About Together California

Together California is a nonprofit organization designed to reimagine what foster care can look like. The organization is building a first-of-its-kind village of homes in Palmdale, California, designed to provide a stable, nurturing, and family-centered environment for siblings in foster care.

At the heart of Together California's mission is a belief that siblings in foster care belong together. The organization's innovative model ensures that brothers and sisters can grow up in dedicated homes with full-time foster parents, surrounded by a holistic and intentional community of care. The village includes a community center, recreational spaces, gardens, educational opportunities, and on-site supportive services for both children and their caregivers - all designed to help families heal, thrive, and build meaningful connections.

Los Angeles County, which has more children in foster care than anywhere else in the country, represents both the greatest need and the greatest opportunity for innovation. In partnership with the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) and community leaders, Together California is part of a growing movement to transform the foster care experience for children and families across the region.

Together California's model reflects a shift toward a more inclusive and family-centered approach – one that prioritizes stability, belonging, and empowerment. By working collaboratively with children, families, and the broader community, Together California aims to create lasting transformation and brighter futures for all those touched by the foster care system.

Learn more about Together California at www.togethercalifornia.org.

Village Features and Goals
· Keeping siblings together: The core mission is to ensure siblings placed in foster care can grow up together, with 12 homes designed to care for up to six siblings each with a full-time foster parent.
· Support for foster parents: Foster parents receive ongoing support and training to create a stable and nurturing environment.
· Community-centered approach: The village includes a 7,000-square-foot Community Center, sports fields, gardens, and other gathering spaces to foster a sense of belonging and community for all residents.
· Holistic services: The model provides access to on-site supportive services, including temporary housing for birth parents and transitional housing for youth aging out of foster care.
· Sustainability: The village is designed with sustainability in mind, incorporating features like indigenous and drought-tolerant plants and solar panels that also provide shade.
Impact
· Stability and healing: By creating a stable, family-centered environment, the project aims to help children in foster care heal and build trust.
· Community connection: The design encourages connection within the village and keeps children integrated within their local community.
· Hope for the future: The initiative provides a pathway to brighter futures for children by offering educational opportunities and support for life after foster care

The Opportunity

Together California offers a unique and inspiring opportunity for a mission-driven Program Director to bring an innovative model of foster care to life. This inaugural role is pivotal in shaping and implementing a transformative approach that prioritizes the safety, stability, and well-being of children.

Reporting to the Executive Director, the Program Director will design and implement programming based on the proven SOS Children's Villages model in Chicago, tailoring it to meet the specific needs of the local Antelope Valley community. This includes recruiting and supporting foster parents, collaborating with a comprehensive team of social workers, and ensuring that resources are strategically aligned to help children thrive.

Together California's model is groundbreaking: it centers sibling relationships in a system that often separates families, creating a replicable framework that could influence foster care practices across Los Angeles County, the state, and even nationally. With support from elected officials, LA County's Department of Family and Children Services, and other key stakeholders, the organization is positioned to serve as a catalyst for meaningful change.

For a visionary, collaborative program leader, this is an unparalleled opportunity to guide a pioneering initiative that provides children in foster care and their families with a true sense of home, belonging, and a pathway to a brighter future.

Essential Duties & Key Responsibilities
· Provides leadership to ensure census goals, community cohesion, and high client care standards are maintained.
· Ensures program effectiveness, tracks performance, and identifies improvements of all Together California programs.
· Communicates quality standards for programs and services and ensures compliance.
· Provides leadership to all program staff and direct supervision of the Resource Parent Coordinator, Case Worker Supervisor, Facilities Director, Education and Activities Coordinator, and Administrative Assistant.
· Hires and terminates staff with approval; assists in staffing decisions.
· Supervises staff, sets targets, monitors progress, and provides feedback.
· Recognizes staff for contributions and fosters a cohesive working environment by providing needed information, tools, and resources for team performance.
· Completes timely performance reviews.
· Organizes staff development programs.
· Oversees the selection, training, and development of resource and relief parents with support from and coordination with other departments.
· Leads selection and admission process for intake of children, following all state, county, and organizational guidelines.
· Maintains incident and complaint files, ensuring confidentiality.
· Acts as liaison to DCFS and other service providers.
· Ensures attendance at Board meetings by appropriate personnel.
· Collaborates on program development and funding efforts.
· Develops and monitors annual budget with Executive and Finance Directors.
· Supports Executive Team in Executive Director's absence.
· Mails copies of child abuse or neglect, substantiated complaints, licensing, and incident reports to the Board of Directors.
· Attends meetings, training, and is available 24/7 for emergencies.
· Ensures compliance with Title 22 regulations, CDSS licensing requirements and county contracting requirements.
· Designates Case Worker Supervisor to perform duties of Program Director in their absence.

