Job Description

The Program Director provides strategic leadership for the Friends of the Children program in the East Valley, supporting a team of professional mentors (“Friends”) who build long-term, transformative relationships with youth and families.

Friends of the Children is built on a long-term commitment to youth, pairing each child with a professional mentor from kindergarten through high school graduation. This role leads and sustains a high-quality program at an established site with a strong mentor team and community partnerships. The Program Director is responsible for ensuring program fidelity, supporting staff development, strengthening relationships with schools and caregivers, and using data to drive strong outcomes for youth.

The East Valley program serves youth and families across Service Planning Areas (SPA) 3 and 7, including communities such as Pasadena, El Monte, Alhambra, Baldwin Park, and surrounding areas. The East Valley clubhouse, located in Pasadena, serves as a central hub for team collaboration, meetings, and program activities.

As a member of the Friends LA leadership team, the Program Director collaborates across sites, partners with community stakeholders, and plays a key role in sustaining a strong and supportive program culture for staff, youth, and families.

Impact & Leadership in This Role

The Program Director builds on the strong foundation of the East Valley site by supporting an established mentor team, sustaining strong community partnerships, and ensuring consistent program quality.

• Supporting and developing a strong mentor team through coaching, supervision, and reflective practice.
• Sustaining trusted relationships with partner schools, caregivers, and community stakeholders.
• Ensuring consistent implementation of the Friends of the Children model across the site.
• Using program data and youth outcomes to guide decision-making and continuous improvement.
• The Program Director is accountable for ensuring youth and families experience the full impact of the Friends of the Children model, including strong mentor relationships, caregiver engagement, and measurable progress toward long-term youth outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

Team Leadership & Staff Development

• Supervise, coach, and develop a team of professional mentors (“Friends”) to ensure high-quality mentoring relationships and strong outcomes for youth.
• Conduct regular one-on-one supervision and performance evaluations.
• Foster a supportive and reflective team culture that prioritizes collaboration, accountability, and professional growth.
• Lead weekly team meetings focused on youth progress, program quality, and team development.
• Support staff in implementing effective mentoring strategies and maintaining strong relationships with youth and families.

Program Quality & Model Fidelity

• Ensure program delivery aligns with the Friends of the Children model and organizational standards.
• Review youth Roadmaps and program documentation to support long-term youth success.
• Utilize program data to monitor progress and strengthen program outcomes.
• Maintain high standards of documentation, program consistency, and youth engagement.
• Remain relentlessly committed to ensuring youth achieve long-term outcomes.

Partnerships & Community Engagement

• Maintain strong relationships with partner schools, caregivers, and community organizations.
• In collaboration with the Family Engagement Director, support strong relationships with caregivers and families to foster trust, engagement, and long-term success for youth in the program.
• Represent Friends LA in the East Valley community with professionalism and integrity.
• Collaborate with community stakeholders to strengthen opportunities and support for youth.

Youth Selection & Program Implementation

• Lead the child identification and selection process in partnership with schools and community partners.
• Work in partnership with the Family Engagement Director to support the identification, onboarding, and ongoing engagement of youth and families in the program.
• Ensure a thoughtful and equitable process for identifying youth who will benefit most from the program.
• Monitor mentor caseloads and overall roster health to ensure youth enrollment remains aligned with program capacity and long-term program commitments.

Organizational & Cross-Site Leadership

• Participate as a member of the Friends LA leadership team, contributing to strategic planning and program initiatives.
• Collaborate with Program Directors across sites to strengthen program alignment, share best practices, and support consistent implementation of the Friends of the Children model across Los Angeles County.
• Work closely with organizational leadership to ensure program goals align with broader organizational priorities.
• Ensure program operations remain aligned with budget expectations and organizational guidelines.
• Oversee the operations and shared use of the East Valley clubhouse in Pasadena, ensuring it remains a welcoming, organized, and well-maintained space for staff collaboration and youth programming, including stewardship of supplies, materials, and resources for youth and mentors.

Community Presence

• The Program Director maintains a strong presence in the East Valley community and collaboration across Friends LA sites.
• Travel throughout Los Angeles County for organizational meetings, trainings, and cross-site collaboration.
• Maintain regular engagement with partner schools, families, and community stakeholders.
• Occasional evening or community events may be required.

Skills & Competencies

• Strong leadership, coaching, and team development skills
• Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills
• Ability to build and sustain relationships with diverse stakeholders
• Strong organizational and project management skills
• Data-informed decision making and program improvement
• Knowledge of child development and trauma-informed practices
• Commitment to equity, inclusion, and long-term youth outcomes
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in social work, education, human services, or a related field required; Master’s degree preferred.
• Bilingual Spanish preferred
• 7–10 years of experience working in youth-serving programs or related fields
• 3–5 years of experience in a leadership or supervisory role

BENEFITS

Friends LA cares about our employees as whole people. We offer a generous vacation and sick leave policy, quarterly reset days, 12 paid holidays, summer half days, a summer recess the first week of July, and an annual winter recess during the last week of December. Employees are eligible for medical benefits (including vision and dental), 401k retirement plan, EAP, and ongoing professional development opportunities.

Employees can add optional plans, at employee expense, which include medical coverage for dependents, Flexible Spending Accounts, supplemental life insurance, and more.

Friends of the Children – Los Angeles is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to addressing discriminatory practices, and to working toward racial equity. The equal employment opportunity policy of Friends of the Children provides fair and equal opportunities for all employees and job applicants regardless of race, color, religious creed, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, marital status, familial status, disability, or genetic information, in compliance with applicable federal, state and local law. While we prioritize hiring applicants with lived experience, Friends of the Children – Los Angeles hires and promotes individuals solely on the basis of their qualifications for the job to be filled.

Note: Friends LA requires COVID-19 vaccines for all employees. As of March 1, 2022, we will be expanding our in-person vaccination requirement to include booster shots. Accommodations or exceptions can be requested for medical or religious reasons.