Housing & Social Services Director

Full-Time | Exempt | Monday–Friday, normal business hours, with occasional evenings, weekends, and holidays as needed

Hours may vary based on operational needs, special events, staffing, or organizational priorities.

St. Vincent de Paul of Baton Rouge is seeking a skilled, compassionate, and collaborative Housing & Social Services Director to lead dignity-centered housing and social services for the neighbors we serve, as well as our staff, volunteers, and visitors. In this role, you will focus on advancing best practices in social work and trauma-informed care, developing and supporting a strong team of social service professionals, and building coordinated pathways from homelessness to housing stability.

Reporting to the Chief Services Officer, the Housing & Social Services Director serves as SVDP's social work subject matter expert and leads our Case Management, Coordinated Entry, Permanent Supportive Housing, Hospital Liaison, Social Work Internship, and Readiness & Resilience programs. You will supervise and develop program staff, strengthen service quality and outcomes, and partner with healthcare providers, housing providers, and community organizations. Through this work you will help carry out the mission of St. Vincent de Paul with dignity, compassion, and excellence.

What You'll Do

• Supervise, coach, evaluate, and support the professional development of Case Managers, the Coordinated Entry Specialist, the PSH/Divine Providence Village Program Manager, the Hospital Liaison, and the Readiness & Resilience Manager, and make recommendations on hiring, training, discipline, and termination.
• Set clear expectations for staff performance, caseloads, participant engagement, documentation, and outcomes, and lead regular supervision, team meetings, case consultation, and staff debriefings.
• Oversee Housing & Social Services programs and coordinate services across Case Management, Coordinated Entry, PSH, Hospital Liaison, Divine Providence Village, OneStop, Social Work Internships, and Readiness & Resilience, working with leadership to adjust programs and staffing as OneStop and DPV evolve.
• Develop and improve policies, procedures, workflows, tools, and service standards to ensure consistent, coordinated service delivery.
• Lead the Social Work Internship Program, including school affiliation agreements, field instruction, placements, onboarding, and evaluations, in compliance with CSWE standards and FLSA unpaid internship requirements.
• Monitor program budgets and expenditures, identify funding needs and variances, and work with the Chief Services Officer and Finance team to use resources effectively and in line with program and grant requirements.
• Build effective pathways from shelter and other settings to permanent housing by collaborating with Shelter Operations, PSH, landlords, housing providers, hospitals, and community agencies, and oversee healthcare referral relationships through the Hospital Liaison.
• Develop community partnerships that expand access to housing, healthcare, behavioral health, benefits, employment, and other supportive services, and represent SVDP at community meetings and coalitions.
• Serve as SVDP's social work subject matter expert, providing or coordinating training on trauma-informed care, de-escalation, mental and behavioral health, and working with individuals experiencing homelessness.
• Oversee incident response, reporting, follow-up, and staff debriefing, and ensure compliance with confidentiality requirements, including Personal Health Information (PHI).
• Ensure HMIS data and case documentation are accurate, complete, and timely, conducting regular audits so records meet organizational, grant, contract, and HUD requirements, and use program data to identify service gaps and improve outcomes.
• Work closely with program staff, Shelter Operations, and leadership to maintain a coordinated, mission-centered approach to housing and social services.

Who We're Looking For

Required

• A compassionate, service-minded person who values treating every individual with dignity and respect, including neighbors experiencing homelessness, housing instability, mental and behavioral health challenges, or substance use disorder.
• A Master's degree in Social Work (MSW).
• At least five years of progressively responsible experience in social work, case management, housing, or related human services, including at least two years of post-MSW practice experience.
• At least two years of supervisory or program leadership experience, plus experience in shelter, residential, housing, healthcare, behavioral health, or community-based settings.
• Experience using trauma-informed, strengths-based, and housing-focused approaches, and coordinating services across multiple providers and systems.
• Knowledge of community resources related to housing, healthcare, behavioral health, substance use, employment, benefits, and other social services.
• A strong supervisor and communicator with solid organizational, problem-solving, and data-analysis skills who can manage multiple programs and priorities.
• A valid Louisiana driver's license and an insurable driving record.
• Commitment to the mission and Vincentian values of St. Vincent de Paul of Baton Rouge.
• A person who upholds professional social work ethics, boundaries, confidentiality, and participant rights, and practices cultural humility.
• Someone willing to work flexible hours, including occasional evenings, weekends, and holidays as needed.

Preferred

• Licensure as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW).
• Experience with HMIS (Homeless Management Information System).
• Experience serving as a social work field instructor or supervising social work interns.
• Experience with HUD-funded programs, Permanent Supportive Housing, or grant-funded services.

Physical Requirements

• Able to sit for extended periods.
• Able to stand and walk throughout the workday across office, shelter, housing, healthcare, and community settings.
• Able to bend, stoop, and reach as needed.
• Able to lift up to 25 pounds occasionally.

What We Offer

• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• 403(b) retirement plan
• Paid time off and paid holidays
• Meaningful, mission-driven work with opportunities for training and professional development

St. Vincent de Paul of Baton Rouge is a Catholic lay organization dedicated to serving individuals and families in need. If you are looking for meaningful full-time work where your social work expertise and leadership help neighbors move from homelessness to housing stability, we invite you to apply.

St. Vincent de Paul of Baton Rouge is an equal opportunity employer and an E-Verify Program Participant. If you require a reasonable accommodation during the application process, please let us know.