Service Area Director

Job Description

Job Description

Centennial is partnering with Lighthouse Youth & Family Services for a Service Area Director . Lighthouse Youth & Family Services is seeking a dynamic and mission-driven leader to guide its proven and respected residential treatment program for youth involved in the juvenile justice system. The next Service Area Director of Lighthouse Youth Center at Paint Creek will possess the vision needed to lead the program into its next 40 years and a commitment to providing holistic care to empower young men with behavioral and emotional challenges to heal, grow, and build successful futures.

The Service Area Director ensures the highest standards of care and safety, fosters a positive culture, and practices fiscal responsibility. The intensive innovative treatment provided is trauma-informed and strength-based. The center is located on a 35-acre campus in Bainbridge, Ohio, near Chillicothe and Hillsboro and about an hour’s drive from Columbus. The campus includes an accredited school, sports facilities, and two greenhouses that are part of a horticultural program. The dorms house 50 beds, most individual bedrooms. There are no fences or guards.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership and direction, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and positive outcomes for youth in care.
• Oversee residential programming (24 / 7 care), mental health services, education (onsite school), health services, and facility / food services.
• Manage program budgets, financial performance, and utilization goals to ensure cost-effective and sustainable operations.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a large team (70+ employees), including mid-level managers, direct service staff, and support personnel.
• Maintain compliance with all licensing, accreditation, and contractual requirements, including Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) and other governing bodies.
• Foster strong partnerships and represent the organization in a variety of situations, including community collaborations, state-level workgroups, media interviews, and relationships with donors and volunteers.
• Implement data-informed decision-making and Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) processes to drive program excellence.
• Promote a positive, inclusive, and trauma-informed culture that values diversity, equity, and staff well-being.
• Lead through change, manage crises effectively, and proactively identify opportunities and challenges within the program.

Qualifications