Job Title: Director of Social Services

About Lantern Community Services

Lantern Community Services empowers New Yorkers impacted by homelessness to move from surviving to thriving. We achieve this by providing safe, supportive housing coupled with comprehensive wraparound services designed to foster lasting stability and independence. Join our mission-first team if you believe a stable home is the foundation for everything else. We are proud to be recognized as a Top 2025 Workplace by City & State New York, offering a fulfilling environment for dedicated professionals.

About The Role

We are looking for an experienced and progressive Director of Social Services to lead the Clinical and Social Services departments at our single adult male shelter in Ozone Park, Queens. This pivotal role ensures the highest quality of care for our residents, aligning with all regulatory and accreditation standards from the Department of Homeless Services (DHS). You will supervise a multidisciplinary team, including Social Workers, Case Managers, Housing Specialists, and Peer Engagement Specialists, implementing best practices to address residents' physical, emotional, and social needs and to promote successful transitions to permanent housing. You will collaborate closely with the Shelter Director to develop, track, and evaluate measurable outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

• Recruit, train, and supervise a team of Social Workers, Case Managers, Housing Coordinators, and Peer Specialists, ensuring program goals and benchmarks are met.
• Provide effective leadership through regular supervision, performance evaluations, and staff development.
• Attend mandatory DHS trainings and meetings to ensure ongoing program compliance and adoption of best practices.
• Oversee client intake, assessments, service delivery, and documentation, ensuring adherence to DHS, OTDA, and Lantern standards and timelines.
• Support staff in creating individualized Independent Living Plans and Housing Plans.
• Coordinate access to essential medical, mental health, and substance use services, including referrals for psychiatric care and community-based treatment.
• Develop and implement innovative counseling approaches, programming, and referral resources focused on harm reduction, wellness, and housing readiness.
• Implement crisis prevention and intervention strategies to maintain a safe and secure shelter environment.
• Manage follow-up on critical incidents, assist with safety planning, and ensure residents receive appropriate support during crises.
• Cultivate strong relationships with community partners and ensure residents are connected to daytime resources and supportive services.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in Social Work (MSW), Mental Health Counseling (MHC), or Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) from an accredited institution is required.
• Licensure (LMSW/LMHC/LMFT) must be obtained within one year of hire.
• Minimum of 8 years of social service experience, with at least 2 years in a supervisory capacity within a DHS shelter or similar human services setting.
• Proficiency with electronic case management systems and experience using data to inform service delivery improvements.
• Strong knowledge of mental health, substance use, HIV/AIDS, and issues affecting individuals experiencing chronic homelessness is preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively under pressure, manage crisis situations, and adapt to flexible scheduling.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with strong organizational and problem-solving abilities.

Work Environment & Physical Demands

This role operates within a shelter environment, serving a male population facing challenges such as mental illness, addiction, disability, and chronic health conditions. The position requires the ability to stand, walk, sit, stoop, climb stairs, and/or kneel. Occasional lifting and/or moving up to 10 pounds may be necessary.

About the Position

• Classification: Full-time, Exempt
• Reports to: Shelter Director
• Location: Ozone Park, Queens, NY
• Status & Hours: Full-time, Monday - Friday, 9 am to 5 pm. Hours may vary and include on-call responsibilities based on operational needs.

Commitment to Diversity

Lantern Community Services is committed to equal employment opportunities and values the diversity of its clients, staff, Board of Directors, and partners. We believe diverse perspectives create stronger, healthier, and more just communities.