Assistant Director of Programs & Operations

Location: Front Royal, VA or Fredericksburg, VA
Job Type: Full-Time
Salary: $57,000–$63,000 annually, based on qualifications and experience
Travel: Regular regional travel and occasional out-of-state travel required

About RISE Services

RISE Services is a private human services organization supporting individuals with disabilities in obtaining and maintaining competitive, integrated employment. We provide person-centered, community-based services designed to promote independence, inclusion, and long-term employment success.

Our programs operate within highly regulated funding environments and require strict adherence to service authorizations, documentation standards, contractual requirements, and internal policies. RISE Services emphasizes professionalism, accountability, collaboration, consistent follow-through, and measurable outcomes.

Position Overview

The Assistant Director of Programs & Operations provides day-to-day operational leadership across assigned programs, regions, and states. Reporting to the Senior Director of Programs & Operations, this position helps manage the leadership structure responsible for service delivery, staffing, productivity, client coverage, documentation, training, compliance, and operational follow-through.

This is a hands-on, working leadership position—not a fully remote or primarily administrative role. The Assistant Director must be comfortable leading managers, addressing performance concerns, solving operational problems, visiting offices and community-based service locations, and maintaining visibility within assigned programs.

The position may maintain up to approximately 10 billable hours per week when operationally appropriate. Leadership, supervision, field oversight, travel, and organizational responsibilities remain the primary functions of the role.

The selected candidate may be based in either Front Royal, Virginia, or Fredericksburg, Virginia.

Essential Responsibilities

Leadership and Management

• Directly supervise designated Senior Employment Program Managers, the Multi-State Program Manager, Talent & Program Specialist, and Program Specialist.

• Provide structured supervision, coaching, direction, and accountability to managers and designated program staff.

• Ensure managers appropriately supervise their teams and resolve routine matters at the lowest appropriate level.

• Help managers independently address employee performance, attendance, productivity, communication, and operational concerns.

• Model professional communication, personal accountability, sound judgment, and timely follow-through.

• Coordinate with Human Resources regarding performance management, corrective action, investigations, and employee-relations concerns.

• Participate in the interview and selection process for management and key program positions.

Program and Operational Oversight

• Support daily operational oversight of assigned programs, regions, and states.

• Monitor service delivery, client coverage, referrals, staffing, productivity, authorized service utilization, and program performance.

• Identify operational risks, service gaps, recurring concerns, and unresolved management issues.

• Develop practical recommendations and follow matters through completion.

• Ensure staffing and coverage plans are established during vacancies, employee leave, call-outs, transitions, and periods of program growth.

• Support the startup and stabilization of new programs and state operations.

• Promote consistent practices across regions, offices, and programs.

Documentation, Compliance, and Quality

• Monitor program documentation and client-file requirements in CaseWorthy.

• Reinforce same-day documentation expectations and compliance with service authorizations.

• Ensure documentation audits, progress-note reviews, authorization checks, and corrective follow-up are completed as assigned.

• Coordinate with senior leadership, quality, compliance, documentation, and administrative personnel.

• Support organizational readiness for funder reviews, audits, and accreditation requirements.

Training and Staff Development

• Ensure managers receive structured onboarding, training, and ongoing development.

• Coach managers on supervision, problem-solving, employee accountability, and operational decision-making.

• Identify recurring performance or knowledge gaps and coordinate appropriate training or corrective support.

• Support leadership meetings, staff in-services, skip-level meetings, and other workforce-development activities.

• Evaluate whether training and coaching result in measurable improvement.

Regional and Multi-State Operations

• Maintain regular visibility in assigned offices, community settings, and service areas.

• Generally spend approximately one to two days per week in field or office locations, adjusted according to staffing, program performance, launches, and organizational priorities.

• Travel between Front Royal, Fredericksburg, and other assigned Virginia service areas as needed.

• Travel outside the primary service area when needed for program launches, operational support, management concerns, or other assigned responsibilities.

• Work collaboratively across Virginia regions and assigned operations in other states.

Limited Direct Services

• Maintain up to approximately 10 billable hours per week when operationally appropriate and approved.

• Provide qualified employment or community-based services within the employee’s training and assigned scope.

• Complete all required documentation accurately and within established deadlines.

• Provide limited emergency or short-term coverage when operationally necessary.

• Remain connected to field operations without becoming the routine solution for ongoing staffing shortages.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in human services, social work, rehabilitation, counseling, business or healthcare administration, organizational leadership, or a related field. Equivalent relevant leadership experience may be considered.

• At least three to five years of progressively responsible experience in supported employment, vocational rehabilitation, developmental disability services, community-based human services, workforce development, or a related field.

• Demonstrated experience supervising employees, managers, programs, or multiple teams.

• Experience holding employees or managers accountable for measurable performance expectations.

• Strong problem-solving, organization, communication, and time-management skills.

• Ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, employees, and operational concerns simultaneously.

• Working knowledge of service documentation, authorizations, compliance, staffing, productivity, and operational performance.

• Ability to communicate professionally and directly during challenging or sensitive conversations.

• Willingness to accept feedback, take accountability, and make appropriate corrections.

• Valid driver’s license, reliable transportation, and ability to travel regularly.

• Ability to work in person in offices, community settings, and employment sites.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supervising managers or leading multi-site or multi-state operations.

• Experience with Individual Supported Employment, Medicaid Waiver programs, vocational rehabilitation, or other state-funded human services.

• Familiarity with CARF-accredited services, audits, quality assurance, and regulatory compliance.

• Experience supporting program expansion, new service launches, or organizational growth.

• Familiarity with CaseWorthy, Monday.com, JazzHR, Connecteam, or similar systems.

• Ability to communicate in more than one language is valued due to the diverse communities RISE Services serves.

The Successful Candidate Will Be Someone Who

• Solves routine problems independently before escalating them.

• Knows when an issue presents enough risk to require immediate escalation.

• Can lead people without avoiding difficult conversations.

• Holds employees and managers accountable fairly and consistently.

• Does not take professional feedback or employee disagreement personally.

• Takes responsibility for decisions, mistakes, and follow-through.

• Communicates respectfully with employees, clients, families, and external partners.

• Uses established policies and procedures while exercising sound judgment.

• Can move several projects forward without losing track of deadlines or details.

• Is comfortable working in a growing organization where priorities may change.

Physical and Travel Requirements

This position requires prolonged computer use, sitting, standing, walking, frequent driving, and regular travel between office, community, and workplace settings. Occasional lifting of materials weighing up to 25 pounds may be required.

Application Process

Qualified applicants will be asked to complete several brief pre-interview questions regarding:

• Leadership and supervisory experience

• Independent problem-solving

• Employee performance management

• Travel and in-person availability

• Salary expectations

• Potential start date

Candidates selected to move forward will participate in a structured panel interview and should be prepared to provide specific examples from their professional experience.

Equal Employment Opportunity

RISE Services provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, creed, ancestry, national origin, citizenship, sex or gender, pregnancy or related conditions, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, religion, age, disability, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.