Director of Youth Services
Job Description 

Summary 

The Director of Youth Services is a leadership position with direct clinical responsibilities, overseeing Sharing Kindness’s school-based grief support and suicide prevention programs. Reporting to the Director of Programming and working closely with the Executive Director, the Director of Youth Services is responsible for program planning, implementation, evaluation, and growth, while also providing direct clinical services through the facilitation of school-based grief support groups. The position provides guidance and support to clinicians, volunteers, and interns; builds and maintains strong relationships with schools and community partners; and ensures that programs are delivered consistently and in accordance with established best practices. The Director of Youth Services plays a key role in advancing Sharing Kindness’s mission of building a grief-sensitive, suicide-aware community across Cape Cod and the Islands. 

Qualifications and Experience 

Required Qualifications 

  • Independent Massachusetts clinical licensure – LCSW, LMHC, or equivalent (LCISW preferred) 
  • Three or more years of relevant clinical experience working with children, adolescents, and families. 
  • Experience providing clinical services to children and adolescents, preferably in school-based or community mental health settings. 
  • Demonstrated knowledge of childhood and adolescent grief, bereavement, mental health, and suicide prevention. 
  • Experience facilitating therapeutic or psychoeducational groups. 
  • Strong program management and organizational skills, including the ability to coordinate multiple programs, manage competing priorities, and meet deadlines. 
  • Excellent interpersonal, communication, and relationship-building skills, with the ability to work collaboratively with school personnel, clinicians, volunteers, families, and community partners. 
  • Ability to work independently, exercise sound clinical judgment, and maintain appropriate professional boundaries and confidentiality. 
  • Commitment to Sharing Kindness’s mission and to providing compassionate, inclusive, and accessible services to diverse populations. 

Preferred Qualifications 

  • Experience supervising or providing clinical guidance to clinicians, interns, or volunteers. 
  • Experience managing or coordinating school-based mental health, grief support, or suicide prevention programs. 

Key Responsibilities 

School-Based Grief Support Programs 

Oversee the planning, implementation, and evaluation of Sharing Kindness’s school-based grief support programs, including: 

  • Build and maintain relationships with school adjustment counselors, administrators, and other key contacts at participating and prospective schools. 
  • Conduct Grief 101 presentations for school staff to increase grief literacy and awareness of available support services. 
  • Develop, review, and update program curricula as needed, and train Sharing Kindness clinicians in curriculum implementation. 
  • Prepare and coordinate Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with participating schools. 
  • Collaborate with designated school contacts to identify and register students, obtain parental consent, schedule eight-week grief support groups, and maintain participant demographic information. 
  • Co-facilitate approximately 50% of school-based grief support groups. 
  • Coordinate staffing for each school-based group, ensuring appropriate assignment of a Sharing Kindness clinician and volunteer co-facilitator. 
  • Maintain ongoing communication with school contacts to assess program effectiveness and address student needs. 
  • Ensure pre- and post-program surveys are conducted and information is shared with the program evaluator. 
  • Maintain current knowledge of best practices in bereavement support and suicide prevention, ensuring programs reflect established clinical standards. 
  • Oversee accurate and timely documentation of participant, clinician, and co-facilitator information in the client database to support program evaluation and grant reporting. 

Hope Squad Suicide Prevention Program 

Work collaboratively with the Executive Director to oversee and expand Hope Squad, Sharing Kindness’s school-based, peer-to-peer suicide prevention program. Responsibilities include: 

  • Build and maintain relationships with school administrators, Hope Squad advisors, and other school personnel. 
  • Coordinate program implementation and ongoing support across participating schools. 
  • Schedule and coordinate annual Hope Squad advisor training. 
  • Organize and facilitate monthly meetings with Hope Squad advisors across participating schools. 
  • Facilitate meetings and activities with Hope Squad student leaders. 
  • Assist in planning and coordinating major Hope Squad events, including the annual fall Kick-Off and spring Summit. 
  • Work closely with the Executive Director during the first year to ensure a successful transition of program leadership, assuming full responsibility for Hope Squad at the conclusion of the transition period. 

Program Leadership and Clinical Support 

Collaborate with the Director of Programming and Sharing Kindness team to ensure program quality, consistency, and effectiveness. 

  • Work with the Director of Programming to provide clinical guidance and supervision to clinicians and trained volunteers facilitating grief support groups. 
  • Assist in supervising clinical interns participating in school-based programs. 
  • Ensure that appropriate materials, activities, and resources are available to support program objectives and the developmental needs of participants. 
  • Assist in developing and delivering curriculum training and orientation for new clinicians and volunteer co-facilitators. 
  • Respond to requests for consultation, training, and information from schools, community partners, and other stakeholders. 
  • Promote safe, supportive, and inclusive environments consistent with Sharing Kindness’s mission and clinical standards. 
  • Support grant proposals and reporting through accurate data collection, program evaluation, and documentation of outcomes. 
  • Participate in organizational strategic planning and collaborate with the Executive Director on new program initiatives and opportunities for growth. 
  • Collaborate with the Marketing Manager to promote programs and services, including developing content for social media and other communications. 
  • Perform other duties as assigned. 

Community Engagement and Organizational Representation 

Represent Sharing Kindness in schools, community organizations, and public forums to advance awareness of grief support and suicide prevention resources. 

  • Collaborate with the Director of Programming to respond to schools and community organizations following an unexpected death, providing support through Sharing Kindness’s Community Support Following an Unexpected Death program. 
  • Deliver Grief 101 presentations and other educational trainings for schools, community organizations, businesses, and other groups on supporting individuals and families experiencing loss. 
  • Represent Sharing Kindness at community meetings, educational events, media interviews, and other public engagements as appropriate. 
  • Participate in meetings with funders, donors, and community partners to communicate program activities, outcomes, and community needs. 
  • Participate in Sharing Kindness’s annual Suicide Awareness Walk in May. 
  • Collaborate with the Executive Director on development and fundraising activities, including special events and community outreach. 

Schedule and Availability 

This is an in-office position at our Harwich location three days per week (Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday) for 8 hours per day with travel to schools and various community locations as needed. The position requires occasional after-school, evening, and weekend hours to support organizational activities, including clinician and volunteer trainings, Hope Squad events, the annual Suicide Awareness Walk, guest speaker presentations, and other community events.

To apply:
Send resume and cover letter to [email protected]