Residential Director

Windwood Farm Home for Children
Location: Windwood Campus, Awendaw, SC
Job Type: Full-Time
Classification: Exempt
Reports To: Chief Executive Officer

Position Summary

The Residential Director leads Windwood Farm’s residential treatment programs, including the Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility (PRTF) and Qualified Residential Treatment Program (QRTP), and directly supervises the PRTF and QRTP Program Managers. As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, this role sets the vision and day-to-day operating standard for a trauma-informed, safety-first milieu and partners with Clinical and Nursing leadership so that residential, clinical, and medical care function as one integrated program. 

How We Work:
The Residential Director makes safety, respect, and community visible on every shift by being present on campus during high-acuity moments, coaching leaders and staff directly, and holding both programs to one standard of care.

Essential Duties

• In collaboration with the CEO, set the vision, annual goals, and operating standards for residential services across the PRTF and QRTP in alignment with Windwood’s strategic plan.
• Lead the development and revision of residential policies to ensure compliance with licensing, COA, and best-practice standards.
• Directly supervise, coach, and develop the PRTF and QRTP Program Managers and Shift Leads.
• Build a strong leadership bench at the house and shift levels through regular coaching and accountability.
• Ensure the PRTF and QRTP operate under one consistent program model, including daily structure, behavioral support approaches, house culture, and documentation standards.
• Partner with the Clinical Director, Nursing leadership, and Director of Operations to ensure treatment planning, milieu programming, and medical care function as one coordinated system.
• Serve on the interdisciplinary treatment team as the voice of residential and milieu practice.
• Partner with Human Resources to lead residential staffing strategy, recruitment standards, coverage models, and staffing ratios.
• Champion structured onboarding and orientation processes for residential staff and leaders.
• Collaborate with Human Resources to implement performance management processes, including 30/60/90-day reviews, quarterly check-ins, and annual evaluations.
• Apply progressive discipline fairly and consistently while proactively addressing burnout and retention challenges.
• Serve as the senior leader for residential safety and ensure compliance with all licensing, Medicaid, DSS/OHAN, and DPH requirements.
• Lead critical incident response efforts, including after-hours support and leadership on-call responsibilities.
• Chair or co-lead quality assurance and incident review processes.
• Lead residential readiness efforts for licensing surveys, Medicaid audits, and COA accreditation reviews.
• Manage the residential services budget in partnership with executive leadership.
• Monitor staffing ratios, overtime, and program expenditures.
• Track and report key performance indicators, including turnover, vacancies, incidents, treatment plan compliance, and bed utilization.
• Embed trauma-informed care into daily operations and represent the residential program to licensing bodies, funders, and community partners.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Required Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Psychology, Counseling, Human Services, or a related field.

Preferred Education

• Master’s degree in Social Work, Counseling, or a related field.

Required Experience

• Minimum of five (5) years of experience in residential or group care, including child welfare, juvenile justice, behavioral health, or a related congregate care setting.
• Minimum of three (3) years in a supervisory or multi-site leadership role.
• Demonstrated success leading 24/7 milieu operations, including staffing, scheduling, and crisis response for high-acuity populations.

Preferred Experience

• Direct experience in a PRTF, QRTP, or other licensed residential treatment setting.
• Familiarity with COA or a comparable accreditation framework.

Required Licenses & Certifications

• Valid driver’s license.

Preferred Licenses & Certifications

• Clinical licensure (LMSW, LPC, LCSW, or equivalent) or actively working toward licensure.
• Formal training or certification in a recognized trauma-informed or crisis intervention model such as TBRI, CPI, TCI, or Sanctuary Model.

Skills & Knowledge

• Working knowledge of crisis prevention and de-escalation practices.
• Knowledge of regulations governing licensed residential youth programs.
• Strong leadership, coaching, and staff development skills.
• Ability to make sound decisions during crisis situations.
• Excellent collaboration, communication, and accountability skills.
• Experience with budgeting, KPI tracking, accreditation preparation, and trauma-informed care practices.

Conditions of Employment

• Successfully pass all required background checks and clearances for working with youth in care.
• Maintain a valid driver’s license throughout employment.
• Complete and maintain CPI Trainer certification.
• Participate fully in CPI interventions, including physical restraint, as an essential function of the position.
• Be available beyond standard business hours, including evenings, weekends, and participation in the leadership on-call rotation.

Work Environment

• On-site position located at Windwood Farm’s 110-acre residential campus.
• Regular direct contact with youth and residential staff across all shifts.
• Not eligible for remote or hybrid work arrangements.
• Must be able to stand, walk, kneel, crouch, and lift up to 25 pounds.
• Must be able to respond quickly to crisis situations and participate in approved crisis intervention techniques, including physical restraint.
• May be exposed to loud noise, bodily fluids, and behaviorally challenging situations.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Windwood Farm Home for Children provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.