Candidate Profile

The Program Director will oversee the daily operations and supervision of Together California's programs, which are dedicated to maintaining sibling unity within the foster care system. This role will ensure full compliance with state regulations, funding requirements, and best practices related to sibling placements.

The ideal candidate will demonstrate the following professional and personal competencies, skills, and characteristics:

Passion for the Mission

The Program Director will have a deep commitment to Together California's mission and to transforming the foster care system through a compassionate and holistic approach. This individual will demonstrate empathy, authenticity, and a genuine passion for improving the lives of children and families. The Program Director will model inclusive leadership that values diversity, equity, and belonging for staff, families, and the broader community. This leader will be sensitive to the cultural, socioeconomic, and emotional needs of children, parents, and team members.

Visionary and Innovative Leadership

The Program Director will bring the creativity and strategic insight to develop and implement innovative trauma-informed programming based upon a successful blueprint. This leader will balance the programmatic vision with practical, hands-on leadership during the organization's formative stages. This individual will have the ability to exercise discretion and independent judgment.

Programmatic Expertise in Foster Care / Social Services

This leader will bring proven experience in program design, implementation, and evaluation within foster care, social services, or related fields as well as an understanding of sibling dynamics and trauma-informed care. The Program Director will be skilled in building and leading multidisciplinary care teams, developing behavior and care plans, and ensuring alignment with compliance and regulatory requirements. Punctual and reliable, this leader will bring strong organizational, planning, and follow-through abilities and the ability to multi-task.

Entrepreneurial Change Agent

Working in an entrepreneurial environment in its formative stages, the Program Director will serve as a change agent who can inspire others and navigate complexity with resilience and optimism.

Excellent Communication and Relationship Building Skills

The Program Director will bring exceptional communication and relationship building skills, with the ability to engage, motivate, and collaborate across existing and potential partners, including the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), courts, and other social service systems. This leader will demonstrate the utmost professionalism and ability to relate to agency staff and the public. The Program Director will be an inclusive leader who builds and supports a culture of collaboration and strong relationships with internal and external partners.

Additional Qualifications & Experience
· Master's degree in social work, counseling, or psychology with at least three years of child and family services experience including two years in administration or management; or a Bachelor's degree in behavioral science with at least five years of experience in child and family services, including two years in an administrative or managerial role.
· The Director must be a California resident.
· A deep understanding of Los Angeles County's child welfare regulations, foster care system, and Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) policies is essential.
· Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) certification preferred.
· Strong knowledge of California foster care regulations and Resource Family Approval (RFA) requirements.
· Ability to clear required child abuse, criminal record, and sexual offender registry background check.
· Ability to work flexible hours.
· Ability to handle sensitive and confidential materials.
· Ability to work in an alcohol, tobacco, and drug-free environment.
· Valid driver's license with acceptable driving record and automobile insurance.
· Familiarity with the Antelope Valley is preferred.

Compensation, Benefits, & Other Details

Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience. The salary range for this role is $115,000 - $125,000 with a generous benefits package. This is a full-time permanent role.

Benefits:
· Dental insurance
· Health insurance
· Paid time off
· Vision insurance

Work Location: While our site is under construction, we expect this position to be hybrid, but once we become closer to becoming operational, the Program Director will need to be on site full-time in Palmdale, CA 93551.

Contact

DSG | Koya has been exclusively retained for this engagement. Express interest in this role by filling out our Talent Profile or emailing the search team directly at Together_CA_PD@koyapartners.com. All inquiries and discussions are strictly confidential.

DSG | Koya is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals living with disabilities. If you are a qualified individual living with a disability and need assistance expressing interest online, please email NonprofitSearchOps@divsearch.com. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.

Together California is an equal opportunity employer and strongly encourages applications from people of color, persons with disabilities, women, and LGBTQ+ applicants.

About DSG | Koya

DSG | Koya, a DSG Global company, is the nation's premier search firm dedicated to mission-driven leadership. Since its founding in 2004, DSG | Koya has had an exclusive focus on mission-driven clients and was founded on the belief that the right leader can transform an organization and have a deep and measurable impact on our world. DSG | Koya works with nonprofits & NGOs, responsible businesses, and social enterprises in local communities and around the world.

DSG Global is consistently recognized by Forbes on its top 10 list of "America's Best Executive Recruiting Firms" and is an industry leader in recruiting transformational leaders for a changing world. The firm is deliberately different in its approach, with best-in-class teams who have decades of experience in cultivating inclusive leaders, understanding the dimensions of diversity, and building equitable teams.

Learn more about DSG | Koya via the firm's website.

To apply, visit: https://www.dsgco.com/search/22755-together-california-program-director/





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