develop teams and partnerships toward shared, measurable outcomes.
Exercise sound judgment, strategic decision-making, foresight, and problem anticipation.
Demonstrate disciplined focus on results, placing shared goals above individual interests.
Navigate complex systems with the ability to lead from the front or behind, depending on situational needs.
Build trust and authentic relationships grounded in transparency and honesty with youth, families, community leaders, elected officials, and culturally diverse groups.
Facilitate collaboration among diverse partners and “translate” vocabulary and priorities across sectors.
Engage partners with critical assets and mobilize stakeholders toward community impact and systems transformation.
Demonstrate cultural humility and comfort working in communities with high concentrations of poverty and people of color.
Communicate clearly through written reports, public speaking, and one-on-one dialogue.
Demonstrate strong interpersonal skills, conflict resolution ability, and crisis composure.
Problem-solve effectively and prioritize competing demands in a fast-moving environment.
Self-motivated, organized, and capable of working independently or as part of a dynamic strategy team.
Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, web-based applications, and database systems.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in criminal justice or a closely related field of leadership with juvenile assessment centers, youth intervention or diversion programs, case management systems, school district partnerships, or related youth-serving initiatives – Preferred.
Relevant experience, including 10+ years of leadership, may substitute for the degree – Considered.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to sit, stand, walk, talk,
listen, drive to meetings, operate a computer, and lift objects to 10 pounds. Reasonable accommodations
may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.
Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, depth perception, and
the ability to adjust focus.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
Pass a thorough criminal background check
Possess a valid driver’s license and reliable transportation
Willing to work varied hours, including evenings and weekends
Local travel and occasional state and national travel